Training & Approach to the Last Degree
Training sledging journey around the Patriot Hills before heading to the deep South of the Polar Plateau
Article index
- Ski South Pole
- Facts and Figures
- Training and Approach
- Acclimatising
- The Routine
- The South Pole
- Equipment Notes
It is crucial to make sure team members and equipment are ready for the tough sledging journey ahead as once dropped off at 89 South the only options are to ski to the South Pole or call for an extremely expensive rescue flight.
With this in mind a lot of time is spent preparing food and sorting kit at Patriot Hills prior to departure. At least one overnight sledging and camping trip is made to make sure all aspects of equipment are functioning properly from ski bindings to stoves to face masks. We calculated on around 5000 calories per person per day and around 200mls of white gas per person per day for the MSR whisperlite stoves.
Snow conditions at Patriot Hills at around 80 South are much more conducive to gliding sledges than high on the polar plateau where every inch can be hard won in the soft snow. A good level of fitness and mental toughness is required as well as efficiency and organisational skill looking after yourself and kit. Ensuring a complete cover of skin at all times is important in not getting fried by the sun or blasted by the wind-chill. Some folk tend to return from the South Pole with disintegrating faces but this can be avoided with a suitable goggles / face mask combination (usually sewn together).
Once everyone is happy to proceed to the deep South a 4.5 hour Twin Otter flight via a re-fuelling stop at Thiels Mountains is made.
The Polar Plateau is a strikingly beautiful if totally wild and lonely environment to suddenly arrive in.
