A tough 8-hour slog, I led today, tough being out in front without any stimuli, navigating using sastrugi and my shadow. It’s tougher than anything before as it is so mentally demanding. 19.9km today, 31 nautical miles from the pole – about half way. It’s getting colder the closer we get.
New years day been and gone local time here is GMT+13. There was a mad party with the pole staff for New Zealand new year outside this morning. I am being picked up tonight just after midnight, breaking down camp now. Got to fly everything off the…
The pole station was awesome. Visited the greenhouse veg in space (growth chamber) + o2 product project and gym. Staff were really friendly and cool. It was a privilege to see inside, very few have. Even had a biscuit and coffee! I am in tent at the…
Easy day today, have done a bit of hiking with Scott, my new tent mate and have been sorting all my gear ready for Vinson, the next leg. Have been invited in for a tour of the South Pole station tonight which is really cool as not many people get to look…
Slept for ages. My body is confused on 3 time zones! Cold but comfortable. Had wine and steak and cheese toasty last night. Told to move our toilet tent by the NSF (National Science Foundation) that’s been the job for today! All good.
Richard Parks completed the first leg of his world first 737 Challenge this morning, arriving at the South Pole and completing the first of 3 poles he will face during his 7-month race to climb the hi
RICHARD REACHES THE SOUTH POLE! Richard Parks completed the first leg of his world first 737 Challenge this morning, arriving at the South Pole and completing the first of 3 poles he will face during his 7-month race to climb the highest mountain on each…
We are camping 9km (5.59 nautical miles) from the pole, an amazing feeling. Another tough day, saw the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station around 17km (10.56 miles), it was amazing and emotional. The Amundsen-Scott pole station is on NZ time (+13). I…
14 nautical miles (22.6km) from the Pole. An easier 7 hour day today. I am running out of toilet roll as I spilt hot chocolate in the tent! Ralf, one of our team has frostnip on his nose. It’s a tropical -20 today after a white out this morning!…
Christmas Eve, I am 22.6 nautical miles (36.4km) from the pole. Feeling tired, tough sastrugi but I am excited to be close! One of my team broke his pole falling over the sastrugi. Run out of ipod but loving my solar charger which is topping it up!…
7 hours skiing, 9.6 nautical miles (15.4km) travelled today. Now 41.3 miles (66.47km) to The Pole. Mentally it’s tough as no stimuli or progress markers, and it’s cold of course, a warm -29 today.
Skied for 5 hours today, acclimatisation day. Conditions are poor, white out and -35. Sastrugi hard going. Skied 6.23 nautical miles today, just over 10k. Including yesterday we have 51.3 nautical miles to go! in bag toasty! INFO: Sastrugi are sharp…
Change of plans, weather window appeared and we got dropped of at 89 degrees South. It was awesome and surreal on the twin otter leaving. It’s -24, the wind is blowing, tent is shaking but I’m toasty in my bag!
Weather bad, low visibility, we can't fly for another 2 days to 89 degrees to start. On a trial expedition for 2 nights around Union Glacier base camp. All good.
In Union Glacier base camp. One guy has dropped out already with frostbite, now only 4 of us. Here at Union Glacier base camp its -12 but at 89 degrees south its -30 with a 30 knot plus headwind.
We're on standby to fly today, waiting for the weather window. We have to be ready to leave in half an hour. More patience and waiting!! I'm in a team of 4 to ski to the pole. Facts - the pole is on NZ time, GMT +13 and Union Glacier is Chile time…
I've negotiated all the airports, transfers, customs, time differences, de-briefing meetings, bag weighing, breakfasts and an almost complete lack of Spanish to be here in Punta ready to fly on to Antarctica tomorrow, weather window permitting! I've me…
After 16 months of training and preparation Richard Parks left Cardiff today to start his world first expedition.
