They beat the clock (26 Jan.): Risto Hallikainen Finished 2,260 km Return Journey on Antarctica in 71 days, and Polish Solo lady, Małgorzata Wojtaczka, arrived at the South Pole after 69 days. Mike Horn is tent-bounded.
Day 71: Risto completed his 2,260 km Hercules Inlet return journey on January 24, 2017. The Finn started November 15, 2016, near 80 degrees South. Home team member, Vesa Luomala reported to Explorersweb/Pythom, “Risto has reached his pickup point yesterday (Jan 24th) and was waiting for a pickup at Hercules Inlet while he messaged me.”
“Risto made major achievement in Finland’s Arctic/Antarctic expeditions: no Finn has ever before made return journey to either Pole. If kite-assisted expeditions are counted, this was still second longest in kilometers and third longest by used time. Also the used time for return journey (71 days) is amazing even though return part was supported (Risto got food depot from South Pole). On behalf of Finnish Arctic Club, I can say we all are really proud of him!”
Locations according to his tracker:
Nov 15, 2016, 7:37:02 PM UTC Lat: -79.977508 Lon: -79.833055
Jan 24, 2017, 11:39:45 PM UTC Lat: -79.977561 Lon: -79.755978
According to the Rules of Adventure at AdventureStats, Risto completed his expedition to the Pole solo, in other words, he received no assistance along the way. The expedition from the South Pole back to Hercules Inlet, only, is classified the same, as he also didn’t receive assistance on that 1130 km stretch. As for the 2,260 km Return Journey as a whole, he received food/assistance at the Pole, therefore the Return Journey can’t be classified as solo.
When Risto started out at Hercules Inlet, his aim was not to receive any assistance at the South Pole, and therefore had all his food, fuel and gear for the whole journey in his sled, approximately a 180 kg sled. He left depots along the way, which he picked up again.
Arrival at the Geographic South Pole (90ºS) was December 28, 2016. Risto is the 11th person to have completed a Return Journey on Antarctica (first were Amundsen and his team). The Finn is the 4th person on the Hercules Inlet Return route not using kites (unsupported). Others were Aleksander Gamme solo (unassisted unsupported), 87 days, and duo James Castrission and Justin Jones (unassisted unsupported), 89 days.
Interactive Map: Antarctica Skiing Routes
2016-17 Antarctica Ski Expedition List
Hercules Inlet 80ºS unassisted unsupported to the Pole, Małgorzata Wojtaczka: The solo Polish lady reported on her website she has arrived at the South Pole, January 25, 2017, 12:00:05 UCT. “This expedition was amazing. I’m a little tired, but happy that I got though. Life is beautiful. Greetings to all,” she says on FB. Malgorzata has not received any outside assistance along 1130 km route to the Pole. She started her expedition on November 18, 2016, and completed it in 69 days. Malgorzata became the first Polish woman to ski to the South Pole, and in the process has done it solo.
S70.1015 W009.8249 start point, kite-support traverse, Mike Horn ZA/CH. He is tent-bounded, he reported. “I’m sitting in my tent with very little wind, wishing there was more so I can keep on moving North. Or I could be 100% disappointed and frustrated, and that has no purpose at all, or it gives me time for rest, recover and reflect, and that has a purpose.”
Post South Pole 2016-17 Interviews on Explorersweb/Pythom:
Solo South Pole skier Sebastien Lapierre: “Mind over body” (Interview)
Pre South Pole 2016-17 Interviews on Explorersweb/Pythom:
Exweb South Pole Interview with Johanna Davidsson: kite return attempt
Interview with Pata Degerman: Longest Snowmobile attempt on Antarctica
[UPDATE 2] Risto Hallikainen, solo South Pole return ski attempt (Interview)
1989: Arved Fuchs traversed Antarctica, with Messner (Interview)
Ryan Waters to guide Fuchs-Messner route (Antarctica 2016-17 interview)
Canadian Sébastien Lapierre to attempt solo ski to South Pole (Interview)
Cycle Antarctica: Hank van Weelden Pole to Coast attempt (Interview)
Emma Kelty: speed ski and return attempt (Exweb South Pole interview)
Eric Philips, South Pole 2016-17 New Start Point attempt (Interview)
Previous/Related on Explorersweb/Pythom:
Lou Rudd’s British team finished traverse on Antarctica – updated
Exweb/Pythom Best of 2016: Girard’s Flight of the Century… and more
Johanna Davidsson set New Solo Female Speed Record
Editorial: Might is The Answer to Why (Updated)
Antarctica Current: Polar How-To-Guide Heads-Up
HumanEdgeTech Expedition Technology (e.g.CONTACT software)
AdventureStats.com for Polar Statistics and Rules. Note that a solo claim has to be unassisted,
therefore no supplies carried by pilots or car drivers, or anything (food, fuel, etc) received from any person along the way. A solo person may be wind supported (kites/sails). Claiming to have ‘skied to the Pole’, a full route (from a coastal start point) has to be completed, without flying part of the route.
1 nautical mile = 1,852 km
Hercules Inlet is located at 80°S near Union Glacier, 1130 km from the Geographic South Pole.
The Fuchs-Messner start is 890 km in a straight line from the Pole.
Novo to GSP is 2,140 km in a straight line
Novolazarevskaya to South Pole of Inaccessibility (POI) is 1610 km in a straight line.
South Pole of Inaccessibility (POI):
2011-12 position: S82°06.696, E055°01.951 (Copeland/McNair-Landry)
On Dec. 14, 2014 Frédéric Dion reported the position the POI (at Lenin’s bust) as S82º 06.702′ E55º 2.087′ at an elevation of 3741 m.
Geographic South Pole (GSP): 90 degrees South
Gateway port Cape Town, South Africa:
To ALCI /TAC base camp Novolazarevskaya / Novo
70° 46’37”S, 011° 49’26”E
Gateway port Punta Arenas, Chile, South America:
To ALE base camp, Union Glacier
79° 45’S, 083° 14’W elev 708m
Lat: -79.760591 Lon: -82.856698
Weather:
https://www.yr.no/place/Antarctica/Other/Union_Glacier/
ALE Union Glacier weather cam 79º 46’S, 83º 16”W
South Pole webcam 90ºS
#polar #antarctica #Southpole #thepoles #skisouthpole
