Just this week I read a story about Henry Worsley who died trying the same thing: <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-darkness" rel="nofollow">https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark...</a>. After reading, I wonder if you have to a certain level of insanity for doing something like this.
What is the definition of crossing Antarctica? It seems you have start at some point on the coast, go to the South Pole, then go to another point on the coast. But the South Pole isn't the midpoint. Nor are the two coastal points 180 degrees apart. Like what's the smallest angle that qualifies as a crossing? (If I hike along the France Spain border, is that hiking across Europe?)<p>Not to say it's any easier, but ever since these stories started coming out I've been wondering who decides what it means to cross the continent. Would going from Dronning Maud Land to George V Land, a journey of double the distance but passing north of the South Pole, count?
At first I was shocked by how large a sled he dragged. I use a much smaller sled (just a deer sled). Then I saw how smooth the terrain was at least where the photo was taken.<p>Then I read that he was out for <i>53 days</i>. And of course his conditions are far, far more grueling than I have ever faced (all in North America). So then I was shocked at how little he had with him!
Colin just accomplished an incredible feat of endurance! His daily Instagram postings have been inspirational to read for the past 53 days. Other info about his expedition:<p><a href="https://www.colinobrady.com/theimpossiblefirst" rel="nofollow">https://www.colinobrady.com/theimpossiblefirst</a><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/18/sports/antarctica-race-tracker-map.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/18/sports/antarc...</a>
To those inspired by this achievement to look more into polar expeditions, I can highly recommend Michael Palin’s “Erebus”. It’s a riveting read on the challenges, successes, and tragedies of the British explorer ship Erebus, its commanders, officers, and crews.
Tangent.<p>I once met a guy who told be about a historical book of, as far as I can remember, 2 or 3 explorers who were friends (?) and were racing to explore Antarctica. Does anyone happen to know the name of said book? It's been my white whale.
Wasn’t the crossing of Antartica unsupported already done in <a href="http://www.travelexplorations.com/cecilie-skog-and-ryan-waters-successfully-crossed-antarctica.4724142-18557.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.travelexplorations.com/cecilie-skog-and-ryan-wate...</a>? Asking because Colin’s website says it’s a first but I must be missing something.
Is it easier now because of climate change? (Not to take anything away from the accomplishment, it might actually be harder due to how climate change works.)