The 737 Challenge: Seven Summits, Three Poles, Seven Months

I write about a host of ambitious expeditions and projects here on The Adventure Blog, but here's one that is on a completely different level.

Welsh adventurer Richard Parks has set quite a goal for himself. He plans to reach the top of all of the Seven Summits, as well as both the North and South Pole, in just seven months time. He's calling his expedition the 737 Challenge, which stands for 7 Summits, 3 Poles, 7 Months. Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, is sometimes called the "third pole."

The expedition is set to begin in December, with a trip to the South Pole and a climb of Mt. Vinson. From there he'll move on to Aconcagua in South America, followed by Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania. Then it's on to the North Pole before tackling Everest and Denali. He'll finish up on Elbrus in Europe sometime next summer. Parks hopes to use the expedition as a platform to raise funds for the Marie Curie Cancer Care organization, certainly a noble cause.

When I first started to read about this Richard's adventure, I thought this will be a logistical nightmare and nearly impossible to complete in just seven months time. After all, we've been following Eric Larsen on his Save The Poles journey for nearly a year now, and Eric "only" went to the North and South Pole and is in the process of attempting Everest. But it turns out that Richard will be covering the last two degrees to the South Pole and the final degree to the North Pole. Both of those journeys will take considerably less time than Eric's expedition, and change the logistics significantly.

Don't get me wrong, this is still a very ambitious project, but those shorter polar expeditions will make it possible to cover the Seven Summits too. This should be a great seven month journey for him and an amazing feat for anyone to accomplish.

Good luck Richard!

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Pole to Pole: Ultra-athlete Running From North to South Pole

Australian ultrarunner Pat Farmer revealed an expedition of absolutely epic proportions yesterday when he announced that he'll be running from the North Pole to the South Pole in 2011. The journey will get underway in March at the North Pole and will end 11-months later when he reaches the South Pole, 13,000 miles away.

According to this article, Farmer will begin at 90ºN and head south into Canada, then proceed down the West Coast of the U.S. and into Mexico, before continuing through Central and South America. Eventually, he'll end up in Ushuaia, Argentina, where he'll be airlifted to Patriot Hills on the Antarctic continent, where he'll then complete the last leg of the journey, ending at 90ºS. When he's finished, the Aussie will have run through 14 countries and three continents. He estimates he'll wear through 40 pairs of shoes and 300 pairs of socks in the process.

As if the goal of running from one pole to another wasn't grand enough, Farmer has even loftier designs for his run. He hopes to raise $100 million for the Red Cross along the way to aid efforts for clean water and sanitation programs around the world. He also intends to address the United Nations after he has completed his mission as well.

You can read more about the journey and follow along with Pat on his website, which as of this writing is down for maintenance and updates. I'm sure it'll have all kinds of info once it is up and running properly however.

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Alan Arnette Profiles Explorer Eric Larsen

We've been following Eric Larsen and his Save the Poles Expedition for months now. It all got underway last fall when he set out to ski to the South Pole, which he successfully accomplished just a few days into the new year. Then, this past spring, proving that he loves to suffer in cold climates, Eric made the journey to the North Pole as well. This fall he'll make an attempt on Everest, where he hopes to claim the Earth's "third pole", becoming the first person to visit all three in a single calendar year.

At the recent Outdoor Retailer show, which ended last Friday, Alan Arnette caught up with Eric, and had a chance to interview him about his adventures, but the ones that he's already accomplished, and the ones that lie ahead.

In this article, we learn more about his polar journeys, what drives him to go to these extreme places, and how he is preparing for Everest. As of now, Eric has never been above 8000 meters, and he is busy training at altitude in Boulder, Colorado in preparation for the climb. He does have some mountaineering experience, but nothing in the big Himalayan peaks. His insights into how a mountain expedition is different from the polar ones is quite interesting as well.

I'm looking forward to following Eric on Everest. The Fall Season is always a lot more quiet than the spring, and his attempt will bring some excitement to the what can be, at times, a bit of a lack-luster fall on Everest. If he does manage to summit the mountain, he'll have accomplished quite the feat, and have packed more adventure into a single year than most people have in a lifetime.

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WideWorld Mag Interviews Pen Hadow on the Changing Face of the Arctic

WideWorld Magazine has posted an interesting interview with polar explorer Pen Hadow in which he talks about a number of great topics, including the continued importance of exploration in the 21st century, his approach to organizing and conducting an expedition, and his thoughts on the impact of global climate change on the polar ice caps.

Pen has visited both the North and South Pole, and back in 2003, he became the first person to make the solo, unsupported journey to 90ºN via the Canadian side of the Pole. He was also a member of the ice team on the 2009 Catlin Arctic Survey and served as the project director for the 2010 survey as well.

Needless to say, he's logged plenty of time in very cold places, and talks about how those places are now changing, with the ice caps shrinking dramatically thanks to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is in turn absorbed by the oceans. As a result of this increase, and due to a general warming of the planet, the ice is disappearing from both poles, but especially the North. Pen says that in another 20-30 years, the North Polar Icecap will cease to be a year round fixture at the top of the world, and will be replaced by open water for a good part of the year.

The interview is a good one for a number of reasons, and offers some great insights into travel in the polar regions, both now and in the future. As the headline says, we may all be going to the North Pole by kayak in the years to come.

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Men's Journal Interviews Eric Larsen

We've been following explorer Eric Larsen and his Save the Poles Expedition for months now, but he is starting to get more mainstream attention as well. For example, Eric was recently interviewed for Men's Journal following his successful journey to the North Pole, which puts him two-thirds of the way toward achieving his goal.

You'll probably recall that Larsen has set quite the busy year for himself as he attempts to become the first person to visit both the North and South Pole, as well as the summit of Everest, in the same calendar year. He reached the South Pole in early January, and the North in April. That leave just Everest to conquer, which he'll attempt in the fall season. But the Save The Poles Expedition isn't just about the adventure, as he hopes to raise awareness about global climate change and the effects it is having on these fragile environments.

In the Men's Journal interview Eric discusses such topics as what changes he has seen at the Poles that can be attributed to global warming and how those changes will impact future polar exploration. He also talks about the rigors of his arctic expeditions and what it does to his body, and touches a bit on his plans for Everest. He will be leaving for the Himalaya at the end of August as expected.

While the interview is a bit brief, it always interesting, and sometimes depressing, to read how these extreme environments are changing. Clearly Eric has a unique perspective, having already gone to both poles in the past few months, so it is is a bit sobering when he predicts that a North Pole expedition might be impossible in 15 years, as the ice caps break-up and become even more unstable. Sad news indeed.

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Crossing Antarctica By Kite Buggy

ExWeb has news of a new expedition planned for the 2011-2012 Antarctic Season, during which time Dutch adventurers Hans Wijnand and Jacob Slooff will attempt to traverse Antarctica through the use of kite buggies.

According to the story, the expedition will be made to celebrate the 100 anniversary of Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott's epic race to the South Pole, which ended with Amundsen victorious, and Scott dying in a tent, 11 miles from his next supply depot. The duo will set out in October of 2011 from Novo Base, and over the course of the next three months, they'll proceed on to the South Pole, and then over to Mt. Vinson, which they'll climb as well. When finished, they'll have covered more than 2000 miles, and scaled a 16,000 foot peak.

The team is still finalizing their buggy design, but hope to have it done soon, and they're working to attract sponsors for the trip as well. They will be working with National Geographic Junior magazine in some capacity, and they'll also be taking biometric readings throughout the journey to test stress levels, caloric consumption, and a host of other items to see how a trip of this kind can effect the body.

Should be another interesting expedition to follow, and I can't wait to see how their buddies work. With good winds, they should make excellent time, but when the wind falters, they'll have tough going. I'm sure by 2011 they'll have all the kinks worked out however.

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Sir Ranulph Fiennes Just Might Be A Terminator

As if there was any doubt before, it can now be confirmed that British adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes is indeed a complete bad ass. The man who has been dubbed "The World's Greatest Living Explorer" apparently survived a three car pile-up a few weeks back, just one day after he finished a major endurance event.

Investigation into what actually happened is still ongoing, but it seems that Fiennes Jaguar rammed into another vehicle before careening off into a third. Reports from the scene of the accident seem to indicate that Sir Ran was in the passenger seat at the time, and may have sustained minor injuries. Certainly not enough to bother a man who famously cut his own fingers off rather than wait to let them heal from frostbite.

At the age of 66, the polar legend doesn't seem to be slowing down. The night before the accident he was taking part in a 42-mile long endurance challenge called the High Peak Marathon, and he always seems to be planning some other new adventure. Of course, his resume is already impressive enough. Not only is he the first man to visit both the North and South Pole on foot, he has also climbed the Eiger Northface, summitted Everest, and run seven marathons, in seven days, on seven continents. In short, he's tougher than all of us.

Thanks to the Wend Blog for the heads up on this story. They speculate that Ran is indestructible, but I have another theory. He just might be a sophisticated cyborg sent back in time to make the rest of us all look bad. He's like a damn Terminator. He can't be bargained with. He can't be reasoned with. He doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And He absolutely will not stop, ever.

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20th Anniversary of the Trans-Antarctica Expedition

Twenty years ago yesterday one of the most amazing and ambitious expeditions to Antarctica, or just about anywhere else for that matter, came to an end, when a team of six explorers, from six different countries, completed a 3741 mile journey across that continent. To commemorate that anniversary, Jon Bowermaster posted an interesting article on the expedition.

Jon co-authored a book about the journey with polar explorer Will Steger, who was a part of the team. The book is called Crossing Antarctica, and it was recently re-released to coincide with this 20th anniversary. To get an idea of what this expedition was like, it lasted 221 days, beginning and ending in the Antarctic winter. The explorers traveled by dog sled, which would never happen again, as a year later, the Antarctic Treaty was amended to ban the use of dogs there. Jon also points out that the cost of the expedition was was in the neighborhood of $12 million, a budget that isn't likely to be approached again soon.

Over the course of their Antarctic adventure, the team endured amazing challenges. The temperatures were generally around -40ºF, the survived a 60-day long blizzard, and they were constantly faced with supply issues. But in spite of all of that, they successfully crossed the most inhospitable environment on the planet. Their story is one of endurance, determination, and an adventurous spirit, as I can't even imagine what it must have been like to roll out of their sleeping bags and warm tents for yet another day out on that barren and featureless polar desert. The men that made this journey were true explorers, and their real life adventure goes beyond most fiction.

20 years on, this is still an amazing accomplishment.

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Alan Arnette Interview: Lei Wang Goes For Adventure Grand Slam

Speaking of the Seven Summits, our friend Alan Arnette has another good interview posted this week. This time Alan speaks with Chinese climber Lei Wang, who is closing in on the Adventure Grand Slam, which consists of reaching the top of the Seven Summits and skiing to both the North and South Pole. In Lei's case, she has just Everest left to conquer, which she hopes to do this spring.

Like many who have completed the Seven Summits, Lei's love of mountaineering began when she reached the summit of Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa at 19,340 feet. That climb opened a sense of adventure in the young woman, and her desire to climb the remaining Summits was fueled further when she learned that no Chinese woman had accomplished the feat. Since then, she has stood atop Elbrus, Denali, Aconcagua, Carstensz Pyramid, and Vinson. Along the way, she also managed to go to the top and bottom of the world, on skis to both Poles.

In the interview, Lei talks briefly about her childhood in China, how things changed when she came to the U.S. to pursue an MBA, her first trip to the mountains, and a whole lot more. She touches on her training methods (puling those darn tires!), her mental preparation, and what it's going to be like to tell her parents she's going to Everest. As of the interview, she still hasn't broken it to them. *gulp*

If she is successful in reaching the summit of Everest, Lei will become just the tenth person to complete the Adventure Grand Slam, putting her in very elite company with the likes of Max Chaya, Cecilie Skog, and Park Young Seok, who has also climbed each of the 8000 meter peaks as well. Pretty impressive accomplishment, and it should be fun to see if she is successful this spring.

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Antarctic Expedition Video

So you say you want to go to the South Pole huh? Wondering what it's really like out there on the ice for days at a time? Then you're going to enjoy this video, which comes to us courtesy of Eric Larsen and his Save The Poles Team who recently made the journey for themselves. In the video, you'll get a real idea of what the Antarctic landscapes are all about (hint: white, barren, and featureless!) and you have a better appreciation for what these explorers go through to realize their dreams of standing at 90ºS. Judging from the video, all that white expanse may drive you slightly insane. At various times in the vid you'll see Eric, along with teammates Dongsheng Liu and Bill Hanlon, playing football with a snowball, bowling in the snow, and dancing around their tent like madmen. All great stuff of course. :)

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Sir Ranulph Fiennes Doesn't Leave Home Without His Goldfish

I came across this video at The Adventure Life and thought that it was well worth sharing. The short film was animated by the British Foreign Office and the words were written, and are read, by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who has been called the "World's Greatest Living Explorer". In the video, Sir Ran is off on one of his many adventurers, and he gives us a bit of insight into what it is like to be on a polar expedition, something that he is intimately aware. As is common on such expeditions, disaster strikes, and in the end, the explorer is saved by his "Goldfish".

For those who aren't familiar with Sir Ranulph's resume, here's a few highlights. The former British SAS Officer specialized in demolitions before embarking on a career as an explorer and adventurer. He has run the length of the White Nile, in a hovercraft no less. He's also explored the Jostedalsbreen Glacier in Norway, made a solo attempt on the North Pole, and completed a North-South Circumnavigation of the planet, visiting both Poles in the process. He has also discovered a lost city in Oman, climbed the Eiger, and reached the summit of Everest at the age of 65. He also famously cut of his own frostbitten fingers rather than wait for them to heal on their own as the doctors suggested. In short, he's a legend, and his autobiography, Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know is quite a good read.

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The South Pole Dome Is No More!

Way back in November I wrote about how the dome at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was being demolished and shipped home because it had been replaced by a newer, more energy efficient building. That dome had been an iconic symbol at the Pole for 30 years, and there was a movement afoot to get the dome reassembled back in the States as a monument to the research and exploration that has gone on there for three decades.

January 15th was the end of an era, as the deconstruction of the dome was completed at last. The photo below was taken of the entire team at the station, with just two sections of the dome still standing. After the photo was shot, those last two sections were taken down, and the building was officially decommissioned. You can find out more at SouthPoleStation.com and you can see this a larger version of the photo by clicking here.

While I'm sure the new, six story tall building, will be a fine home for the scientists, researchers, and staff at the Pole, it'll hardly cut the horizon in the same way that the dome once did. It'll be a very different view for the explorers that make their way to that spot in the future, that much is for sure.

Thanks to Lou-Phi for reminding me of this story. Much appreciated as always! :)

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Antarctica 2009: Ryan and Cecilie Are Done!!

I posted an Antarctic update earlier in the day, but thought this was worth it's own post as well. In the earlier update I noted that Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skogs were closing in on their goal of traversing across the continent, and they've just sent back a dispatch saying that they have completed their expedition. Here is the complete text from the dispatch:

We are very pleased to announce that Cecilie Skog of Norway and Ryan Waters of the USA, have completed the first ever un-supported/un-assisted ski traverse of Antarctica!

The team skied 1,117 miles/1,800 kilometers over 70 days from Berkner Island in the Ronne/Filchner Sea to the South Pole, then continued to the Ross Sea to complete a full traverse of the continent.

more soon...

Pretty impressive work from the two adventurers. Completing an unsupported traverse is an amazing accomplishment, and I want to congratulate Ryan and Cecilie for a job well done. Great work you two!

With this expedition coming to an end, the 2009 Antarctic Season is really coming to a close. There are a few things still going on down there, and a few teams still on Vinson and some other peaks, but the window will be closing soon, and the number of people living in Antarctica will once again return to a very small number. At least until the 2010 season, when things will certainly get interesting once again.

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Antarctica 2009: Meagan Heading Home, Ryan and Cecilie Nearly Done!

More news from the Antarctic today as one expedition comes to an end and another is steaming towards the finish line.

We'll start with Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog who are nearing the end of their adventure. In a dispatch sent out yesterday, they noted that they had made impressive time across the Axel Heiberg Glacier, which was the one remaining obstacle in the completion of their traverse of the continent. After a very long, 17-hour day, the pair covered plenty of mileage, passing some extremely treacherous terrain in the process.

The end of their dispatch reads as follows:

Today we covered 30 kilometers down the long and lovely glacier and can literally see the finish out below us on the frozen Ross sea ice.

Check here tomorrow for the breaking news...

We're still waiting for a dispatch today, but it seems that their epic journey should come to an end very shortly, as the pair arrive at long last at the Ross Sea. Stay tuned!

Also, Megan McGrath posted a written note a few days back as well. It seems the intrepid Canadian adventurer didn't spend too much time at the South Pole, as she was already back in Punta Areanas, Chili by Tuesday, and was heading home yesterday. Talk about a quick turn around!

Meagan says that her South Pole expedition was the hardest thing she's ever done and this is coming from a girl who has completed the Seven Summits, including Everest. She says she is exhausted, and looking forward to some rest, but after a bit of down time, she'll be back to training for her next adventure.

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Antarctica 2009: Meagan At The Pole!

As expected, Canadian Meagan McGrath reached the South Pole over the weekend, arriving yesterday after a long trek from Patriot Hills, and becoming the first person from her country to make the journey solo and unsupported. In an audio dispatch from the Pole yesterday, she talked a bit about the struggle to reach her goal over the course of the past few days, saying that it was very cold and difficult. She sounded excited and happy, and went on to thank her friends, family, and sponsors, without whom she couldn't have made the journey.

You may recall that the expedition got off to a dubious start for Meagan, who fell into a crevasse back at the beginning of December. Fortunately she didn't suffer any major injuries, and a few days later she resumed the journey, a bit behind schedule, but still determined to reach her goal. Now, 40 days later, she's done it. Congratulations Meagan on a job well done.

Meanwhile, Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog are continuing their traverse of the continent. We haven't received an update from them since late last week, but at that time, they had encountered a treacherous area known as the Devil's Dance Floor, a large, open expense this essentially a gigantic crevasse field. The pair stumbled onto the Dance Floor without even realizing it, but soon encountered deep and dangerous cracks in the ice. Deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, the elected to backtrack away from the dangerous area, and circle around it Since that time, there has been no word, but we can assume that they are still making their way at a rapid pace towards the coast. On the day they found the Dance Floor, they had made 41.4km distance, or roughly 25.7 miles. Impressive progress to say the least.

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Scott's Antarctic Hut A "Time Capsule"

National Geographic has a short piece, accompanied by some great photos on Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Hut, which they call a "Time Capsule", perfectly capturing the spirit of exploration and adventure from circa 1912, when the race to be the first to the South Pole was in full swing.

There is a major effort underway at the moment to save Scott's hut, with experts in restoration working on the building, along with three others, hoping to prevent them from sinking beneath the snow and ice that is so dominant in Antarctica. The building is roughly 50 feet long and 25 feet wide, and was designed to be the base of operations for as many as 33 men.

While the building itself is a treasure, it is what was left inside that really has historians excited. They've found a number of very interesting items, including gear and other supplies, left behind by an expedition that took place nearly 100 years ago. Some of the things discovered included 100 year old butter, a primitive darkroom, all kinds of preserved foods, and even Scott's bunk, complete with reindeer skin sleeping bag.

Scott's story is, at least to me, one of the most tragic in the history of exploration. Back in 1911, the British explorer found himself in a race to the South Pole against Norwegian Rival Roald Amundsen. For years, men had been trying to reach the Pole, and failing, but these two men were locked in a desperate struggle to plant their flag at 90ºS. Scott would indeed eventually reach his goal on January 17, 1912, but imagine his supreme disappointment in finding Amundsen's flag already there, taunting him. Amundsen himself had stood at the South Pole just 35 days earlier.

Exhausted and defeated, Scott and his four teammates began the long journey back to coast, a distance of 800 miles. Conditions were brutal, with lots of snow, high winds, and temperatures that plunged to dangerous lows. Of course, this precedes our age of high tech gear designed to keep us safe, and warm, and the men suffered greatly on the return trip. The journey took its toll, with one member of the party falling and suffering an injury that would claim his life a few days later, and another wandering out of the tent in the middle of the night, never to be seen again.

Scott, and his remaining companions were low on supplies and became trapped in their tent, while outside a fierce blizzard raged. For nine days they remained there, in a remote section of the Ross Ice Shelf, waiting for the weather to subside. Slowly, the ran out of food and strength, and eventually, the three men would perish. They were just 11 miles from their next supply cache, which would have likely saved their lives.

Scott wrote these words in his journal, which was later discovered by team that came looking for them:

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.

Powerful stuff that sticks with me every time I read it.

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WideWorld Updates Us On Katie Walter, Youngest To The South Pole

WideWorld Magazine has posted a brief follow-up on Katie Walter, the 17 year old British Girl who has part of the Shackleton's Unfinished Journey Team that we followed over the past few weeks as they made their way to the South Pole. Upon finishing that expedition, Katie earned herself a spot in the record books, becoming the youngest person to ever ski to 90ºS.

The expedition kicked began at 88’23”ºS, the furthest south that famous explorer Ernest Shackleton traveled on his famous expedition back in 1909. Fearing the harsh conditions and dwindling supplies would cost lives, Shackleton turned back before he ever reached the Pole, but his expedition, led by Polar Challenge International, covered the remaining 112 miles for him, and earned Katie honors of her own.

According to the story from WideWorld, Katie and the rest of her team faced -30º F temperatures and altitude sickness as they made the journey in just ten days time, arriving at the South Pole on New Year's Eve. The team has since departed Antarctica, having arrived back home in the U.K. this past weekend.

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Antarctica 2009: Meagan Closes In On The Pole

Things have quieted down some what at the bottom of the world, with the Kaspersky Commonwealth Team arriving back in London today, and Eric Larsen in Miami this morning as well. But there are still a few adventurers out on the ice, with a late season "last degree" team getting dropped off over the weekend as well.

Canadian Meagan McGrath continues her solo journey to the Pole and now expects to arrive on or around the 15th of January. In her most recent audio dispatch she says that she'll miss the flight out on that day, so she'll likely be staying at the Pole for a few days until the next plane arrives to retrieve the aforementioned last degree team. Meagan has now climbed to the top of the Antarctic Plateau, where everything is flat, and mostly featureless. She continues to make good time, but it seems like the journey has worn on her. She mentions that she is ready to get back home to friends and family soon, and it almost sounds like you can hear the weariness in her voice, which is understandable after 40+ days out on the ice.

Meanwhile, Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog continue their traverse of the continent, having passed the South Pole and turned north once again. Yesterday was a rest day for the duo, who say that they are now battling major weight loss after weeks of strenuous, calorie burning activity day in and day out. When they resumed their journey today they had 132 miles to go until they reached the top of the glacier they were currently focused on. From there, they'll descend back to the coast, finishing their expedition in style.

The season is wrapping up quickly now. It appears that Meagan will finish up her journey late this week and then it'll be a race to the coast for Ryan and Cecilie. After that, the continent will shut down once again, until late 2010, when a new crop of adventurers will make their way across the coldest, driest, and highest place on Earth.

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Antarctica 2009: Teams Heading On, Heading Home!

While things have quieted down a bit at the South Pole, now that the rush of teams have moved through, there is still plenty of action to be had at the bottom of the world, where some explorers are heading home and others are still continuing their expeditions.

One such team consists of Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog, who reached the Pole back on New Year's Eve and spent some time resting at the research station there. But their journey didn't end when they reached 90ºS. In fact, it was the half-way point of the expedition which will see them making a traverse of the entire continent. Ryan and Cecilie have now turned north once again, and are on the 57th day of their journey. In their last update, they were camping at 3019 meters (9904 feet) as they approached the Titan Dome, which tops out at 3100m (10,170 feet) in the Queen Maude Mountains. The duo have a long way to go yet, and admit to being tired, cold, and hungry most of the time, but the battle is more mental than physical at this point, as the struggle against the harsh Antarctic conditions.

Meagan McGrath is still making her way south, with her eyes firmly set on reaching the Pole. In her most recent update she reported that she was struggling against the worst conditions she's faced yet, including lots of big sastrugi and high winds, both of which have slowed her progress. She says that she has been having long days recently, as she sets a daily goal for mileage, and doesn't stop until she reaches it, which means she could be going several extra hours each day as she struggles to hit her target distance.

The other major teams have begun their journey home, such as the Kaspersky Commonwealth Expedition. After spending a few days in Patriot Hills, they've now flown back to Punta Arenas, Chile and are preparing to say their goodbyes and go their separate ways once again. Before that happens however, there will be a welcome home party on Monday, January 11th at 6:30 PM at the Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London. Everyone is invited, and it's an opportunity to ask the team about their amazing adventure. If you'd like to attend, you can send your RSVP to tim@commonwealthexpedition.com. Wish I could go!

Eric Larsen, along with Bill and Dongsheng, are also back in Punta Arenas, and making the final preparation to head home as well. Eric has written an excellent piece on their journey that not only encompasses the hardships of travel in the Antarctic, but also the beauty of the place as well. He talks about the fact that the team was at the Pole for less than 24 hours, and then in a flash they were whisked back to the Pole, and the journey was done, before they knew it. He uses the word "bittersweet" to describe his feelings, and his insights are very interesting to read.

Finally, the Shackleton's Unfinished Journey Team is also off the ice and back in Chile too. They're setting out for home today, and will be arriving in Heathrow at 10 AM local time tomorrow.

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Antarctica 2009: More Teams Reach The Pole!

There has been a lot of action at the geographic South Pole since my last update on the progress of teams in the Antarctic. Several more have reached their goal, while other explorers continue their march to 90ºS.

We'll start with Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog. The pair, who set out on an unassisted expedition to the Pole in early November, reached that destination on New Year's Eve and kicked off 2010 in grand fashion. It took them 49 days to complete the 730 mile journey. But that is just one milestone for this ambitious pair, who will now turn north once again, and make their way to the Axel Heiberg Glacier along the Ross Sea. When they are finished, they'll have completed a traverse of the continent.

The Shackleton's Unfinished Journey Team also reached the Pole on New Year's Eve, completing their last degree (plus) ski expedition. They began their journey at 88.23ºS, the location from which Ernest Shackleton turned back 100 years ago, and by reaching the South Pole, Katie Walter became the youngest person to make that journey on skis. She's just 17 years old. Quite a way to spend your Christmas holiday, huh?

Eric Larsen, Bill Hanlon and Dongsheng Liu completed their journey to the Pole as well, finishing their journey on Saturday, January 2nd. The team was pushing hard the day before, and came within five miles of the finish line, when they decided to take a break and get refreshed, before pressing on. Since their arrival, Eric and the boys have been touring the research station and catching up on some much needed rest, before heading back to Patriot Hills, and eventually home.

Meagan McGrath last checked in on January 1st, sending New Year greetings to everyone following along at home. She says that it was her best day yet out on the ice, and that she was very happy with her progress. She also promises more details on her expedition, the weather, and terrain, and so on now that the holidays are behind us. Meagan also reached another milestone on her solo, unassisted journey to the Pole by passing the 86ºS mark.

Finally, the Kaspersky Commonwealth Team remains in Antarctica, although they have left the Pole and are now back in Patriot Hills, where they are sorting their gear and preparing to be plucked from the ice by ALE. Reportedly, the weather is calm and warm, at least by Antarctic standards, and while the girls are happy to be done with their journey, they have bittersweet emotions about leaving each other, and the ice behind, as they head back to their respective countries.

On a personal note, I want to congratulate all the teams for a job well done. Reaching the Pole is an amazing accomplishment, and I have a lot of respect to these men and women who challenge themselves to make the journey. Well done everyone!

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