Most of this year’s expeditions are still waiting to embark, but the two solo, unsupported crossings are in progress. And one of the skiers is already having equipment difficulty.
Crossings
Ashkay Nanavati began her unsupported solo crossing from Berkner Island and has traveled 64km as of this writing. Nanavati had a short first day as he traveled to the coastline from his landing site to formally begin his expedition.
Photo: Screenshot
Day two was steep and windy, and the skier only covered about five kilometers. But a productive day three (14km and 300m of elevation gain) had Nanavati in better spirits.
“[Kilometers] aren’t important right now; we’re still very, very early in the game,” the skier reminded himself in a voice message. “Today is now done. It’s about the next one.”
As he begins day four, Nanavati is in good health, other than a sleepless night and some sore muscles.
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Youngmi Kim’s crossing, which began at Hercules Inlet, is also proceeding.
The South Korean has covered 101km in seven days so far. Her text logs are in South Korean, but translations reveal she might be struggling with one of the skins on her skis. On day three, she mentioned that it fell off four times. On day five, she wrote, “Removing the left skin of the ski. I couldn’t delay, so I just walked.”
Skin glue typically adheres well, even in deep cold, unless it’s so old that it’s dried out. Sloshing through slush or wet ice on the Arctic Ocean prompted past North Pole skiers to screw their skins to their skis before starting their expedition, but wet conditions should not be an issue here. She will need to find a solution quickly.
Photo: Screenshot
Hercules Inlet to the South Pole
The two women attempting solo runs on the Hercules Inlet-South Pole route (Catherine Buford and Karen Kyllesø) still await their departure dates.
Arne-Kristian Teigland has joined the ALE roster since last week’s update. The Norwegian will also solo Hercules Inlet-South Pole.
Messner Start to South Pole
Ali Riza Bilal and John Huntington’s Messner Start to South Pole expeditions should begin in the next week.
The ALE-guided group of clients Julian Evans (UK), Emil Neszmelyi (Hungary), David Pierce Jones (Switzerland), and Montague Pierce Jones (UK) begins on November 18. ALE guide Morten Rostille (Norway) will accompany the group.
Berkner Island to South Pole
Frederick Fennessy’s Shackleton-inspired, solo, unsupported Berkner-to-South-Pole expedition should get rolling any day now, according to his tracker.
Photo: Frederick Fennessy, Expedition 90 South
Constellation Inlet to Mount Vinson
James McAlloon and Robert Smith’s combination skiing/mountaineering expedition from Constellation Inlet to Mount Vision is still a month away. McAlloon spent yesterday manhauling tires in preparation.
