Unseasonaly cold temperatures in the UK and warm conditions in Antarctica meant the difference between summer at the South Pole and winter in the Scottish Highlands was only a few degrees. However we found reports of how warm it was at the South Pole overated! Slight fog 10-15 knots of wind and -27C felt pretty bracing to us!

It was another superb guiding season down on the ice, working for A.L.E., with a change from last years Mount Vinson ascents in the form of sledging on the polar plateau and a Mountain safari in the beautiful Southern Ellsworth Mountains.

I am navigating a straight course. Skiing a fine line between concentration on the GPS, the Sastrugi it directs me towards and intoxication by the overwhelming empty beauty of the Polar Plateau....

Follow the links for a report on our successful 'Ski Last Degree to the South Pole' trip and a selction of photos of The South Pole and polar sledging.

The Southern Ellsworth's are an Antarctic alpinists dream. Dominic and I spent a couple of weeks enjoying unlocking some of their secrets on foot, crampons, skis, snow shoes, sledges and ski-doos. Hauling all our camping gear in sledges meant we could conveniently set up a base camp from which to climb some of the fine peaks of the Horseshoe Valley rim. These provided stunning views along the Ellsworth chain and out to the great white void of the Polar Plateaus.

20 Photos from our Ellsworth Mountain Safari