 In 1997, a group of British women made history as the first all-female expedition team to go to the North Pole. Now, five key members of that record breaking expedition are back in action, this time with their sights set on an even greater challenge - to travel on foot across Antarctica to the South Pole.
The journey will take the women 700 miles across the world's highest, coldest continent, braving a climate that has been described as the harshest on earth. But what exactly can the team expect to experience in Antarctica? What dangers will the journey to the South Pole throw at the team and how have they prepared to meet the challenge?
WHAT TO EXPECT IN ANTARCTICA
The Antarctic continent
The principle difference between the North Pole and the South Pole is that where the Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by continents, the Antarctic is a frozen continent surrounded by ocean. In fact, Antarctica is the 5th largest continent in the world (around twice the size of Australia). 98% of the land is covered with ice (only the peaks of a handful of mountains are free from it) and the inland ice sheet that caps the continent is almost 3 miles thick. This ice sheet contains about 90% of the world's fresh water and is so heavy that it has pushed the land below sea level in places. Because of the thickness of the ice sheet Antarctica has the highest average altitude of all the continents (7,545 feet).
With snowfall equivalent to only 4mm of water each month (about the same as the Sahara), Antarctica is also the world's driest continent - technically a desert.
The South Pole
The South Pole itself is 630 miles from the closest coastline and is situated high on the polar plateau at 9,200 feet. It can be as cold as minus 75 degrees C at certain times of the year.
Climate
Although it is 'summer' in Antarctica at the moment and there is 24 hour daylight, the team will endure temperatures even colder than those at the North Pole - as low as minus 50 degrees C - and katabatic* wind speeds averaging 80 miles per hour. No land animal could survive the conditions on the mainland - the seals, whales and penguins the South Pole is famed for live around the coast.
*Winds that have cooled and become denser through blowing downhill from inland Antarctica. These are particularly fierce in coastal regions.
Terrain
The team will not have to worry about falling through the ice into freezing water this time - but they will have to be careful to avoid giant crevasses of up to 100ft in depth as they travel across the ice. Their journey will also take them on a climb from sea level to over 9,000 feet over the 700 miles, in contrast to the North Pole where their walk, by comparison, was flat.
Ultraviolet radiation
The hole in the ozone layer that forms over Antarctica each spring poses one of the greatest dangers to the team. Ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation (produced by the Sun) that can damage the cells of living things - plants, animals and people. A small dose can result in sunburn, while continuing exposure can lead to cataracts or skin cancer. 24-hour daylight makes it vital that the team protect themselves with UVB protection cream, facemasks and nose shields. Their tent is also specially treated to filter UV rays to shield the team while they sleep.
Magnetic forces
The team will also have to contend with strange magnetic forces that have been known to have an unpredictable effect on the mind and body of those in Polar Regions. In research stations, incidents have included a Soviet scientist who killed a colleague with an axe over a game of chess and a doctor on an Argentine expedition who burned down the base to force his evacuation. Two Russian tourists went on a hunger strike in January 1999, so desperate were they to get out.
ABOUT THE EXPEDITION
Data collection
In order to assist future expeditions and specialist equipment manufacturers, the team has committed to record daily meteorological and physiological information throughout their journey. This will include:
- ambient temperatures
- various microclimates
- wind speed
- barometric pressure
- hours of cloud cover/direct sunlight
- calories eaten per person
- weight loss
- perceived mood state
- menstrual patterns
- urine analysis
- pulse rate
Training and preparation
Hauling a load of up to twice your bodyweight for ten miles a day across Antarctic ice places demands on the body that can be met only by those who are extremely fit. In order to prepare for such a gruelling expedition the team began training more than one and a half years ago. Each member of the team took responsibility for maintaining and progressing her own individual level of fitness. Cross training undertaken by each woman on her own five or six days a week included:
- running
- weight training
- training on ski machines
- carrying rucksacks full of stones
- swimming
- hauling tractor/car tyres up hills
Diet
Eating the right food is essential to survival in a Polar environment. In order to keep warm and to have the strength to keep moving the team need to obtain a great deal of energy from their diet. This energy is provided by foods that are high in carbohydrate and fat such as chocolate, peanuts, shortbread and butter. During the expedition each woman will have to consume more than 5000 calories a day just to keep her energy level up - this means carrying about a kilo of food for each person each day. Vitamins supplement the diet.
As it is vital that the team pull as light a load as possible in their sledges, all wrappings were removed from the food before departure and it is all packed together and broken into little pieces.
Clothing
The Polar clothing worn by the team consists of multiple layers rather than a few thick garments. The layers trap air to provide insulation but at the same time clothing can be removed or added in response to different conditions. The pile layers of the under tops and jackets are made of special fabric that 'breathes', preventing a build up of sweat, keeping each of the women dry and their body temperatures as constant as possible.
The team wear goggles, neck gaiters, wristlets and layers of socks as well as gloves, scarves and hats (or balaclavas). To protect themselves against especially high winds each member of the team has a windproof suit that can be worn over their clothing and, for extreme cold, they carry a down jacket (equivalent to a 15 tog duvet).
Equipment
Equipment is transported on sledges (known as pulks) with loads of up to twice each woman's bodyweight. To keep loads as light as possible only essential items are included. Amongst food, clothing and other items, the team are carrying:
- a dome tent
- a bothy bag
- sleeping bags and mats
- cookers; cooking pots; fuel
- thermos flasks
- water bottles
- sun cream and UVB lotion
- snow shovel
- compasses and GPS
- karabiners
- ice axes
- ice screws
- tape and 50 meters of rope
- whistles
- medical kit
- maintenance kit and repair kit
- a BT Iridium phone and batteries
- video and stills camera
- meteorological testing equipment
- Christmas presents for each other
Communication
The team can communicate basic messages using a system called Argos that enables them to choose from a series of 15 different pre-set codes. Messages are sent to a computer in Maryland where the information is deciphered and communicated to the necessary people via e-mail. There are also a series of special codes that can be used in case of emergency.
The main means of communication for the team, however, is a BT Iridium telephone - a battery powered satellite phone which the team uses to report on their position and well-being at regular intervals. Time spent on the telephone is carefully measured and priority is given to exchanging vital information.
The team are also carrying a Breitling watch that can send a signal in an extreme emergency.
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