If you want to know how to get to the south pole, there are many different routes you can take. There are ski trips, flying expeditions, and overland expeditions. These three options have their own pros and cons, but they all involve the same icy conditions. Read on to find out more about these methods.
Flying to the South Pole
Flying to the South Pole has long been considered an impossible dream. The area is cold, mountainous, and incredibly remote. As such, flights over the South Pole and the entire Antarctic landmass are very rare. And even more unusual is that until recently, flights over the South Pole were prohibited by ETOPS (Extended Range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards), which govern how far aircraft can fly from airports.
The journey to the South Pole is not easy, but there are some things to consider. First, flights to the South Pole are only available during the summer and winter seasons. The extreme cold makes it impossible for planes to land, although there have been rare winter medical evacuations. In addition, flights to the South Pole are expensive, so it’s advisable to plan your flight accordingly.
It’s a dangerous and difficult mission to undertake. As a result, it’s a big risk to fly to the pole. In order to ensure the crew’s safety, the U.S. Air Force assembled dozens of personnel and three C-130 Hercules aircraft to undertake the mission. However, the extreme temperatures would not allow the C-130s to fly to the South Pole, so the NSF decided to opt for the Twin Otter aircraft, which were designed for flying to the pole.
As with any high-altitude expedition, the trip to the South Pole requires acclimatization before departure. The altitude and cold could potentially cause health problems, so ANI sends medical teams to monitor the team. It’s essential to take out adequate insurance. A minimum amount of 300,000 Euros is recommended.
The South Pole is a geomagnetically defined point at the south end of Antarctica, where all directions point to the north. It is also the southernmost point on Earth and is the point where all lines of longitude and latitude meet. Visiting the South Pole was once considered impossible. But with modern technology, permanent staffing is now possible, and commercial travel expeditions have begun to visit the South Pole.
The journey to the South Pole takes at least eight days. The aircraft, known as Twin Otter, is built to survive cold, and skis can be installed for landing in snow. The flights could begin as early as Sunday. Details of the medical conditions of the crews have been withheld to protect their privacy.
Unlike flying to other parts of the world, navigation at the South Pole is unique. With a limited number of satellites covering the polar areas, navigation is a challenge. The IceSat-2 satellite will be launched in 2018 to collect data along the 88th parallel. In order to reach the South Pole, flights must follow a path that goes around the 88th parallel. From there, they must then turn and cross the pole in a straight line. When the plane crosses the pole, the compass direction will change to due North.
Skiing to the South Pole
Skiing to the South Pole is a challenging expedition that requires technical skills, strength, and commitment. During your expedition, you will be hauling sleds and supplies weighing around 132-177 pounds across the ice, which is extremely cold. You can expect to travel in all types of weather. If you have the right gear and perseverance, you can reach the Geographic South Pole.
The long journey involves disciplined eating, avoiding overexposure to cold, and taking care to avoid blisters. The blisters will only get worse with time, and you must take steps to minimize them. You must also plan for time off in order to rest and recover. You should also budget at least 80 days to complete the journey.
A 12-day trek to the Geographic South Pole takes about 60 nautical miles. That’s about 111 kilometers. The journey begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, and consists of a charter flight to Antarctica and two days of expedition preparation. Once you reach the South Pole, you’ll be rewarded with a celebration dinner and a Certificate of Achievement.
You can choose from several routes to reach the South Pole. The most popular is via the southwest part of the Ronne Ice Shelf, starting at sea level and climbing nine hundred and thirty feet to the polar plateau. This expedition is a true challenge and requires a lot of strength and stamina.
During the journey, you’ll need to cross seventy-one miles of barren ice. With a little help from the internet, you can follow your progress on the blog and on social media. Despite the harsh conditions, you can make it to the South Pole. The journey takes around 22 days, which is faster than the previous record of 39 days set by a Norwegian named Christian Eide.
Only around 300 people have successfully completed a ski trip to the South Pole. Larsen has completed the feat twice, guiding two “Last Degree” trips. In 2011, Christian Eide set a solo speed record on the Hercules Route. The adventure was the first of its kind.
Expeditions to the North and South Poles have different requirements and weather conditions. The North Pole is colder and has limited daylight, whereas the South Pole has a more humid climate. For that reason, polar expeditions are often more difficult and require extensive experience of the terrain and the unique surface.
If you’re an adventurous skier, a trip to the South Pole will give you an opportunity to experience a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is also one of the most remote places on earth. It’s isolated, somber, and off the Richter scale of coolness.
Overland expeditions to the South Pole
In the past, the South Pole has only been reached by aircraft. In 1958, a group led by Sir Edmund Hillary reached the South Pole by land. It took them 70 miles (113km) to reach the South Pole. The team said that seeing the South Pole was like seeing “a black blob in the horizon.” At the time, they had just one drum of petrol left in their vehicle. This would be enough for a tractor train to travel 20 miles.
The flight to the South Pole takes 4.5 hours. Once there, the group gets in a special van and drives about five miles or eight kilometers to their camp. The expedition includes activities such as cross-country skiing and fat-tire biking. If you wish to explore more of the area, you can also book a flight that takes you to the ice edge.
The first overland expedition to the South Pole was the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1955-58. The group traveled from the Weddell Sea to the South Pole. The team also explored the Sub-Antarctic Islands, where the wildlife is particularly spectacular.
There are several other ways to reach the South Pole on foot. Many countries have bases in the area. Russia maintains the largest base at Mirny. On 20 January 1958, Sir Edmund Hillary welcomed Dr. Vivian Fuchs to the South Pole. The former group set out from the newly-created Scott camp on the Ross Sea, while the latter team departed from the Shackleton camp on the Weddell Sea. Both groups used motorised vehicles to make their journey.
A South Pole expedition is unlike an ordinary adventure tour. It involves a long and challenging trek through harsh polar terrain. The temperature at ALE base camp rarely reaches more than 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures at the South Pole hover around -13 degrees. It can even reach as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
In 1958, a team led by Sir Edmund Hillary and the New Zealand team set out from the Weddell Sea on a journey that lasted 99 days. Then a support team, the Southern Tractor Party, set out from Scott Base on 14 October with three Ferguson tractors and a tracked vehicle. They resupplied supplies and food along the way, reaching the South Pole on 4 January 1958.
In addition to sleds, many expeditions carry packrafts or kayaks that double as boats. Others use a packraft to float sleds behind them. A few years later, the first unassisted return journey to the South Pole was achieved by the Borge Ousland Expedition in 2000. Another expedition, the Mark Jones Expedition, paddled from Hope Bay to Adelaide Island in 35 days.
In 1958, Sir Edmund Hillary and his team were joined by Sir Ed Fuchs. In the middle of the journey, Fuchs and Hillary met at Depot 700. As they had no fuel, Fuchs was concerned that they had to abandon the trip, but Hillary and the team pressed on without him. The team had to mark a route through crevassed areas.