South Pole – Day 9 & 10

The team landed safely at 89 degrees south with the advance team having already set up camp. Once the aircraft had been unloaded, it departed leaving the crew very alone in one of the greatest wildernesses on earth.  They are now finally on their way skiing to the South Pole.  Sean was snuggled up in his tent when he phoned yesterday and was getting ready to embark on a 10km ski session to the next camp.  Yesterday, with the wind chill it was minus 49C.  He said they’ll soon ‘condition’ to the cold! 

The guys have to be careful not to touch anything with bare hands because if they do it could mean losing a finger tip – every movement has to be measured and thought through.  Liquids need to be kept close to the body to prevent them from freezing.  As they ski, they will all stay together and maintain such a pace that they do not break out in a sweat. The musn’t let themselves get too hot or too cold and to always check hands and feet, and face coverage.  They need to keep moving once they’re out of camp and limit any stops so the cold doesn’t eat away at their energy.  These are some of the rules of polar survival.

Plane leaving them in the middle of nowhere (www.zahidexpedition.com)