Team Will Trek 22 Miles A Day In Complete Darkness For Coldest Journey On Earth
The six-man team set off from Cape Town aboard a polar vessel today, and will begin their unprecedented land crossing on March 21.
The entire trek covers more than 2,000 miles. The crew aims to travel around 22 miles each day over eight hours. What's more, they'll be moving mostly in complete darkness and in temperatures that can potentially hit minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Sir Ranulph Fiennes will make the entire journey on skis.
Here's the schedule of a typical travel day republished from The Coldest Journey website:
06.30 Check that weather conditions are within range for travel (temperature, conditions, wind chill). Preheat blow air heaters with generator if necessary. Start heaters to preheat vehicle engines.
07.00 Team meeting: reassess conditions - decide on plan for the day
07.30 Start up D6N's; remove tent covers; shut down generator
08.30 Skiers and MVL set off
Various short breaks for snacks and drinks of up to one hour
16.30 Stop for overnight camp - check immediate area with GPR if necessary
16.45 Start up generator
17.30 Shut down vehicles. Cover vehicles with tent covers
18.00 Refuel vehicles and day tank (if necessary)
18.00 Communications, data download
18.45 Team meeting - discuss events of the day
19.00 Evening meal
Once on the move, the ski party will set the pace for the Mobile Vehicle Landtrain; there will be one driver in each of the D6N cabs and the Traverse Manager and one other team member will be in the cabooses.