The Adventure Podcast Episode 9: The Logistics of Skiing to the North and South Pole

The latest episode of The Adventure Podcast is now live and available to download in all of the usual places, including iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher. I've also embodied the episode below for those who prefer to listen on directly from their computers. This week we return to our usual format after taking a week off for some travel and following a pair of shorter episodes that focused only on the latest adventure news.

The main topic of discussion this week is the differences between skiing to the North and South Pole. On paper, the two expeditions seem very similar, but in reality they are about as far apart as the poles themselves. We delve deep into these differences as we discuss things like climate change, "negative drift," and being stalked by polar bears. Of course, we also share some thoughts on gear items we're currently using, and talk about the latest stories from the world outdoor exploration and adventure.

As always, thanks for listening and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. If you have any feedback or would like to send us a question, don't hesitate to reach out by email either.

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The New Yorker Publishes Riveting Story About Henry Worsley's Doomed Antarctic Expedition

In 2016, British polar explorer Henry Worsley lost his life while attempting a solo, unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent. He was attempting to become the first to make such a journey, which remains one of the biggest challenges that remain for adventurers traveling in that part of the world. It is impossible to know exactly what that journey was like, but now – thanks to an unlikely source – we have a bit more of an idea. 

Recently The New Yorker published an amazing article about Worsley and his expedition to the Antarctic. Entitled "The White Darkness," the story is written by David Grann, who also wrote the excellent Lost City of Z. It takes us out onto the ice with the British explorer, providing us with some impressive insights into what that journey was like and what must have been going on in Worsley's mind as spent days on end skiing across the frozen continent. 

Many of us who follow these types of expeditions have some idea of at least the logistics behind such a venture. But unless you've done such a journey yourself, it is difficult to truly understand what it is like to grind out every mile, day-in and day-out, in such a cold, inhospitable place. This article will help you to understand what that is like just a bit more. 

The story is a long one, so prepare yourself and get comfortable. This is best read on a tablet in comfy chair with a drink or even a snack close at hand. You'll be going on a journey along with the Worsley, but it is definitely one that you'll want to take. And when you come out the other side, you'll have learned a lot more about this man and what drove him to push himself to his very limits, and beyond. It is sad, inspiring, joyous, and humbling all at once, and I highly recommend that anyone who enjoys reading my stories gives this a thorough read too.

Check it out here.

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Antarctica 2017: Ice Maidens Complete Antarctic Crossing

While we've been focused heavily on the winter climbing season over the past few weeks, the Antarctic expedition season is still underway as well. One of the teams that we've been following for over two months now has finally completed its journey across the frozen continent, bringing an end to a record setting adventure that has been a challenge from the start.

The all-female squad known as the Ice Maidens wrapped up their traverse of Antarctica this past weekend when they arrived at Hercules Inlet 62 days after they started the crossing. In doing so, they became the first all-women team to make such a journey, which began way back in November. That's when the team set out from the Ross Ice Shelf then proceeded onto the Leverett Glacier, before crossing the Transantarctic Mountains, before reaching the Polar Plateau. Their route also took them to the South Pole on the way back to Hercules Inlet.

The Ice Maidens consisted of Major Nice Wetherill, Major Nat Taylor, Lace Sergeant Sophie Montagne, Captain Zanna Baker, Major Sandy Tennis, and Lt. Jenni Stephenson. All of the members of the team are part of the active British military or reservists, and were selected from over 250 applicants who wished to be a part of the expedition.

The expedition didn't get off to a promising start when the ladies first had to spend two weeks stuck at the Union Glacier camp waiting for the weather to improve. At the time, it looked like things could be in jeopardy as it was expected to take upwards of 90 days for them to finish the crossing. But once they got out on the ice, things picked up quickly and they managed to cover longer distances as they went. In the end, they were able to wrap up the crossing in a fraction of the time, and will still get home on schedule.

The Antarctic season is nearly coming to an end. The last flight off the continent is scheduled for next week, although that plane is meant for ALE personnel and supplies. The final flight for clients should take place at the end of this week, weather permitting. That will close another chapter on a busy season at the bottom of the world.

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Antarctica 2017: The End is in Sight for More Antarctic Teams

The Antarctic expedition season is nearing its end with just a few short weeks to go until the frozen continent is shut off to the outside world once again. But, there are still a number of teams that are working their way towards the finish line as the days slowly tick by.

We'll start with an update on Rob and Barney Swan, the father and son team that has been out on the ice for nearly two months now. The duo undertook this expedition as a way to raise awareness of clean energy with a focus on creating a 7-year goal to clean up 326 million tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in accordance to the Paris Accords. They have even used nothing be clean energy sources to power their adventure, using solar energy to keep all of their devices going.

Yesterday, the two men – along with a group of skiers who joined them for the final degree – reached the South Pole. It took them 56 days to compete the journey, covering roughly 600 nautical miles (690 miles/1112 km) in the process. Rob has been here before and knew what to expect, but was still impressive in his efforts at the age of 61. For Barney, it was his first polar journey at the age of 23. Congratulations to both of them.

Meanwhile, Norwegian skiers Astrid Furholt and Jan Sverre Sivertsen are closing in on the Pole as well. The duo were amongst the first to hit the ice way back in November, and have been following the original Amundsen route to 90ºS. If all goes as planned, they should arrive their as early as tomorrow, but their updates indicate they are exhausted, pushing hard against headwinds, and struggling to cover the full distances they need. Still, they are currently within striking distance of the South Pole station and should get there soon.


Their original plan was to ski the return leg back to the coast to complete a round-trip journey, but with the season now running short, It seems unlikely that will happen. We should know more in a few days, but the last ALE flight off the continent for clients is scheduled for January 26, just 10 days from now.

The Ice Maidens are now racing against the clock to beat that deadline, but they too have the end in sight. The six women who make up the team reached the South Pole all the way back on December 17, but that was just a milestone on their continued traverse of the Antarctica. By the time they are done, they will have covered more than 1700 km (1056 miles), beginning and ending at the coast. They'll also be the first all-female team to accomplish that task.

Finally, the Spectre team has completed its expedition at long last. You may recall that this expedition was made of three climbers –  Leo Houlding, Jean Burgun, and Mark Sedon – who traveled to Antarctica to climb the Spectre rock spire in the Gothic Mountains. They used kite skis to reach that point back in December, and actually completed their climb on December 12, then started for home two days later. It took them until last Thursday – January 11 – to reach their exit point on the coast. It was a hard slog back, often with very little wind to help assist in the process. It ended up taking far longer than they expected, but they completed their journey at last and are now safely back home.

We'll continue to keep an eye on the Antarctic season as things unfold over the next couple of weeks. But, the curtain is definitely dropping on the expedition season, with very few teams still out on the ice. I'll post updates of any important news as it happens.

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Antarctica 2017: Ben Saunders Reaches South Pole, Halts Expedition

While we were away enjoying the holiday break a lot of things happened in the world of outdoor adventure and exploration. Unfortunately, I'm off again tomorrow on a winter trip to North Carolina, which means we have a lot of ground to cover today, starting with updates from the Antarctic.

Perhaps the biggest news from the past couple of weeks is that British polar explorer Ben Saunders reached the South Pole on December 29, marking a major milestone on his attempt to ski solo across the continent. But, what was to have been just a temporary stopping point turned into the finish line for Saunders, who decided to pull the plug on his expedition at 90ºS.

When he reached the Pole, Ben issued a statement explaining why he decided to end his attempt to make a solo traverse of the Antarctic and basically it came down to simple logistics. He said that when he arrived at the South Pole he felt good, although a bit more physically and mentally drained than he had expected. But, the real challenge was that he had used up more food and supplies than he had planned for just getting to that point. That left him with a narrow margin for error on his return trip to the coast and that was a risk he simply wasn't willing to take. So, it was with a heavy heart that he announced the end of the journey.


Remember, Saunders was following the same route as his friend Henry Worsley, who attempted a solo traverse a couple of years back. Worsley pushed himself to the absolute limit and came up a bit short on his return journey, having to be evacuated some 30 miles from the finish line. He would later die from exhaustion and a number of ailments that he picked up on his journey. Ben no doubt remembers his well and decided to make the prudent – but tough – decision to call it quits.

As I write this, Ben has already departed Antarctica and his making his way home. A flight back to Punta Arenas, Chile allowed him to exit the continent yesterday. He is no doubt now looking forward to returning to the U.K. to visit friends and family, and take a well deserved rest.

Ben isn't the only Antarctic explorer who reached the South Pole while we were away. Antarctic Ghurka Scott Sears also arrived at 90ºS, reaching the point on the globe the day after Christmas. He completed the standard crossing from Hercules Inlet to the Pole in roughly 38 days, which is a solid pace along that tough route. He caught a flight off the frozen continent back on December 29, and expected to be back in London in time for New Years.

I'll post updates on the other ongoing Antarctic expeditions in the next few days as there are still plenty of others who are making their way towards their final goals. The Antarctic expedition season typically runs through the end of January, so we should have some interesting news yet to come.

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Antarctica 2017: Ice Maidens at the South Pole, Others Soldier On

The Antarctic expedition season began way back in early November, and we've been following along closely ever since. On Sunday we had our first arrival at the South Pole however, which is a major milestone. But what was once the finish line for so many teams is now just the halfway point on much longer journeys, with explorers and endurance athletes pushing themselves even further across the frozen continent.

It was the Ice Maidens who marked their arrival at 90ºS on December 17, arriving 26 days after they set out on their 1700 km (1056 miles) expedition to traverse the frozen continent. They planned to spend a full day resting at the Amundsen-Scott Base located at the Pole before they continued on their way.

This milestone is a major one of course, and no doubt brought plenty of encouragement to the six ladies who have undertaken this historic journey across Antarctica. But the South Pole is only 577 km (358 miles) into their crossing, so they still have a very long way to go. They've also faced grueling conditions along the way, with -50ºC/-58ºF temperatures, high winds, and whiteout. Additionally, several of the women are also suffering from polar thigh, a condition that results from over exposure to the cold, giving rise to painful bumps and blisters.

Still, the members of the team are ready to continue on and should have hit the trail again today. They resupplied at the Pole and will pick up another supply cache en route to their finish line. They are racing the clock somewhat, as the final flight out of Antarctica is expected on January 30 and since they had a two week delay to their start due to weather, there is little cushion remaining in their schedule. We'll keep you posted on the team's progress.


Elsewhere, the Antarctic Ghurka Scott Sears continues to make solid progress and now hopes to arrive at the South Pole in time for Christmas Dinner next week. He's now been out on the ice for a month, and is routinely knocking off about 30 km (18.6 miles) per day. A few days back he wandered into a massive sastrugi zone that has made it tough going, but once he clear that and passes the 88th degree, it should be clear sailing to 90ºS. The zone between the 87th and 88th parallels is well known for being extremely difficult thanks to its surface conditions, but Scott should clear that area in another day or two and start picking up steam again.

Other teams are chipping away at their respective routes as well. Rob and Barney Swan are now 300 nautical miles (345 miles/555 km) from the South Pole, while Ben Saunders now faces 532 miles (856 km) until he reaches his exit point. The Spectre team is on their return trip now and has a brutal 1367 km (849 miles) to go before they're done. That said, with some help from the wind and their kites, they may be able to cover that distance pretty quickly.

Stay tuned for more updates from the frozen continent.

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Antarctica 2017: Spectre Team Heading For Home, Ben Crosses 87ºS

It has been another busy couple of days in the Antarctic where the teams continue to hit milestones on their various expeditions. By now, most everyone has settled into a routine and have hit their stride, which makes it easier to cover the miles, even if they all still face major challenges ahead.

For the Spectre team of Leo Houlding, Jean Burgun, and Mark Sedon the next stage of their journey is clear. The boys have abandoned the Gothic Mountains after achieving their goal of summiting the Spectre rock spire this past weekend and are now turning for home. They left this morning while experiencing the best weather of the trip so far. Eventually they'll deploy their kites to help speed them along back to the coast, but for now they're man hauling it while they work through an area thick with crevasses and snow bridges.

Before leaving, the team spent the past few days continuing to climb in the area. They had knocked off the Spectre, completing the second ascent of that tower from the north, and yesterday they mad a trick ascent to the summit of another rock face called Organ Pipe A. The climb was tricky over mixed terrain that included rock, snow, and ice. There were few cracks to use as holds or to install climbing aids, but they still managed to make it to the top, and rappel back down. The weather was reportedly fantastic, and it was a good way to cap the climbing portion of the expedition. Now, they're simply focused on the return trip.

Ben Saunders is a long way away from starting the final stage of his journey across the Antarctic but he did hit another major milestone today. On his march to the South Pole, the British polar explorer has now crossed 87ºS as he closes in on the bottom of the world. He now has roughly 590 miles (949 km) to go before he is done, and he knows it won't be easy.


The day began with a large sastrugi field that made for tough going, zapping the legs and slowing progress. Later in the day, the surface flattened out however allowing Saunders to ski more naturally for one of the first times since he returned to the antarctic. It isn't likely to last, as the area after the 87th degree is known to be a sastrugi minefield, but he'll take what he can get while it lasts. At the moment, he's knocking off about 14 miles (22 km) per day, which means it'll likely take all of the 65 days he predicted – and perhaps then some – to complete the traverse.

Father and son team Rob and Barney Swan hit the halfway point of their expedition today, 23 days into their march. The duo are skiing to the South Pole via the standard route that begins at Hercules Inlet. They've now reached the Thiel Mountains and have experienced a couple of days of excellent weather with warmer temperatures, lighter winds, and blue skies overhead. In other words, perfect ski conditions that have allowed them to cover about 10 miles (16 km) per day.

Rob and Barney are making this journey to promote the use of alternate sources of fuel and clean energy products. Of course, like everyone else in the antarctic, they're using solar panels to charge their electronic gear, but they are also using a new biofuel from Shell in their stoves. So far, this is proving to be clean and efficient, not causing them any problems with blocked fuel lines or burning through too much gas.

They are also using solar powered snow melters to create fresh drinking water too, which is a serious innovation for polar travel. Normally, expeditions heading to the North or South Pole, or even up big mountains, have to spend an inordinate amount of time melting snow so they have water to drink or use in their food preparation. But The Swans have a new device that melts the snow while they ski, allowing them to save a lot of time and energy. I'll be curious to find out how this works, as will a number of others who follow polar expeditions closely.

Finally, the Ice Maidens continue to pick up steam on their way to towards the South Pole. Yesterday was their first 30 km (18 mile) day, which means they have certainly found their groove. They still have a long way to go to reach their goal of becoming the first all-women's team to traverse across the continent, but the ladies have more than demonstrated their strength, determination, and skill out on the ice.

More updates soon!

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Want to Become a Polar Explorer? Apply for this Scholarship to Learn From Eric Larsen!

Over the past month or so, I've been writing extensively about the unfolding expedition season down in Antarctica. As I write this, adventurous men and women are making their way across the frozen continent on skis while pulling sleds filled with supplies and gear behind them as they go. Some are headed to the South Pole, other are traversing to different places, but they are all crossing one of the most dramatic, demanding, and spectacular wildernesses on the planet. If you've ever dreamed of doing that same thing, then I definitely have a tip for you.

In January of 2018, polar explorer Eric Larsen will be conducting a Level 1 Polar Training course to help others follow in his footsteps. The course will be held on Lake Winnipeg in Canada and will consist of a week of intense training that will help you to become more adept at winter travel or even prepare you for your own journey to the North or South Pole.

The course will consist of three days of indoor training, which in turn leads to four days of practical experience out in the field. Students will actually embark on a traverse around Lake Winnipeg in conditions that will replicate those found near the poles. They'll travel on skis, pull their sleds, sleep in tents, and learn every aspect of what it is like to survive in arctic conditions.

If this sounds like your kind of adventure, you can actually apply for a scholarship to attend the program. Allied Feather & Down and Helly Hansen have teamed up to give one lucky recipient the chance to travel to Lake Winnipeg to take part in the course, which is taught by Eric himself. The scholarship covers all the costs, including required gear, travel expenses, course fees, and more.

You can find out a lot more about the training program – including a full itinerary – by clicking here. And if this sounds like something you'd like to take part in, you can apply for the scholarship by clicking here.

If you've ever had dreams of skiing to the South Pole but weren't sure how to get your expedition off the ground, this course will certainly put you on track. You'll not only come away with some valuable skills for use in polar conditions, you'll also get the chance to learn from a guy who has spent a lot of time in very cold places. This will be the chance of a lifetime for some lucky adventurer and I'll definitely be jealous of whomever gets the opportunity.

Find out more here.

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Video: To the South Pole with the Energy Challenge Team

I've written about Rob and Barney Swan a couple of times during the current Antarctic expedition season, but this video does a good jog of sharing their story. This father and son team are skiing to the South Pole to help raise awareness of renewable and clean energy sources. But in this clip, it's more about the relationship between the two men, who are spending weeks out on the ice together on their journey to 90ºS.

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Antarctica 2017: Spectre Team Summits and Antarctica Without Sound

More news from the Antarctic today, where the expedition season continues to unfold at a fairly fast pace. The explorers who are making their way across the continent this year seem to continue to hit milestones on their way towards their own individual objectives. And while the season still has a very long way to go before it ends, it seems like it will be one of the more interesting years on the frozen continent in quite some time.

Will begin with an update on the Spectre team, which consists of Leo Houlding, Jean Burgun, and Mark Sedon. This trio of adventurers set off across the Antarctic via kite ski to reach the Gothic Mountains. Their plan was to climb a challenging rock spire called the Spectre by making the first ascent via the South Spur. Unfortunately, when they finally arrived there, they discovered that route that they had indeed to use for their descent was incredibly difficult, consisting more of blue ice and snow than rock and solid ground.

When we checked in with the team last week they were setting off on a traverse of the tower to look for alternate ways of getting back down. What they discovered that this rock face presented more challenges than they had first anticipated, so they had a quick change of plans and decided to change up their route and climb the North Side of the Spectre instead. That route was originally climbed by Mugs & Edmund Stump back in the 80's and remains the best approach to the top.

On Sunday, the trio of climbers set out to complete their objective and while it was hardly an easy ascent, they did manage to top out. Along the way they had to deal with cold temperatures, unexpected winds, and a complex rock face that was tougher than they thought it would be. You can read their account of the climb here.


With ascent of the Spectre over, the team now has a couple of days before they have to begin the return journey. Before heading for home, they're going to take on a traverse of a nearby ridge that will be a good challenge, but safer than attempting the South Spur, which is difficult enough that it now falls outside of their margin of safety. They hope to complete this new objective in a day or two, then begin packing for the journey back to the coast.

Meanwhile, Ben Saunders continues his tough slog up the Antarctic Plateu. He has reached an altitude of about 2000 meters (6561 ft), so the air is getting thinner and he still has a ways to climb before he is done. The weather has been fickle, at times sunny and warm and then quickly shifting to cold, windy, and with whiteout conditions. His daily distances are roughly 14 miles (22 km), which is enough to keep taking chunks out of his route. At the moment, he has about 620 miles (997 km) to go before he is done and about a month and a half before the season wraps up. Still very doable, particularly since he'll pick up speed as he approaches the South Pole and on the return trip to the coast.

Finally, Antarctic Ghurka Scott Sears has been dealing with other challenges, most notably a malfunctioning iPod. He's been using the device to help him get through the day by listening to music, podcasts, and audio books while he skis. But, the audio player has suddenly started running into issues which have provided him with complete silence instead. Scott says the silence was actually quite pleasant for awhile, but it makes his 12 hour days on the trail seem even longer than they actually are.

Scott's pace has been extremely quick in recent days, knocking off 30+ km (18+ miles) or more each day. This has allowed him to ski past the 86th parallel and he is now quickly approaching the 87ºS mark. From there he'll enter a zone that is well known for its sastrugi, which will likely slow him down and test the legs and stamina a bit. After that, it will be smooth sailing to the Pole however, which he may reach in time for Christmas.

That's all for today from Antarctica. We'll continue to keep an eye on things at the bottom of the world however, and bring updates where warranted.

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Antarctica 2017: Maidens Halfway to the Pole and the Challenges of Going Solo

The 2017 Antarctic expedition season continues to unfold at the bottom of the world. Unlike our last update, most of the skiers are now reporting good weather, although surface conditions remain challenging with sastrugi and soft snow making for slow going at times. Still, the teams that we've been following closely continue to forge ahead, making progress toward their individual goals.

Ben Saunders has been out on the ice longer than anyone and he's being reminded of the challenges of going solo. Back in 2014 he made a round trip expedition to the South Pole and back to the coast with Tarka L'Herpiniere and the duo split duties breaking trail. That helped to give each of them a break from being the lead man, but perhaps more importantly also provided some companionship on the hardest days. On his current traverse of the frozen continent, Saunders has neither someone to split those duties with nor anyone to keep him company either. That has worn on him some, causing him to grow tired more quickly. As a result, he's being more conservative with his efforts.

Still, the British polar explorer continues to make good strides forward. He's been knocking off 12-14 miles (19-22 km) per day and now has 688 miles to go before he's done. That is still a considerable distance, but he has now passed the 85ºS mark and has his sights set on reaching the Pole before he begins his return trip to the coast at the Ross Ice Shelf.

Speaking of making good time, Scott Sears – aka the Antarctic Ghurka – has found his rhythm and is covering solid distances most days now. Yesterday he managed to cover 40.1 km (25 miles) in a little more than 12 hours of skiing. In Antarctic terms, that is flying and he should be very pleased with the progress. He also passed the 84th degree, and is making his way towards Thiels Corner on the edge of the Thiel Mountains. That's a milestone for anyone skiing to the South Pole as most make a turn there and begin heading more directly towards 90ºS.


So far, Scott seams to be in excellent spirits and is enjoying his expedition. He hopes to become the youngest person to ski solo for the full distance to the South Pole, and right now that seems like an attainable goal. He is starting to get low on podcasts that he downloaded prior to setting out, which have kept him company on the journey however, but it seems unlikely that will hinder his progress too much.

Elsewhere, the Ice Maidens have reached a major milestone on their journey across Antarctica as well. The six ladies who make up the team have now reached the halfway point to the South Pole, which is remarkable considering their late start. Poor weather conditions kept them grounded at Union Glacier for far longer than they would have liked, but they've definitely been making up for it since. They are hoping to become the first all female team to traverse the continent under their own power however, so the Pole itself will just be their halfway point too. So far, everything is going well.

Finally, the Spectre team made it to the foot of the mountain this past weekend and have now established Base Camp there. They've already been scouting the rock towers they hope to climb there, but have discovered some unexpected challenges. For instance, a section of the mountain that they thought might be skiable, or at least make for an easier descent, is actually a 70º wall of blue ice. Obviously they'll have to look for a different route than they had planned, but such is life in the Antarctic.

The team planned on spending yesterday traversing the Spectre rock towers to look for alternative exits, but they have announced any plans yet. They've been enjoying a few days of staying in one place after battling their kites for a couple of weeks just to get to the mountain. Soon, they'll begin their ascent, weather permitting of course.

That's all for today. I'll continue to keep an eye on things down south in the days ahead and share updates when applicable.

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Antarctica 2017: Father-Son Team Skiing to the South Pole for Clean Energy

We've been following some ambitious expeditions across the Antarctic already this season, but now we can add another one to the list. A father and son team have launched their own ski journey to the South Pole and they're doing it with an important environmental message too.

Rob and Barney Swan have embarked on what they call the South Pole Energy Challenge (SPEC) as part of their much larger 2041 Project. Over the course of the coming weeks, they'll travel on foot for more than 600 miles (965 km) in order to reach 90ºS. It appears they are following the usual route from Hercules Inlet to Pole, with an estimated time of about 8 weeks to finish the trip.

What makes this particular journey unique is that they plan to unveil some cutting edge technologies while en route and become the first team to ski to the South Pole using only clean energy sources. The duo are promoting the 2016 Paris Climate Accords and are hoping to use the expedition as a way to demonstrate clean energy technologies, while also acting to preserve the continent from the advances of global warming.

The father and son team have been skiing for about a week now, and are making solid progress for their first few days out on the ice. During the early part of the expedition it usually takes awhile for skiers to get their legs under them, and the sleds that they pull are at their heaviest. As time goes buy, they begin to find a rhythm and as they consume food and supplies, the sled gets a bit lighter, allowing them to travel further and faster. So far though, Rob and Barney have been chugging long at a nice pace, with mostly good weather and surface conditions.


This isn't Rob's first time skiing to the South Pole. In fact, he first followed in the footsteps of Robert Falcon Scott back in 1985-86. Then in 1989 he also marched to the North Pole, becoming one of just a handful of people to make both of those journeys by foot. Now, he's traveling across Antarctica once again, and finding it to be both a very different place than when he first visited, and yet often the same.

So why have they dubbed their expedition the 2041 Project? Because we have until the year 2041 to renew a treaty that bans mining and commercialization of Antarctica. In order to preserve this place, it is crucial that those agreements stand and are renewed. There are some indications that certain countries would like to mine or drill in Antarctica to claim precious resources, but those actions could be disastrous to the environment there. Rob and Barney are hoping to avert such a crisis.

Exactly how the SPEC squad distinguishes itself from other teams skiing to the South Pole remains a bit unclear. Most skiers use solar energy to power their gear while on the continent, although the fuel sources for their stoves vary a bit. On top of that, Rob and Barney flew to the Union Glacier camp from Punta Arenas, Chile, so I'm not certain how using a massive Ilyushin aircraft to get to Antarctica falls into their plan of using only clean energy. Still, I respect their message and mission and look forward to following them throughout the journey and learning more about the 2041 Project in general.

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Antarctica 2017: The Ice Maidens Are Underway at Last

The Antarctic expedition season is continuing to unfold at a rapid pace. It seems like just yesterday we were reporting that the first teams skiing to the South Pole had arrived on the ice, and now we're nearly a month into the season already. For the first groups of explorers it has been a long couple of weeks already, but for very different reasons.

For the Ice Maidens, the start of the journey was slow in coming, even though they were on the first plane out to Union Glacier. The six ladies who make up the squad are eager to become the first all-female team to ski the full distance to the South Pole, and yet Antarctica wasn't being all that cooperative. As a result, the Maidens were forced to sit at the Union Glacier camp while they waited for the weather to improve at their starting point on the Leverett Glacier.

And so they waited, and waited, and waited. For nearly three weeks they stood at the ready to begin their journey, but continued to face delay after delay. Such is the life of an Antarctic skier, particularly at the start of the season. But fortunately the weather has improved at long last, and the women have finally begun their expedition in earnest. They were dropped off on the glacier a few days back and are now making their way south. They have given up the relatively warm and comfortable confines of camp for the wild, unpredictable weather and wide open spaces of the Antarctic, which is of course what they've been hoping for all along.

Ben Saunders has now been out on the ice for more than three weeks and he is continuing to make steady progress towards the South Pole. He's been knocking off solid distances on most days, skiing for 9 hours, while taking six 10 minute breaks along the way. The frozen continent hasn't been making it easy on him however, as high winds and whiteout conditions have made for tough going at times. On more than one occasion Ben has been forced to navigate using his compass and watch, because in a whiteout there aren't any landmarks that can help him find the way. This slows down the progress some, but is vitally important for staying on course.


As you'll probably recall, Saunders is attempting to become the first person to ski solo and unassisted to the South Pole and back again. That means he's going completely on his own and without any outside support, supply drops, or any assistance of any kind. That makes this expedition an extremely difficult and dangerous one, particularly when skiing alone in a whiteout without anyone else to help navigate or pick up the slack. And with more than 800 miles (1287 km) yet to go, there are times when I'm sure he wouldn't mind having someone else along to help break the trail.

Scott Sears – aka the Antarctic Ghurka – has been skiing for ten days now and seems to be finding his rhythm quite nicely. He's been knocking off around 25 km (15.5 miles) per day, and is picking up steam in his quest to become the youngest person to ski the full distance to the South Pole. The journey hasn't been without its challenges however, as he too has faced whiteout conditions multiple times already. When that happens, he can barely see past the end of his skis, again making navigation a challenging affair.

The whiteouts also keep Sears from being able to recharge the batteries he uses to keep his electronic gear operating. Like most Antarctic explorers, he places solar panels a top his sled, which collect power while he skis all day, But on days where the sun is elusive, that isn't possible, and as a result the batteries don't collect all the energy they need. Considering that it is daylight 24/7 in Antarctica right now, it won't take long for Scott to get his gear up and running again. For now though, he is without comms from time to time.

The next ALE flight is scheduled to take place on December 4, bringing more skiers to the Antarctic. We should also soon start seeing the arrival of teams of climbers heading to Mt. Vinson, the tallest peak on the continent as well. I've heard rumors of a few other mountaineering expeditions to Antarctica this season as well, but until they are confirmed, I'll keep them under my hat for now. Besides, we have plenty of news to keep us busy for now anyway.

More to come soon.

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Antarctica 2017: Antarctic Ghurka Hits the Ice, Maidens Still Waiting

Last week while I was away another plane carried more Antarctic skiers to the Union Glacier camp to begin their expeditions on the frozen continent. Some didn't have to wait long before they were shuttled out to their starting points, while others continue to sit and wait for a weather window that will allow them to get underway at long last.

One of the new skiers who has just launched his expedition is Scott Sears, a former member of the British Royal Ghurka Soldiers, who is attempting to become the youngest person to ever ski the full distance to the South Pole solo and unassisted. Dubbed the Antarctic Ghurka, Scott flew to Union Glacier on November 15 and was able to be taken directly out to his starting point at Hercules Inlet the following day. He's now three days into his journey and so far has had mostly excellent weather, with blue skies and bright sunlight. There have been occasional high winds, but for the start of his 1100 km (683 mile) expedition to the South Pole, it has been mostly smooth sailing thus far.

The same can't be said for the Ice Maidens, a team of six women who are active and reservist in the British military. They've been sitting and waiting at Union Glacier for more than two weeks now simply because there hasn't been a weather window at their starting location on the Leverett Glacier. Hopefully that will change soon, but for now they continue to sit and wait.

Delays like this one aren't all that uncommon in the Antarctic, particularly early in the season. They can be extremely frustrating nonetheless, as teams are eager to get started. A two-week pause at Union Glacier is somewhat unusual however, although not unheard of it. The weather forecast is starting to improve however, so hopefully the Maidens will get underway soon.

British polar explorer Ben Saunders has faced none of these delays and has already been out on the ice for two weeks. He has started to find his his rhythm and is making decent time across the ice, although he has started to run into the regular challenges that are found in the Antarctic, most notably high winds, soft snow, and sastrugi, all of which can cause serious slow downs and zap the strength from your legs. Soft snow is hard to ski in and sastrugi are very hard ridges of packed snow on the ice that act as speed bumps. Neither are fun to deal with, but Saunders is making the best of his situation so far and is forging ahead with impressive resolve.

That's all for today. I'll continue to keep an eye on the things going on down on the frozen continent and post updates as warranted. The season is truly just getting underway, so there should be plenty of interesting updates to come.

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Antarctica 2017: Delays, Starts, and Whiteouts on the Frozen Continent

The Antarctic expedition is in full swing now, and with another aircraft scheduled to arrive at the Union Glacier camp tomorrow, we could have even more teams embarking for the South Pole. To date, there has been only one flight out of Punta Arenas, Chile but soon others will follow and things will really start to get interesting.

For the teams who have already arrived in the Antarctic it has been a challenging week. The Ice Maidens, which is made up of six female British active military members or reservists, appear to still be waiting at Union Glacier, even though they've been there for more than a week. They will be attempting to ski from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, then make a return trip via the Trans-Antarctic Mountains and over the Leverett Glacier and ending on the Ross Ice Shelf. In total, they'll cover about 1700 km (1056 miles) once they get underway, receiving two supply drops en route.

Norwegians Astrid Furholt and Jan Sverre Sivertsen have finally gotten underway on their attempt to follow Roald Amundsen's route to the South Pole and back again. They were dropped off at their starting point on Sunday, and have now started their trek to 90ºS. The duo are looking to cover more than 1900 km (1200 miles) and are using kite skis to help them complete the journey, which they expect to take roughly 80 days to complete.

Their route is a bit unusual in that they will first ski away from the Pole out to Amundsen's camp on the coast, then turn around and head to South Pole, crossing the Axel Heiberg Glacier, climbing up onto the Polar Plateau, through the infamous Devil ’s Dance-floor, and over the Titan Dome at 3200 meters (10,500 ft). So far, they haven't posted any updates from the ice, but I would expect a steady stream of news to start soon.


Finally, Ben Saunders continues to chug along on his solo, unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent. He was dropped off at his starting point on November 8, and has been making steady progress despite challenging conditions. Whiteouts have been the norm so far, with small amounts of good weather mixed in here and there. Yesterday, Saunders reports that it was warmer than usual on the frozen continent and he was able to ski without his face covered for the first time. Prior to that, high winds, blowing snow, and cold temperatures made it impossible to enjoy exposing his skin to the elements.

So far, Ben is knocking off about roughly 17.5 km (11 miles) per day, which is a very good pace for the start of an Antarctic expedition. At the beginning, most of the skiers are still finding their legs and getting into a rhythm. On top of that, their sleds are extremely heavy too, slowing them down some. As they expedition unfolds, they usually consume food and fuel, which makes the sled lighter as they go along. Right now, Saunders is still in the process of finding that rhythm, but has been making good progress nonetheless.

That's all for today. We should have more expeditions to follow out on the ice soon.

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Antarctica 2017: Weather Keeps Expeditions Grounded

Just a quick update from the Antarctic today, where weather is delaying the start of some of the expeditions. While both the Ice Maidens and Norwegians Astrid Furholt and Jan Sverre Sivertsen are eager to get started with their expeditions, poor weather has kept them stranded at the Union Glacier camp. But, there is hope that they will fly to their respective starting points soon, allowing them to truly get underway at long last.

The Ice Maidens are made up of a group of six British women who are hoping to become the first all-female squad to ski to the South Pole. They'll start at Hercules Inlet and ski the "normal" route to 90ºS, covering some 1700 km (1056 miles) in the process. Each of the ladies on the team are all serving in the British Military or the Reserves as well, and will receive two supply drops while en route, but will otherwise be self-sufficient out on the ice.

Meanwhile, the Norwegians are taking on a daunting task of their own as they follow the historic route of national hero Roald Amundsen to the South Pole and back. Their route will cross 2050 km (1273 miles), starting and ending on the Ross Ice Shelf, which they hope to complete in 70 days. If successful, Astrid will also become the first female explorer to complete this route.

British polar explorer Ben Saunders has been out on the ice for a few days now and is already making steady progress. It hasn't been an easy start to the expedition however, without whiteout conditions, crevasses, and other challenges welcoming him back to the Antarctic. You can read about his expedition thus far by clicking here.

The next flight to Union Glacier is set to take place next week, with even more teams arriving on the ice. Hopefully by then, those waiting at the camp will have been dropped off and will be well on their way. Things are definitely starting to get interesting on the frozen continent.

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Antarctica 2017: Ben Saunders Officially Begins Solo Trek Across Antarctica

British polar explorer Ben Saunders is off! The man attempting to become the first person to ski solo, unassisted, and unsupported across Antarctica has begun his journey after getting a drop off on Berkner Island earlier today. Now, he faces more than a thousand miles of icy landscapes and challenging weather as he traverses the continent via the South Pole. 

Saunders was expected to be dropped off at his starting point yesterday, but poor weather grounded the Twin Otters aircraft that would have flown him to Berkner. That isn't uncommon this time of year, as the austral summer hasn't quite settled in yet and conditions remain wildly unpredictable. He didn't have to wait long for the next opportunity to fly however, as he was on another flight early this morning that took him to the drop-off point. 

Upon arrival, Ben gathered his equipment, hooked up his sled, and soon began skiing across the ice. High winds made things a bit challenging for the start, and blowing snow dropped visibility. Still, he reports that things are going well and he was happy to be moving at last. He skied for about 45 minutes before establishing camp for the night, all part of his plan to stay on UTC time, rather than switch to the Chilean time zone. 

Ben reports that Antarctic explorer Hannah McKeand was also on his flight this morning. Back in 2006 she skied solo to the South Pole and has been guiding on the frozen continent for years. She is reportedly setting up a camp near a penguin colony near Gould Bay, and is likely guiding clients once again this year. Hannah was the record holder for the fastest time to the Pole for quite a number of years, and is obviously still very comfortable in Antarctic. 

No word yet on whether or not the Ice Maidens or the Norwegian team have been flown to their starting point just yet. Both squad have yet to update their schedules. But, if the weather has improved, they should both be getting underway soon as well. 

The next ALE flight to the Union Glacier camp isn't scheduled to take place until November 15, and it is listed as "Full" on the company's website. That is when we'll likely see the next wave of Antarctic skiers be delivered to the ice, although the flight schedule could be shifted around depending on the weather conditions. 

Things should start to ramp up quickly now and we can expect a steady stream of updates moving forward. It promises to be another interesting expedition season down at the bottom of the world. Stay tuned for more. 

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Antarctica 2017: Two More Teams Hit the Ice as Ben Saunders Prepares to Begin

The first flight of the Antarctic expedition season delivered three teams to the Union Glacier camp over the weekend, and soon all of them will begin their march across the ice. Things are still ramping up at ALE's base of operations on the frozen continent as supplies and support staff are delivered to the camp. But for the teams who are now in place, there is little time to waste before setting off.

British polar explorer Ben Saunders is getting ready for his massive undertaking. He is in Union Glacier waiting for a flight out to Berkner Island, where he'll begin his attempt to ski solo, unassisted, and unsupported across more than 1000 miles (1609 km) of Antarctica. Saunders route will take him to the Ross Ice Shelf via the South Pole, following roughly the same path as Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated expedition more than a century ago. It is also the same route that Henry Worsely was attempting during the 2015-2016 season when he took ill and lost his life.

Ben has reported in from Union Glacier, where he says the temperature at night is a balmy -7ºF/-22ºC, but things remain very civilized with warm tents, good food, and pleasant company. Soon, he'll leave all of that behind and will spend upwards of two months on his own out on the ice. Saunders expects to truly be underway in the next day or two.

Meanwhile, there are two other teams who are also at Union Glacer and getting ready to start as well. The Ice Maidens are a group of six women who will also attempt a traverse of the Antarctic continent, becoming the first all-female team to accomplish that task. Each of the ladies is a former member of the British military, and are looking to cover 1700 km (1056 miles) starting at Union Glacier and ending on the Leverett Glacier, with a stop at the South Pole along the way. The team will go unsupported, but will receive two supply drops while en route.


Finally, Norwegian adventurers Astrid Furholt and Jan Sverre Sivertsen are also at Union Glacier waiting to begin their expedition as well. The duo play to follow the same route that Roald Amundsen took on his way to the South Pole back in 1911, and will cover approximately 1500 km (932 miles), starting on the Ross Ice Shelf at Ross Island. The'll cross the Axel Heiberg Glacier on their way to the South Pole, then turn around and return to Cape Evans. The entire trip is expected to take about 80 days.

Right now the weather is a bit rough in certain parts of the Antarctic, so when exactly these teams will be dropped off remains unclear. Saunders expects to start today or tomorrow, while the Ice Maidens may get a drop off in that same time frame. Meanwhile, the Norwegians may have to sit tight to wait out a storm. Either way, we should be getting regular updates from the ice within the next few days.

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Antarctica 2017: Ben Saunders Set to Depart for the Antarctic Today

Yesterday I posted a story about the start of the Antarctic expedition season that is about to get underway, and now it looks like it may be officially happening. British polar explorer Ben Saunders has updated his blog today to share the news that he is awaiting final confirmation from ALE regarding the first flight to the frozen continent this year. That flight is designated to deliver supplies and crew to the Union Glacier camp, which serves as a base of operations throughout the austral summer, but Saunders will also be delivered to the ice aboard a massive Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft.

Ben says that he has spent the better part of the past week or so getting ready for the start of his journey. That includes organizing and packing his gear and supplies, charging his electronic equipment, checking last-minute things off of his to-do list, and clearing all of the email out of his inbox.

Now, with all of those things finished, he's truly ready to get started. He was awaiting a final weather report this morning, but as of this writing it appears that things are looking good for Saunders to launch his daring and demanding expedition. Remember, he'll be attempting to become the first person to complete a solo crossing of Antarctica – via the South Pole – completely unassisted and unsupported. That means it will be just him, all alone on the ice, skiing across the frozen expanse, dragging a heavy sled behind him the entire time.

If all goes as expected, Ben should arrive at the Union Glacier Camp following a 4+ hour flight. Once there, he'll likely spend a day or two before being dropped off at the starting point of the expedition, and then he'll truly be alone. The journey is expected to take upwards of two months to complete, so he is facing quite a bit of isolation over the coming weeks.


Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the British Antarctic Survey Halley VI Research Station will not remain open during the Antarctic winter of 2018. The base is only now being staffed for the summer months, but next year it will be closed down completely for safety reasons. You may recall that the movable base was relocated to a new spot last year to avoid potential issues with cracking ice. It seems that more cracks have opened around the laboratory, prompting further concerns about the new location as well.

One of those cracks opened just last year, but has grown dramatically in size in recent months. The fear is that another large section of Antarctic ice could calve off, taking the research station with it. The 14-member crew that were expected to remain there will be redeployed to other bases. It is unclear at this time whether or not there are plans to move the Halley VI once again. If that were to happen, it wouldn't occur until next fall at the earliest, leaving the little station to fend for itself in the long, cold Antarctic winter.

That's it for now. I'll share updates on the unfolding Antarctic expedition season as we get them.

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Ben Saunders to Attempt Solo, Unassisted Crossing of Antarctica

With October nearly over and November approaching quickly, the Antarctic expedition season is nearly upon us. As usual this year, there will be plenty of explorers and adventurers heading to the frozen continent to attempt to ski to the South Pole from a variety of different starting points. But one expedition is set to stand out above all others, as it will be one of the longest, most difficult journeys ever undertaken as British explorer Ben Saunders attempts to ski solo, unsupported, and unassisted across the all of Antarctica.

Saunders route will cover some 1000 miles (1600 km) as he skis point-to-point across Antarctica, rather than to the South Pole and back to his starting point. He intends to go completely alone, and will not receive any outside airdrops for extras supplies and gear, nor will he use any kites. It will just be him, out there by himself, lugging a 300 pound (136 kg) sled across the ice. He expects the journey will take somewhere between 60-65 days to complete as he retraces the same path that Robert Falcon Scott took on his fateful expedition more than a century ago.

For Saunders, this isn't just about trying to become the first to ski solo and unassisted across Antarctica. He is also undertaking the expedition in memory of his friend Henry Worsely, who passed away trying to complete that same feat two years ago. Worsely was just 50 miles from the finish line when he took ill, and although he was evacuated from the ice, he succumbed to illness a few days later.

Saunders is no stranger to the polar regions of the planet. He has previously skied to both the North and South Pole, and has spent plenty of time in those cold regions to understand what he is getting himself into. It has been three years since his last journey across Antarctica, during which he followed the Shackleton-Scott route on a trip to 90ºS and then back again to Ross Island, covering roughly 1795 miles (2,888 km) along the way. On that particular journey he has a partner in Tarka L'Herpiniere and the duo received a supply drop at one point, ending their "unassisted" status.

At the moment, Saunders' website is down, presumably for a revamp prior to the start of this expedition. But, the explorer recently conducted an interview with Outside magazine, which you can read here. (Update: Ben's site is up and running again!)

As usual, I'll be following the Antarctic season very closely when it gets underway in a couple of weeks. Ben's journey will be one that I will definitely be posting regular updates about. It should be quite the adventure to follow. Stay tuned for more.

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