Tired but happy

The team reports a very satisfying day today, covering 18.6 kilometers in 8.5 hours, often uphill. They are all doing well and getting into the routine of life on the ice. Bob, in his audio update, reminds us all that they are travelling on the greatest ice sheet left on Earth. A very cool place to be indeed! Their location tonight is       S 80.36.252, W 81.07.871.

Back at PolarExplorers headquarters near Chicago, USA, we toasted Bryony, Dennis, Bob, Ronny, Oscar and Lisa at our "South Pole Soiree". This was a get together of adventurers and arm chair adventurers to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the South Pole's discovery. We spent a lot of time talking about Amundsen's and Scott's historic expeditions. Even though much has changed in terms of outdoor gear and equipment (lighter tents, softer harnesses, more efficient stoves, etc.), the teams on the ice today experience the same conditions and terrain as the early explorers. The tug of a sled, the crunch of the snow underfoot, and the endless white - these are the same daily companions that the early explorers encountered. The biggest difference between then and now is that teams today are able to communicate with the outside world (happily for us home-bound friends and family!)

Break time! Can you tell which way the wind is blowing?

If you guessed "from behind" you are right! You can always tell which way the wind is blowing in polar pictures because people always place their back to the wind. You will notice, in the coming weeks, that the team is often photographed in a line, even when stopped for a break. This is simply because it's uncomfortable to face into the wind (and the wind is almost ALWAYS blowing), and therefore they generally won't congregate in a circle or facing each other.

Bob gives us a great audio snapshot of the day so make sure to listen to it below. And visit us again tomorrow for another update from the team!

It's getting colder...

Though the temperature today was far from brutal (-15C) it was colder than the last few days, and with the 15 knot wind that was their constant companion it is beginning to seem a little more like Antarctica and less like springtime in Aspen. The morning was overcast but the sun made an appearance in the afternoon. 
Despite uneven ground and their first encounter with sastrugi (wind patterns in the snow) they increased their daily distance to 18 kilometers. The have been in the good company of some majestic mountains and tonight they are resting in what they describe as "the most beautiful campsite".

Soon they will leave all these landmarks behind as they ascend to the polar plateau. The team is in good spirits and everyone is happy to be making progress. The team's location tonight is S 80.26.515, W 81.02.052.



The team en route with the Independence Range in the background

Cyndi Douglass has asked a question about the team's daily routine. Every expedition has it's own routine, but it usually takes a couple hours to melt snow for water, eat breakfast and break camp in the morning, and the same in the evening to establish camp, make water and eat dinner. During the day the team will stop every 1-2 hours for a quick break during which they snack on high calorie foods and drink water from a thermos or insulated water bottle. We know that today they skied 8 hours, so they likely took 3-4 breaks during the day. We will pass this question along to the team and hope to have their specific answer for Friday's blog. Great question Cyndi!

We have relayed several messages to the team and they are delighted to have people following their progress. Make sure to listen to Ronny's audio update and check back again tomorrow for another update from the team!

Amazingly sunny, and warm!

Another beautifully sunny day today, with virtually no wind and warm temperatures. This is not the type of weather the team was expecting in Antarctica, but you will hear no complaints from them! They are basking in the warmth and trying not to get too used to it.

The sun in Antarctica can be extremely bright, especially when combined with all the reflection off the snow. This makes it imperative that each person protects his or her eyes all the time. Mild cases of snow blindness can occur within minutes of going without eye protection. The most common source of eye protection are goggles, but on warm days like today some team members might be wearing sun glasses with covered sides.

The team made just over 15 kilometers today, stopping a little early to take care of some blisters. They are camped at S 80.17.020, W 80.53.202. Everyone is thinking of family and friends back home and they are happy to be sharing the adventure with loved ones. Remember that short messages can be forwarded to the team by emailing Annie at annie@polarexplorers.com

What a good looking group of explorers!

Make sure to listen to Bryony's audio report and check back in tomorrow for another update from the team!

Leaving Hercules Inlet behind

It's hard to imagine that the team could have yet another day of superb weather, but this is the case! With blue skies and virtually no wind they enjoyed "beautiful scenery" all day. Looking across the snow and ice the team can see the Patriot Hills in the distance. Behind them lies Hercules Inlet, which they rose above and  eventually lost sight of during the day. Their day started with a steep climb followed by a stretch of flat and very smooth ice, ending with a gentle incline. They made good progress today putting 16.5 kilometers behind them. Yesterday their total distance was 12.1 kilometers. Their current location is S 80.08.69, W 80.47.76

The sun is making life very enjoyable with warm tents that soak up the solar radiation like greenhouses. They are all eating dinner together in one tent, and it sounds as though everyone is having a very good time. Lots of laughter in the background when they phone in, and even a little Bob Marley. The only complaint so far comes from Dennis who is missing his Beer Nuts.

The temperature was a balmy -10 C today. Lisa was wearing only one base layer under her wind jacket, but as soon as the team stops for a break everyone throws on their warm parkas.

Make sure to listen to the wonderful update from Dennis and check back again soon for another report from the ice!



The team leaving Union Glacier for Hercules Inlet



First full day of skiing

The team had their first full day of skiing today with much of it uphill, and portions of it through crevasse areas. The crevasses were small and Oskar was out front probing the route to ensure a safe crossing. The weather continues to hold, with blue sky and beautiful scenery. They got their first taste of the winds that are legendary, but nothing that was problematic. After so much anticipation it feels good making progress towards their ultimate goal.

Susan from Ohio asks if they will have full 24 hour sunlight the entire trip. Good question Susan, the answer is yes. Not only is the sun above the horizon, it is actually quite high, making it very bright indeed. Some people wonder if it is hard to get to sleep with 24 hour sun, but after a hard day of pulling sleds, and staying warm most people have no problem falling fast asleep.

The sun becomes a great friend on this type of expedition. In addition to keeping you warm, it also is the most reliable navigational tool (no batteries required!). We'll comment more about using the sun for navigation later... we're just delighted that the team is having so much sun!

Below are a couple of pictures from their flight to Antarctica and getting organized in Union Glacier. Check back again tomorrow for another update, and don't forget to listen to Bob's audio update from the team.

Ronny, Bob and Dennis en route to Union Glacier

Getting sorted at Union Glacier. This beautiful weather persists through today!

South, to the Pole

The team has officially started their expedition! After an earlier than planned flight from Union Glacier to Hercules Inlet they were able to make 13 kilometers today. This was done in 6 hours of travel. Their sleds are at their heaviest, and they have periods of steep incline so it's no doubt that they will be working hard as they get used to their routines. It was another blue sky day, with calm wind and pleasant temperatures. The snow was hard packed making for good travel conditions. They estimate that they climbed approximately 150 meters. Their current location is S 80.01.5 and W 79.42.56

We want to wish a very Happy Birthday to Oskar who is happy to be celebrating his 30th birthday with the team in such a beautiful location. Dennis provided a little whiskey which made the occasion all the more fun.

We have received some photos from the team of their last couple of days and we will post them today and tomorrow. Don't forget to listen to Ronny's audio update and check back again tomorrow for another update from the team.

The team after landing at Union Glacier

On their Shakedown training

Shakedown ski & good weather

Today the team went for a "shakedown ski" by breaking camp, traveling a distance from Union Glacier, setting up camp, cooking, breaking camp again, and skiing back. The goal was to test their systems and gear in an area that gets more wind than Union Glacier, and it sounds like they got what they were looking for.

Besides the wind, which was a bonus for them, the weather continues to be beautiful with temperatures around -15C. Some of the team were overheating while pulling their sleds, and others were in their baselayers. Everyone is very excited to get dropped off at Hercules Inlet, which they hope to do tomorrow evening.

We wish the team a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful that they are in Antarctica and only a short flight away from their starting point!

Make sure to listen to Bryony's update below and check back again tomorrow for another update from the team!

A day at Union Glacier

After a very smooth flight from Punta Arenas the team touched down at Union Glacier's ice runway last night, and spent their first night on the continent of Antarctica. Dennis reported clear, beautiful weather, and this held through today, with an temperature of around -15C.

The team spent the day organizing their gear and resupplies and doing some pulling of their sleds. Everyone was quite pleased with the way they felt. They plan to do a full-day ski tomorrow complete with setting up camp and cooking meals with their stoves, as a shakedown.

Make sure to listen to Lisa's audio report below, and check back again tomorrow for more info from the team!

And they're off!

The team is on its way to Antarctica! After months of planning and endless hours thinking about the start of the expedition, the time has finally come. A scheduled departure time of 9 pm was suddenly pushed back to 2 pm, causing a bit of a rush to get ready for the Antarctic flight. The flight to Union Glacier basecamp is approximately 4.5 hours. They arrived by the evening and had a nice dinner at the basecamp before catching some rest. They plan to do some training before getting dropped off at Hercules Inlet.

Make sure to listen to the audio update from Dennis!

Pre-flight briefing and final pack out

Today the team had their pre-flight briefing with the charter flight providers. This briefing covers the flight rules and regulations (same security check as any other international flight), as well details about the Union Glacier basecamp and the South Pole. They were also given a decent weather report, and so far it looks like their flight will go on schedule (knock on wood please!)

If the weather continues to hold they will depart for Antarctica around 20:00 tomorrow evening. This gives them most of the day to relax, but they won't stray far from the hotel. When they get "the call" giving them the green light to fly, they need to be ready to go immediately.

If they fly tomorrow it means that tonight will be their last night in a bed for a long time. That might sound unappealing to some people, but not to our team! They are very, very excited and ready to go. They want nothing more than to board that flight tomorrow and take off on the adventure of a lifetime.
We wish the team sweet dreams and an extra long hot shower in the morning, but most of all clear skies and an on-time departure for their expedition.

Don't forget to listen to Ronny's audio update and check back again tomorrow for another update from the team!

One more day of preparations...

The team spent another day preparing for the expedition and everything is coming together nicely. Tomorrow they have their pre-flight briefing and official weigh-in.

Among the people staying at the same hotel as our team is a man named Richard who is a NASA flight engineer on a DC30 making flights to and from the Antarctic Peninsula studying ice thickness with IR laser technology. After making the acquaintance of our team he asked them to carry a special coin to the South Pole. In addition to Richard, the hotel was housing a number of Vinson Massif climbers  who departed today for Antarctica. It's always interesting to meet other adventurers, and hear what brings people to this small city, the southernmost of it's kind in the world!

The coin given to the team

Check back again tomorrow for more information from the team. Hopefully they will learn that there is a good weather window for their flight to Antarctica. Our fingers are crossed!

Pre-expedition prep work in Punta

Today was spent with preparations for the adventure ahead. For an expedition of this magnitude there  is a lot of gear, food, clothing and equipment to check, re-check, and then pack. Everyone is getting excited for their departure to Antarctica, scheduled for November 22! Today also happened to be guide Lisa Strom's birthday - Happy Birthday Lisa! We hope you celebrated with a Pisco Sour and a rousing birthday song from the team! Tomorrow the team will try to wrap up the bulk of any remaining preparations. Make sure to check out the audio report from Bryony!

The team in Punta Arenas

We also received a video from the team but we're having some trouble getting it online. Hope to have it sorted out soon, please check back.

Everyone has arrived!

Can it finally be? After months of preparation, training and anticipation, the start of the expedition is only days away. The team is all together in Punta Arenas, Chile and everyone is happy to be one step closer to Antarctica. All the gear and food that was shipped from the USA has arrived safe and sound, minus a few cranberries :( Tomorrow the team will begin final preparations, including tent modifications and some last-minute shopping for certain food items. We are hoping to have an audio report to post tonight. So check back again soon!

Cheers! From the Shackleton Bar in Punta Arenas

Welcome to our Full South Pole Expedition Blog!

Welcome! We are delighted to have you reading our 2011-2012 Full South Pole Expedition Blog. As you read this our team is in the process of completing final preparations for the expedition. Gear has been ordered, modified and packed, and food has already been shipped to our initial starting point of Punta Arenas, Chile. The team will be assembling there on November 18, 2011 for several days of last minute preparations before departing for Antarctica on November 22, 2011.

We will be updating this blog on a daily basis starting November 18, 2011. Until then we will make periodic postings with interesting and fun information about the team's training and preparations.

One of the best features of this blog is to have you, the reader, send our team questions during their expedition. We will forward these questions to them during our daily contact, and post their answers on the blog. This is fun for everyone, so don't hesitate to join in the adventure!

If you have any questions about the expedition please don't hesitate to contact us!

Happy Trails!

The PolarExplorers Team