South Pole expedition fever is high! 2011 marks the centenary of Amundsen’s and Scott’s expeditions to the South Pole. Historic events are top-of-mind and we are proud to support a number of Centenary expeditions.
Centenary Expeditions
Many expeditions plan to arrive at the Pole either for Amundsen’s or Scott’s Centenary celebrations, paying homage to the courage and determination of these great men and their colleagues.
South Pole Jubilee Expedition 1911-2011
Norwegian polar explorers Christian Eide and Borge Ousland have organized a South Pole Jubilee Expedition. The Jubilee teams will follow Amundsen’s 700 km route up the Axel Heiberg Glacier, arriving at the South Pole by December 14. Along the way they plan to climb Mt Nansen, which has only had one previous ascent. In 2010 Christian Eide set the World record for fastest solo unsupported ski to the South Pole in 2011, while Borge Ousland completed the first solo Antarctic crossing in 1996 and was the first person to ski solo, with no re-supply to the North Pole. http://thesouthpolejubileeexpedition.com
Sørpolen 1911-2011
Sørpolen 1911-2011 will follow Amundsen’s route from the Bay of Whales to the South Pole, covering the distance in the same number of days as the famous explorer. Led by Jan-Gunnar Winther, head of the Norsk Polarinstitutt, this expedition will showcase Norwegian polar history and spotlight current climatic and environmental challenges. The Expedition is part of the Nansen-Amundsen Year that honors both Amundsen’s South Pole conquest and 150 years since the birth of Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen.
http://sorpolen2011.npolar.no/ (Norwegian)
http://sorpolen2011.npolar.no/en (English)
The South Pole – 100 Years After
Asle Johansen crossed Greenland in 1988, one hundred years after Nansen, using period clothing and equipment. Now Johansen will celebrate the Amundsen Centenary in a similar fashion, with teammates Agnar Berg and Gaute Grindhaug. The three Norwegians will follow Amundsen’s Axel Heiberg route from the Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole using replica clothing and equipment to better understand Amundsen’s journey. Johansen, a physician and researcher specializing in the body’s response to extreme physical and mental stress, emphasizes that this is not just a replica expedition, but a scientific journey. www.nansenamundsen.no/no/events/okt/asle-t-johansen-sorpolekspedisjon.html
South Pole 1911-2011
Albert Bosch and Carles Gel from Spain will ski unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. They plan to arrive by December 14 and thus commemorate Roald Amundsen’s historic feat.
Hvitserk Ski South Pole
Norwegian Outfitter Hvitserk will lead an Anniversary South Pole Expedition. The team will follow the ‘Messner Route’ and ski unsupported to the South Pole, arriving by December 14 to join the Amundsen Centenary celebrations.
Steffen Dahl
Norwegian Steffen Dahl is skiing to both North and South Poles in 2011 to honor the achievements of Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. Dahl reached the North Pole on April 11 and will ski alone and unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. http://polfarer.no/ (Norwegian)
Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race 2011-12
Two teams. Two routes. Skiing unsupported to the South Pole. Six members of the British Army will re-trace Amundsen’s and Scott’s routes to the South Pole, in a tribute to the courage, determination and pioneering spirit of these great explorers. The Amundsen team, led by Henry Worsley (Shackleton Centenary Expedition 2008) will depart from the Bay of Whales, cross the Ross Ice Shelf and ascend the Axel Heiberg Glacier. Mark Langridge (solo to the Pole 2008) will lead the Scott team from Cape Evans, across the ice shelf and up the Beardmore Glacier. Both teams expect to cover their distance in about 70 days, arriving at the South Pole in early January. http://scottamundsenrace.org/
One Call Wintercamp
Nine Norwegian skiers will ski and kite-ski from 88° 30’S to the South Pole. The expedition celebrates Roald Amundsen’s dream to achieve something many believed was unattainable. www.onecall.no/wintercamp2011/ (Norwegian)
Ski Last Degree Expeditions
A number of Antarctic enthusiasts, including the Norwegian Prime Minister, will ski shorter distances to the South Pole in celebration of the Amundsen and Scott Centenaries. Many of the groups will Ski The Last Degree, the last 60 nautical miles, taking from 7 to 10 days to complete their journey.
Other Antarctic Crossing & Ski South Pole-Return Expeditions
Kaspersky ONE Transantarctic Expedition
Felicity Aston (2009 Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Expedition Leader) is heading back to Antarctica – this time solo. Felicity will make a 1700km, 65-day journey, becoming the first woman in the world to cross Antarctica alone. The documentary film about Felicity’s 2009 expedition will be screened at the Banff Mountain and Dijon Adventure Film Festivals this November. But don’t expect to see Felicity there! www.kasperskyonetransantarcticexpedition.com/
Aleksander Gamme
Aleksander Gamme will ski solo from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, then turn around and ski solo back to the edge of the Antarctic continent. Inspired by Amundsen. Gamme admits to feeling “humble” when he thinks about the physical and mental challenges of being alone in the icy wilderness for so long.
Mark George
Explorer and motivational speaker Mark George plans to ski solo and unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, then return by kite-ski to the coast, for a total of 2,300 kms. www.searchingforsanta.com.au
Crossing the Ice
Two Australians James Castrission and Justin Jones (Cas and Jonesy) will trek from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, without assistance of any kind. Their expedition will raise funds for You Can, a fundraising campaign to build specialized youth cancer centres across Australia. http://casandjonesy.com.au/expeditions/crossing-the-ice/
South Pole and Back – Ski and Kite
Polar explorer and speed-record holder Richard Weber will lead a 35 day, unsupported trek from the “Messner Start” on the Filchner Ice Shelf to the South Pole. From the South Pole the team will kite-ski back to Hercules Inlet at the edge of the continent. www.weberarctic.com/
Howard Fairbank will ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole, then join the Weber team for the return journey to the coast. Howard hopes to become the first South African and the oldest person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. http://southpolesolohowardfairbank.blogspot.com/
Ski South Pole – Messner Start and Hercules Inlet
ALE Ski South Pole Messner
ALE guide Hannah McKeand holds the record for most ski expeditions from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole – and this year she will again cross the icy continent. McKeand will lead an ALE Ski South Pole – Messner team to the South Pole.
Pole to Pole Run
When endurance runner Pat Farmer starts his Antarctic expedition, he will already have run two marathons every day, no days off, for almost a year and clocked nearly 13,000 miles through 14 countries. This is the last leg on an incredible trek from the North Pole to the South Pole to raise $100 million for the International Red Cross. www.poletopolerun.com
Mark Wood
“The North South Solo expedition has been classed as the toughest expedition on the planet.” But this is exactly what polar explorer Mark Wood plans to undertake. He will ski from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. Then next spring, head to the Canadian Arctic to ski solo to the North Pole. www.markwoodexplorer.com/blog
PolarExplorers Ski South Pole – Hercules
This guided expedition will traverse from Hercules Inlet at the edge of the Antarctic continent, to the South Pole.
Overland Vehicle Expeditions
Thompson Reuters Eikon South Pole Expedition
It’s about challenge and proving greener technologies for Polar exploration, says their website. This expedition will attempt to beat the overland record to the Pole in a specially-built, efficient, bio-fuelled vehicle. They will use solar panels to further reduce their carbon footprint and real-time GPS Satellite communications and tracking. http://thomsonreuterseikon.com/south-pole-expedition/