Pulka-ski expedition to the South Pole Last Degree

We arrive in Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. Upon our arrival at the airport, we are met by our partner ALE and taken to our hotel. Later, we are then invited to a welcome dinner. Verification of your equipment the same day or the next day at your hotel, in general.

Transfer/transportation: private vehicle Meals: breakfasts not included – lunches not included – dinners not included Accommodations: nights not included

Preparation day. Safety briefing, detailed planning. Weather forecast. I will answer your questions. We get our equipment ready for the flight the following day.

Meals: breakfast in hotel – lunch not included – dinner not included Accommodations: night not included

We load the equipment and take the morning flight to Union Glacier. This flight is subject to the vagaries of the weather and to the state of the runway in Antarctica. It will take 4 to 5 hours of flight from Punta Arenas. Then we will pass the Antarctic Circle and see our first icebergs! One hour before landing we get dressed to face the imminent cold and after an impressive landing on the blue ice runway we are greeted at the camp.

Transfer/transportation: flight for Union Glacier (4 to 5 hour flight) Final altitude: approx. 700 m Meals: breakfast in hotel – lunch on the plane – dinner in campsite Accommodations: night in campsite

We take our breakfast at the camp then we visit the surroundings and we relax. Weather briefing and answers to participants' questions. Verification and testing of equipment.

Final altitude: approx. 700 m Meals: breakfasts in campsite – lunches in campsite – dinners in campsite Accommodations: nights in campsite

We are ready and awaiting the go from the pilots and the weather. After breakfast, we check our equipment and start loading the Twin Otter or Basler BT-67 plane for our flight south. Then we take off. We land to refuel once or twice. It will take us again 4 to 5 hours to reach the starting point of our expedition. We land some 111 km from the South Pole. We set up camp and prepare for the next day.

Transfer/transportation: flight to the final degree of the expedition (4 to 5 hour flight) Final altitude: approx. 2 500 m Meals: breakfast in campsite – lunch in campsite – dinner in tents Accommodations: night in tents

Today, we really start our expedition. Our sleds are loaded and balanced. In total, we have eight days to reach the geographic South Pole.

The surface of the ice shelf is sour and wrinkled with the presence of sastrugi (sharp topographical irregularity on a snow surface resulting from erosion caused by the wind) the highest of which can reach 50 cm in height… We are in the white immensity, blindingly pure and so isolated. The harshness, the austerity, the vastness... There is no other place on earth that resembles what we see day after day.

Theoretically, the weather is fine and dry with a little wind and the temperature is still mild at this time of the year, between -15 and -30°C. We progress and take regular breaks to eat and hydrate. We feel a bit like the first explorers experienced when they came here almost a century ago.

Every evening and then every morning, the routine of the camp, filling in our diary, exchanging our impressions with a very international team.

Final altitude: approx. 2 750 m Meals: breakfasts in tents – lunches with picnics – dinners in tents Accommodations: nights in tents

Today, if the conditions allow us and if we held on, we arrive at the South Pole. We can already see it from 15 kilometers away because the American station of Amundsen-Scott is clearly visible! When we arrive at the South Pole mark, we will go around it (little world tour!) to celebrate our achievement.

We meet a member of the National Science Foundation (NSF) if available who shows us around the base. We can even find a souvenir for our loved ones!

We stay about 2 to 3 hours at the South Pole and then our plane picks us up. We then perform a 15' flight, the time to land to refuel... and to spend the night!

Final altitude: approx. 2 835 m Meals: breakfast in tents – lunch with a picnic – dinner in tents Accommodations: night in tents

We return today to Union Glacier which we reach at the end of the day. It will have been necessary to refuel again on the way. We are welcomed with a “sumptuous” dinner (everything remains relative) to celebrate our return.

Transfer/transportation: flight for Union Glacier (4 to 5 hour flight) Final altitude: approx. 700 m Meals: breakfast in tents – lunch with a picnic – dinner in tents Accommodations: night in campsite

Today, according to the schedule of our aircraft and the weather, we explore the surroundings of the Base, enjoy a little of the privileges given to us being here. Then we get on the plane to the North and the heat! A reserve day is still expected. We land in the morning.

Transfer/transportation: flight for Punta Arenas (4 to 5 hour flight) Meals: breakfast in campsite – lunch on the plane – dinner not included Accommodations: night not included

In Punta Arenas, we take our flight back to Europe. Landing the next day.

Transfer/transportation: taxi and international flight Meals: breakfasts in mountain hut – lunches in mountain hut – dinners in mountain hut Accommodations: nights not included