Video: Antarctic Explorer Finds Supply Cache

When the Antarctic season was in full swing, one of the explorers that we followed on a regular basis was Aleksander Gamme, who made a solo expedition from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back again. It took the Norwegian 100 days to complete that journey, which was in an incredibly challenging one to say the least. Just how challenging? The video below shows Aleksander on Day 86 when he came across his final supply cache. The pure joy he exhibits at finding a package of Cheese Doodles amongst his supplies has to be seen to be appreciated. He does speak in Norwegian throughout the video (translation here) but his reaction is probably one that we can all relate to in any language. You'll see that reaction around the 55 second mark.

Antarctic History: Scott's Last Journal Entry

Over the past few months I've written several times about certain milestones in Antarctic history. After all, it has been 100 years since Norwegian Roald Amundsen and his British rival Robert Falcon Scott raced one another across Antarctica to be the first person to reach the South Pole. Today marks yet another milestone in that race and sadly this is one of those dates that still haunts us a century later.

As I mentioned last week, Scott and his two remaining companions, Edward Wilson and Henry Bowers, were caught in a vicious snowstorm that lasted for at least nine days. Over that period they slowly ran out of food and fuel. With nothing to eat and unable to keep themselves warm, their last remaining strength fled their tired bodies. At that point they had been marching through the Antarctic for more than four and a half months and they were throughly exhausted in mind, body and spirit. The physical toll on that journey was heavy one, but arriving at the Pole to find that they had been beaten by Amundsen was truly the worst blow imaginable.

So, Scott, Wilson and Bowers found themselves in that tent, hoping beyond hope that the weather would clear long enough for them to cover the eleven remaining miles to their "One-Ton Depot." A supply cache that would give them everything they would need to complete their journey back to their ship, the Terra Nova, which waited off the coast for their return. Considering the distances they had already covered on the Antarctic continent, eleven more miles hardly seemed like much at all. It might as well have been eleven light years however, because they were unable to travel anywhere in that storm.

It was on this date, exactly 100 years ago today, that Scott made his final entry into the journal that he had been so diligently keeping for all those weeks. That final entry simply said:  "Last entry. For God's sake look after our people." Those words tell us that Scott knew that they were done for and that he would never see Britain or his family again. Historians say that when their tent was discovered some eight months later, that it was believed by the positions of their bodies that Scott was the last of the expedition to die.

Those weren't the last words we heard from Scott however as he also wrote a number of letters to those closest to him. They were discovered on his body and while we don't know the contents of all of them, he did write a "Message to the Public" that was in many ways an explanation of why he felt compelled to explore the Antarctic for King and Country. That letter concluded with the following statement:

"We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for."

Those words showed his indomitable spirit and stiff English-upper lip that were his trademark to the very end. They were also the words that would make him a hero back home in the U.K. where he is revered to this day. Scott is a symbol of that country's great legacy of exploration and while he may have failed in his mission, he remained a true Englishman even in the face of his inevitable end.

For me personally, Robert Falcon Scott remains one of history's most tragic characters, yet someone who is incredibly inspirational as well. He had a spirit for adventure and exploration that I think is no less important in this day and age as it was 100 years ago. His story is one that we should never forget and think about when we are looking for excuses to stop our own adventures. After all, I can think of worse things to ask than "What Would Scott Do?"

Antarctic History: Scott Snowbound in a Tent

As most of you know, this past Antarctic season marked the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen reaching the South Pole. Amundsen's triumph was the culmination of an epic struggle between the Norwegian and his British rival Robert Falcon Scott, who arrived a few weeks later to find that he had lost the race to plant his nation's flag at 90ºS. Beaten and dejected, Scott and his remaining men faced a long, cold march back to the coast where their ship was waiting to take them home. We all know that they suffered mightily on that return trip before ultimately succumbing to their fate just 11 miles from a supply depot that would have made the difference between life and death.

Scott and his four remaining companions turned away from the South Pole on January 19th and for two months they struggled to complete their fateful journey. Along the way, one of the men, Edgar Evans, suffered a fall that left him badly injured. He managed to continue forward for several more weeks, but on February 17th he fell once again and this time he wouldn't get up. Nearly a month later, on March 16, Lawrence Oats, suffering severely from frostbite, would exit the tent in the middle of night and wander off into the Antarctic expanse. He was never seen again.

On March 20th, one hundred years ago today, Scott and his two remaining companions, Edward Wilson and Henry Bowers, found themselves caught in a major Antarctic blizzard. That storm left them stranded in their tent, unable to move forward and woefully low on food, fuel and supplies. While their spirits were no doubt incredibly low and the three men were both physically and mentally exhausted, they knew that their supply depot was probably only a day or two away. That depot would provide them with everything they would need to complete the last leg of their journey back to the coast, where their ship the Terra Nova, waited.

Unfortunately that blizzard would last for nine straight days and Scott and his men would slowly run out of food and fuel. Of all the hardships they suffered on that expedition, sitting there in that tent, waiting to die, had to be the worst.

The last entry in Scott's journal came on March 29th. But that is another story.

Mark Wood's North Pole Expedition In Jeopardy

For the past several months we've been following explorer Mark Wood as he attempts to become the first person to ski to the North and South Pole back-to-back. He completed the first stage of that journey in early January when he reached the 90ºS and he has been anxiously preparing for the second stage of the expedition ever since. A few weeks back, Mark announced that he would no longer be skiing to the North Pole but would instead begin at the top of the world and ski southward once again. The reason for that change in direction   was because of the dramatic break-up of the Arctic ice and how that could impact his ability to make progress early on.

Now, it seems Wood has hit another snag in his plans, although this one is more financial in nature. Because of the increased danger for travel in the Arctic, rescue teams are now requiring a substantial deposit ahead of time just in case they need to retrieve explorers from the ice. Conducting rescues above the Arctic Circle is a dangerous, costly affair and in order to ensure that that can happen, Mark now needs a considerable amount of money so that he can proceed with the expedition. Money that he doesn't have, and won't have, unless he can find a corporate sponsor or raise funds elsewhere. To that end, he has released the video below in the hopes that someone will be able to assist his cause.

It should be noted that prior to this, Mark wasn't asking for funds or donations of any kind. While he is making the journey to raise awareness of the impact of global climate change, he has always asked us to pledge to help his cause through the Donation website. On that site, we don't pledge money of any kind, but instead choose to select a number of activities that can help us lower our carbon footprint and help ease the burden on our planet. It is a great approach to this issue and I respect that Wood has chosen to go this route rather than simply passing the hat around the table.

Now it seems that Mark is definitely in need of a white knight to come along and save him. His expedition is a good one and his message is definitely positive as well. Hopefully he'll find a sponsor soon and can begin the second phase of his journey as expected.

Antarctica 2011: Dixie and Sam Are Heading Home, Antarctic Season Nearly Over

Last week we watched as the last ALE flight picked up Antarctic explorers from Union Glacier, leaving just one team out on the ice. That was kite-skiers Dixie Dansercoer and Sam Deltour, who had recently set a new record for the longest unsupported journey across the frozen continent. Last Friday, the boys decided to pull the plug on their expedition as well, and while they're still waiting for flight out, they are now more than ready to head home.

According to updates on their website, Sam and Dixie are currently camped at a great location for a plane to land and retrieve them from the ice. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't all that cooperative over the weekend, so they were forced to hang out in their tent and await extraction. That is expected to change in the next day or so, and as I write this, the two men may already be on their way out of Antarctica.

As it stands now, the official numbers for the expedition are 68 days of travel (they're now at 78 days total time) covering 5013km (3114 miles). They averaged about 68km/day at an average altitude of about 3147 meters (10,324 ft).  Oh, and the average temperature while in the Antarctic? A balmy -30.4ºC/-22.7ºF.

Hopefully Dixie and Sam will be on their way to warmer climes soon. When you consider they had an aborted start to their expedition way back in November, you realize that they've been in the Antarctic for nearly three months now, and that is long enough for just about anyone. Job well done boys. Now get home safe.

Antarctic Gear: What Do You Need For A Trip To The South Pole

Ever wondered what kind of gear you need to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole? If so, you'll probably really enjoy this blog post from Mark Wood from a few days back. As you may recall, Mark recently completed that journey, and is now en route to Canada, where he'll soon begin the second part of his expedition, during which he'll ski solo to the North Pole as well.

In the blog post, Mark lists out all the kit that he took with him on his Antarctic adventure and shares a video with details on ten of his favorite items. You'll find the video below, but you'll need to click over to the blog to see the rest of his gear, which is broken up into the following categories: Tent Items, Clothing, Kitchen Items, and Communications and Filming gear. Under each of those categories you'll find listings of the particular gear he took and which brand he used along the way, as well as the quantity of those items too. In some case, back-up gear was necessary, so you'll see multiple version of that item included in the inventory.

He also lists one item under "Missing In Action" as well, which is his iPod. Apparently the device broke on day two of he expedition, and he had to spend the next 48 days without any kind of audio to help pass the time. Many polar explorers like to load up their iPod with plenty of music, podcasts, and audio books to help pass the time on the trail, but for Mark, that wasn't a luxury he was able to enjoy.

The North Pole season is now just a few short weeks away, and it won't be long before more teams are gathering in Resolute Bay to start their expeditions. Mark hasn't posted his current whereabouts, but make no mistake, we'll be following him on his journey North as well.

Antarctica 2011: Cas and Jonesy Off The Ice

After spending more than three months out on the ice, Aussies Cas and Jonesy, as well as Norwegian skier Aleksander Gamme, have now left Antarctica and are safely back in Chile. The three men completed their expeditions late last week, and have been waiting for a pick-up ever since, but bad weather and treacherous conditions left them sitting at ALE's Union Glacier Camp for several extra days. Now, they're back in Chile, enjoying a comfortable bed and warmer weather, before making their way back home.

The news of their departure from Antarctica means that only Dixie Dansercoer and Sam Deltour remain on the continent, continuing their epic journey by kite-ski. They've now been out on the ice for 72 days and have covered more than 5000km (3106 miles) and aren't ready to leave yet. How exactly they'll be getting out from Antarctica remains to be seen however, as they plan to end their expedition at the Novo Station, which they'll reach by skiing across the Lazarev Ice Shelf. The last plane from Novo, a Russian research base, is scheduled for February 28th, but according to ExWeb, that flight is completely full. That means Dixie and Sam will need to catch an earlier flight, but exactly when they'll be leaving has yet to be decided. Stay tuned for updates.

It has been an amazing season in the Antarctic. Not only have we seen our first two successful unsupported expeditions from Hercules to the South Pole and back, but we've also had Felicity Aston's solo traverse of the continent and Dixie and Sam's distance record. All in all, it has been a very successful year for explorers at the bottom of the world. We'll see if the North Polar season can rebound from last year and have a similar level of success.

Antarctica 2011: Still Waiting For A Lift

The Antarctic season was suppose to be all but over by now, but bad weather is keeping ALE's planes grounded in Punta Arenas and leaving the last of the explorers stranded out on the ice. That meant that Cas and Jonesy, along with Aleksander Gamme, had to spend the weekend at the Union Glacier camp, where they at least had the opportunity to enjoy a few creature comforts while they wait for their lift home.

Union Glacier is actually the site of ALE's base of operations on the continent, and as a result, there is a small, but busting community there this time of year. That meant that not only did the boys receive a hot shower, they're also getting better meals and warmer tents to stay in. All that said, they are anxious to start their journey for home, but the next attempt at picking them up won't come until tomorrow, January 31st. If conditions improve, they should be on their way back to Chile at that point, then home to Australia and Norway shortly there after.

As you can imagine, it has been a huge relief for the three men to have completed their individual expeditions. No one has ever skied from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, and back again, completely unsupported. But now, both Cas and Jonesy and Aleksander have made that journey. It wasn't easy, and they suffered greatly at times, but now it is done and they all have a huge sense of satisfaction over having  reached their goal.

Once they do leave the Antarctic, there will be just one team remaining. Kite-skiers Dixie Dansercoer and Sam Deltour have now been out on the ice for 70 days and are still going strong. Today they have established a new record for covering the most distance on a non-motorized, unsupported expedition across Antarctic. Dixie and Sam have now traveled 4829km (3000 miles), and they aren't done yet. They plan to keep skiing for a few more weeks, well into February, before calling it quits and heading home. That means they not only meant to break the record (set by Norwegian Rune Gjeldnes in 2006), they want to set a new one that will be almost completely out of reach. Considering they're knocking off more than 100km (62 miles) per day, that shouldn't be a problem for them.

I'll continue to post updates on Dixie and Sam's progress until they're done. The season is almost over, but they intend to drag it out for a bit longer.

Antarctica 2011: Waiting For The Last Plane Out

Yesterday I posted the news that Cas and Jonesy had arrived back at Hercules Inlet, very tired and sore, but happy to have completed their long journey at last. There still hasn't been much news from Antarctica regarding what it was like for them to finish the expedition, but according to their Twitter feed, they are definitely eager to get a hot shower and a comfortable bed.

Presently, the boys are still sitting at Hercules, waiting for the last plane to arrive. Bad weather, particularly high winds, are keeping that flight grounded for now and there is no word on when it might arrive to pick them up. That means another potential night in the tent, which after three months out on the ice, has to be getting old. I imagine at this point they are ready for their adventure to be done and get back to some of the comforts of life for awhile.

Judging from their tweets, the two Aussies are in good spirits, although extremely tired and sore. They've just spent 89 days traveling to and from the South Pole, covering 2270km (1410 miles) in the process. They've also become the first people, along with Norwegian Aleksander Gamme, to go from Hercules to the South Pole and back, completely unsupported. That is an impressive accomplishment to say the least, and they are deserving of some R and R in their near future. Hopefully the weather will cooperate soon, and they can begin their journey home.

Antarctica 2011: Cas, Jonesy, and Aleks Are Done!

Just a very brief update on the story I posted earlier today, in which I noted that Cas and Jonesy were on the home stretch of their expedition to the South Pole and back from Hercules Inlet. A short time ago, the support team for the two Aussies tweeted out the message: "@casandjonesy have completed their world first rek across the ice! What aussie heros!"

Other than that, there aren't a lot of details yet. We do know that Aleksander Gamme was waiting for them about 1km from the finish, so presumably the three men arrived at Hercules together. I'm sure we'll get a lot more information tomorrow or in the days ahead, but know that they are safe and sound at the finish line and that they made it with time to spare. The last plane out of Antarctica is scheduled for tomorrow, which means they weren't even rushed!

A huge congratulations to Cas, Jonesy and Aleksander on an amazing job. You three are very inspirational, and I know that you had to over come some major hurdles and challenges to accomplish your goals. It has been a real pleasure to follow along with you on this adventure. Now get some food and rest and start dreaming about warm beaches. I'm sure you're more than ready.

Antarctica 2011: Cas and Jonesy On The Home Stretch!

It has been one very long, and grueling, Antarctic season for James Castrission and Justin Jones, aka Cas and Jonesy. The lads have been out on the ice for three straight months in their attempt to ski unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back – something that has never been done before. But today they are in the home stretch, and if everything goes as planned, they should arrive back at the start sometime tonight.

As of this writing, the boys have just 14km (8.6 miles) to go until they reach Hercules, where they'll find Aleksander Gamme waiting for them. Aleksander is making the same journey, although he was going solo, and as he neared the finish line, the Norwegian elected to hold up and wait for his Australian counterparts to join him. The three men will then ski the final kilometer to the Inlet together, effectively becoming the first to accomplish this epic journey at the same time.

This morning, before they set out, the two Aussies tweeted out "We are just now stepping off for hopefully the final time! Bring on the finish line!" I'm sure they are are more than ready to be done, as they have had to endure horrible weather, nagging injuries, illness, and more. But now they're about to accomplish something that will make all of those memories fade and make them feel a whole lot better.

Stay tuned for the news of their arrival.

Antarctica 2011: Johan Ernst Nilson Reaches Second Pole

One of the bigger adventures of the past year came to an end last week when Swedish adventurer Johan Ernst Nilson reached the South Pole. That point marked the final destination of his Pole2Pole expedition, which began last spring when he set out from the North Pole and began traveling south.

The initial plan was for Nilson to make the journey completely without the use of motorized vehicles, going on skis from the North Pole to Greenland for instance, then employing dogsleds to reach the coast and sailing the northern Atlantic to Canada. He ended up skiing directly to Canada instead, and once there, he began riding his bike towards South America, where he had hoped to arriving in Punta Arenas in time for the Antarctic season. With the cycling leg behind him, he would then sail across the Southern Ocean, to Antarctica, and kite-ski to the Pole.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to travel as fast as he would like and that plan didn't come together completely. The bike ride took longer than Nilson expected, and as a result, he had to abandon his two-wheeled transportation and fly to the Antarctic in order to take advantage of the weather window that comes with the austral summer. Once on the ice, he did kite to the Pole, but it was a tough go that left him injured with a couple of broken ribs that must have been incredibly painful

Now, Nilson will return to South America and after a brief rest, get back on his bike and continue his ride to Punta Arenas. Once there, he still intends to sail to Antarctica, which would allow him to finish the expedition in the manner that he had started, just with a slight detour along the way. He hopes to accomplish this goal by early April, which would mean that he truly has gone from Pole2Pole in a single year.

Antarctica 2011: Aleksander Waits For Cas and Jonesy

With just a few days left in the current Antarctic season, and most of the explorers already off the ice or preparing to depart, we get news today of quite a show of camaraderie and respect by Norwegian skier Aleksander Gamme, who has elected to halt his expedition and wait for Aussies Cas and Jonesy.

If you've been following the action in the Antarctic this year, you know that there have been two teams vying to become the first to travel unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back. Aleksander was one of them and Cas and Jonesy was the other. The men had a good natured rivalry, as they each wanted to make history, but they also wished one another well and encouraged each other along the way too. Aleksander has been making his journey solo, and for the most part has faired very well, while Cas and Jonesy have gone together and at times have suffered mightily.

Both expeditions began at the same time, and they are now 87 days into their quest to complete this epic trek, and with the end now firmly in sight, all three are ready to put the experience behind them. Three months out on the ice is a long time for anyone, and I'm sure they are more than ready to feel some warm temperatures once again.

But after skiing 2270km (1410 miles) completely alone, Gamme has now stopped and his waiting for his compatriots to join him. They'll ski in the last few miles to Hercules together, earning them all the distinction of completing this journey first. It is quite a show of sportsmanship and the complete lack of ego on the part of Aleksander, who could easily finish up today and claim the distinction for himself. Major props to the Norwegian for such a show of class.

For their part, Cas and Jonesy are limping to the finish line, and with just under 100km to go, it now appears that they'll make it time for the last flight out on Friday. The two men have been battling injuries and bad weather almost from the start, and it is a testament to their strength and determination that they are now on the home stretch as well. There will be a major sense of relief and satisfaction when they finally hang up their skis and finally head home.

Well done all around for these three amazing men. And thanks to ExWeb for sharing the story.

Antarctica 2011: Felicity Completes Antarctic Traverse!

We enter the final week of the Antarctic season with a few adventurers still out on the ice and some desperately working to reach their finish line. This Friday is the deadline for the last plane out, and while most of the explorers have already left for home, there are still some lingering on the frozen continent, as the clock ticks down to the end of another busy season.

The big news of the past few days is that Felicity Aston has finished her journey and is now in Hercules Inlet. You may recall that she started at the Ross Ice Shelf, traveled to the South Pole, and then made her way to the Hercules finish. In completing this journey, which covered 1744km (1083 miles) in 59 days, she has now become the first woman to make a solo traverse of Antarctica. As of this writing, she is waiting for ALE to send a plane to pick her up, but high winds are keeping her in place for now. She hopes to be off the ice, and on her way home, soon though. Congrats on a job well done Felicity!

One man who should be closing in on his finish is Aleksander Gamme. The Norwegian explorer has been attempting to become the first person to travel from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, and back, solo and unassisted. In his most recent update, posted yesterday, Gamme says that he is already starting to feel a bit sad about leaving the Antarctic, even though he has been out on the ice for more than 85 days now. He should arrive back at Hercules today or tomorrow, which will bring an end to an epic journey that is simply an amazing feat to say the least.

Also hoping to go from Hercules to the Pole and back are Aussie lads Cas and Jonesy. The boys are on their own stretch run but still have some work ahead of them before they can rest. Low on supplies, nursing a number injuries, they are slowly but surely limping their way back to where their journey started, and as of this writing they still have 152km (94.4 miles) to go before they are done. That translates to about 38km (23 miles) per day over the next four days to be at Hercules in time to catch that plane. Considering how dedicated they are to reaching their goal, and how hard they've been working on their return trip, I wouldn't bet against these two men making it to the end. It's just going to be one tough slog to get there.

I'll post updates as these final expeditions come to an end and the explorers catch that plane back to Punta Arenas. It has been one exciting year in the Antarctic, and it looks like its going to end on a couple of high notes.

Antarctica 2011: Weber Team Finishes Expedition

With now just a little over a week to go in the current Antarctic season, more teams are finishing off their expeditions and preparing to head home. One of those teams was led by polar legend Richard Weber, who took a group to the South Pole a few weeks back and had been kite-skiing back to Hercules ever since. They managed to reach their destination yesterday, but not without some very long and challenging days on the ice.

The team traveled for several days in near whiteout conditions and covered large distances over the last two days of their journey, before arriving at Hercules Inlet yesterday. On Monday of this week, the group covered 200km (124 miles) alone, and followed that up with another 150km (93 miles) to the finish line yesterday. They are reportedly, and understandably exhausted, as their entire expedition covered more than 2000km (1242 miles). Now, they'll have some time to rest, as they wait to be picked-up and flown back to Punta Arenas.

Meanwhile, another pair of kite-skiers, Dixie Dansercoer and Sam Deltour, have now spent more than 58 days out on the ice and have covered more than 3565km (2215 miles) themselves. The past few days haven't been amongst their best either, as the surface conditions have conspired against them to make for some rather challenging moments. Large, and extremely hard, sastrugi (ridges on the ice) have battered the men and their gear, forcing them to make repairs to some of their equipment while on the go. Worse yet, one of their skis actually punctured a fuel bottle, which caused them to lose about 1.5 liters of fuel, which also contaminated several of their pre-prepared meals. Fortunately, it doesn't seem that that will hamper the expedition at all, as Dixie and Sam have been extra-conservative so far, and have enough supplies to stay another 40 days out on the ice.

Felcity Aston is dealing with high winds and fresh snow this morning, which is making it tough going for her as well. She has her final destination squarely in sight at this point however, and seems a lock to complete the first solo traverse of the continent by woman. As of this writing, she still has about 265km (164 miles) to go to reach Hercules, which should put her there in about another week.

Finally, I wanted to comment briefly on the Helen Skelton South Pole expedition which is currently underway as well. For those who don't know, Skelton is a television personality in the U.K. who is currently kiting, skiing, and biking (yes, biking!) to the South Pole to raise funds for charity. Until now, I've been reluctant to comment on her expedition or write about her progress, mostly because it seems to be mostly a shameless grab for publicity.

Now, I respect anyone who works to raise awareness and funds for charity, but Skelton seems as much about self-promotion as she is about actually accomplishing the things she sets out to do. Make no mistake, she is an adventurous young woman and very athletic, but while many are content to undertake their adventurous activities solely for the experiences and the exploration, she seems to try to find ways of always claiming a record of some kind, even if it isn't necessarily merited.

If you read Explorers Web, you probably saw their post this morning calling Skelton out for another rather dubious speed-record claim. A few days ago, Skelton, and her companion, kite-skied 100km in just under eight hours, and as a result, they have already petitioned Guinness for a world record claim. As ExWeb points out, that distance and speed are not all that uncommon (see Weber Expedition above!) and that Skelton doesn't deserve recognition for doing something that others have been doing for some time. For there part, Guinness has responded by saying that they have confirmed Skelton's GPS data, and that while others have gone faster and further, no one else has ever petitioned them for the record before. That alone speaks volumes about the adventure community as a whole and Helen's claim to fame within it.

I'll likely not post much more about her expedition, but I definitely wanted to weigh in on the situation. Personally, I respect Helen's accomplishments greatly and think she's done some great things, but her constant need to set "records" is a bit embarrassing, and disrespects some of the accomplishments of others.

Antarctica 2011: Scott Team Arrives In Time For Centenary Celebration

Just a brief update from Antarctica today, as I wanted to share the news that the Scott Team, who were taking part in the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race, have now successfully arrived at 90ºS, joining their companions at that point on the 100th anniversary of Robert Falcon Scott's arrival at the South Pole.

The weather conditions shifted slightly today to enable the boys to arrive on this very important date, with sun and clear skies aiding their cause. Temperatures at the Pole are reportedly -20ºC/-4ºF, although wind chills are bringing those temps down to -40ºC/F as well.

In order to arrive, the team had to cover more than 20 nautical miles today alone, and they managed to cross the final degree in just three days, which is a very impressive feat in and of itself. I'm sure the boys are absolutely chuffed, but they seem in good spirits and happy to have reached their final goal at last. The fact that they happened to do it today, of all days, is just icing on the cake.

Congrats to both teams for their fantastic expedition. Rest up and catch a flight home as soon as you can.

Antarctic History: Scott Reaches The Pole

The past few months we've been celebrating the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen becoming the first man to reach the South Pole, while simultaneously saluting his rival, Robert Falcon Scott, who died in his pursuit of that achievement. Today marks another auspicious milestone from that fateful polar race, as it was January 17th, 1912 – exactly 100 years ago – that Scott reached the Pole as well, only to find the Amundsen's Norwegian flag already planted there.

I've written numerous times about Scott and Amundsen over the past few years, and especially in the past few months. Whenever I think about their story, the thing that sticks with me the most is how Scott must have felt to arrive at the South Pole, only to find that he had been beaten by a competitor who came late to the race. Amundsen has spent much of his time in the Arctic, and had hoped to be the first to the North Pole, but when Frederick Cook, and then Robert Peary, both beat him to the punch, he changed tactics and headed south instead.

Scott had spent years planning his expedition and months setting up the final logistics of his approach to the Pole. He and his men traveled for weeks across the Antarctic Plateau, enduring unbearably cold weather, in gear that we wouldn't consider fit for crossing the street today. But in the end, all of their efforts were in vain, as Amundsen was faster (and smarter!) in getting to the goal, and their hopes were dashed at the bottom of the world.

The disappointment that Scott felt must have been crushing. For years, men had tried to reach 90ºS, only to be turned back time and again. What were the chances that two expeditions would succeed within a month of one another? I imagine he approached that ultimate goal with a sense of pride and accomplishment, with the winds whipping the snow around him, only to have those snows clear for a moment and reveal the dreaded flag of his rival, who has been there five weeks earlier. Scott's own words say it best, as he wrote in his journal that "The worst has happened" and that "All the day dreams must go." He would later add "Great God! This is an awful place."

Reading those words now, a century later, I still get pangs of sympathy for the man. His utter disappointment echos across the decades and still lingers with those of us who admire his courage and dedication. Ultimate, Scott was a tragic character in polar history, which is probably why he is still so revered to this day, particularly in his home country.

Two days after their crushing defeat at the Pole, the Scott party, which also consisted of Edwin Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oats, and Edgar Evans, began their trek back to the coast, where their support team was waiting. That first day on the trail must have been one long, cold, and lonely march, with each man lost in his own thoughts and longing for home. Their story wasn't over yet of course and the suffering was only just beginning.

It is hard to not have empathy for Scott and his men, who would leave their mark on history, even if they didn't achieve what they had set out to do.

Antarctica 2011: Endless Ice, Endless Boredom

Most of the Antarctic expeditions are clearly focused on reaching their respective finish lines at this point of the season, with some continuing to race the clock. With now less than two weeks to go before the last flight off the continent for another season, most of the South Pole skiers are keenly aware of what they have left to accomplish.

One of those skiers is Aleksander Gamme, who continues to make great progress towards becoming the first person to ski solo and unassisted from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back again. While he is now managing to knock off more than 30 miles per day on his journey, it hasn't been an easy one. The Norwegian explorer has now been out on the ice for 78 days straight, and boredom has definitely caught up with him. Aleksander reports that he has now read all of the books he brought along and has started to re-read them once again. He also notes that he has listened to every podcast and audio book on his iPod, and that the days on the trail, which are stretching to 10+ hours in length has he tries to beat the clock, are getting very long indeed. I think it is safe to say that Gamme will be happy to have some new material to stimulate his brain once he returns to civilization.

Meanwhile, Cas and Jonesy have crossed another milestone on their journey from Hercules to the Pole and back. They now have less than 500km (310 miles) to go before they complete their return trip to the coast. As of this writing, they actually have 469km (291 miles) left until their done, and doing some simple math, that tells me they have to average 39km (24.25 miles) per day to reach Hercules Inlet before the last plane takes off. They have been hitting those numbers in recent days, so it is certainly attainable, provided the weather doesn't change and their gear continues to operate as needed. Keep your fingers crossed for these two, as they have struggled almost from the start, and it would be a very satisfying end to the Antarctic season if they were able to achieve their goal.

The weather closer to the South Pole hasn't been especially good, which isn't helping the Scott Team on the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race to reach their goal. Their mates on the Amundsen Team finished last week, and are awaiting the arrival of their friends at the Pole, but as of yesterday, the Scott squad still has 41 nautical miles to go. They did crank out more than 20 miles yesterday alone however, so with any luck, they could finish as early as tomorrow. It has been one long and exhausting journey for this group, who will be ecstatic to reach 90ºS.

British adventurer Mark Wood also reached the Pole last week and is actually still there. Mark intends to head to Canada soon and begin his solo expedition to the North Pole as well, but at the moment, the weather is keeping him squarely in place. He hopes that that will change in the next day or two, but for now he is enjoying a bit of downtime at the South Pole, which he says isn't a bad place to be at all.

Finally, Felicity Aston continues to close in on Hercules Inlet as well, which will bring an end to her solo traverse of the continent. She now has just 341km (211 miles) to go after just 51 days out on the ice. Thats a pretty impressive pace to say the least. She did have a minor emergency today when she tweeted that she had reached the bottom of her jar of peanut butter. Without this precious commodity to keep her going, it is hard to say how those final two hundred miles will go. Something tells me she's going to make it to the finish line just fine however.

Antarctica 2011: The Clock Is Ticking...

The 2011/2012 Antarctic Season is starting to wind down as the teams close in on their final goals and the  days quickly march by. ALE has set the date for the last flight out at January 27th, which is just two weeks away from today. That means that a number of the explorers will be racing the clock right up until the end, and for some there is no room for error as they approach the home stretch.

One of those skiers is Norwegian Aleksander Gamme, who is attempting to become the first person to go solo and unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back again. He has been making good time, and covering large distances (56km in one day!), but as of Tuesday of this week, he still head half-way to go on the return trip. Still, Gamme seems to be strong, focused, and determined, and unless there is some unforeseen issue that arises, he seems poised to reach his goal. Bad weather or equipment failure could slow him down, but I believe he's going to make it back to Hercules in time for the flight out.

Aussies Cas and Jonesy are hoping to accomplish the same feat, and I'm not quite so optimistic about their chances. They have also picked up the pace, but as of this writing they still have 588km (365 miles) to go.  That means they'll need to continue to average roughly 42km (26 miles) per day on the return trip to make it back on time. As I mentioned earlier this week, that is doable, but it is going to be one tough challenge. Check out their latest video update from the ice below.

Meanwhile, one solo skier who is closing in on the finish line is Felicity Aston, who now is less than 200 nautical miles from Hercules. Felicity started her journey at the Ross Ice Shelf and is hoping to become the first woman to traverse the continent solo. She stopped by the South Pole on her journey as well, and is now making good time on her return to the coast. While she's not done yet, she does have a bit more of a cushion that some of the other skiers.

Sam Deltour and Dixie Dansercoer continue their epic traverse of Antarctica as well. They've been using kites to cover large distances, and so far, after 53 days out on the ice, they've covered more than 3345km (2078 miles). The duo took the past couple of days off to rest and recuperate, and now they're waiting for the wind to pick up again so they can resume their journey. They plan on staying in the Antarctic well into February as they pursue one of the longest expeditions ever to that cold and hostile place.

Finally, the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race continues as the the Scott Team closes in on the Pole. As of today, they still have 63.6 nautical miles to go, but improved weather has meant that they've been able to pick up the pace some, and they now hope to be at the Pole to celebrate Robert Falcon Scott's arrival on Monday. Their mates on the Amundsen Team completed their journey a few days back, and now wait for their friends to join them.

Antarctica 2011: More Arrivals At The South Pole

As the clock ticks toward the fast approaching end to the Antarctic season, more explorers are arriving at the South Pole, while others struggle on towards their own personal finish lines.

There were two notable arrivals at the Pole yesterday, with Mark Wood being one of them. Mark reached 90ºS after 50 days on the ice and 612 nautical miles covered on foot. He did the last 20 of those miles yesterday alone, and said that as he approached the Pole, it felt like he was dragging a truck behind him. Tired, but happy, Mark will now take a few days to rest before flying back to Hercules Inlet and then Chile, where he'll immediately head to Canada, and start planning for his solo expedition to the North Pole, an excursion that will bring an entirely different set of challenges.

Joining Mark at the South Pole yesterday was Australian Mark George, who completed his own solo, unsupported ski journey in 44 days. Today, he is enjoying a rest day and soaking up the feelings of success at having completed his goal, and while he had been considering kiting back to Hercules, he now has given up on that idea due to time constraints. Instead, he has decided to spend his remaining time in the Antarctic on a "Mystery Tour," which means he'll be skiing and kiting in what ever direction and speed the wind, or his legs, will carry him. He says he may stay for only another couple of days or he may continue his exploration right up until the last ALE flight heads out, but either way, he's going to take advantage of his remaining time in that amazing place.

The Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race has was won yesterday as well, when the Amundsen Team reached the South Pole after crossing more than 700 nautical miles to reach that point. It took them 68 days, in sometimes horrendous conditions, to get to their finish line, where they wait for the mates on the Scott Team to join them. As of this morning, they still had 110 nautical miles to go before they arrive at 90ºS, where they will no doubt be more than relieved to hang up their skis for awhile. This Antarctic journey has not been an easy one for either of these two squads.

Meanwhile, Felicity Aston continues her solo traverse of the continent on skis. Having left the South Pole behind days ago, she's now on her way to Hercules Inlet and making solid progress. She located one of her resupply caches yesterday and was happy to have plenty of food again. She's consuming more than 5000 calories per day as fuel, but reports that she has lost lots of weight on this expedition as well. One causality of the journey – one of the toenails on her right foot has completely fallen off, which is not uncommon on long distance journeys such as this one.

Finally, Cas and Jonesy are keenly aware of just where they stand. Having covered 1560km (969 miles), they still have 733km (455 miles) to go before they return to Hercules. They also have just 18 days to cover that ground, which means they'll have to average more than 40km/day (25 miles) to make it. That is certainly doable, but it isn't going to be easy. The wind at their backs, and good weather conditions, has helped, but it is going to be a real challenge. They're not giving up however and seem as determined as ever to complete their mission. Good luck boys!