Selfie at the Southpole

team at south pole

Our Antarctica2 team had the very best of 21st century communications at our disposal and we reported our arrival at the South Pole live by satellite. Messages and videos were immediately being shared around the world via social media, and we even found time to take a ‘selfie’. 

Believe in it

A belief in the reliability of the MF 5610 tractor and the crew members to do their jobs was a touchstone of Antarctica2’s return trip to the South Pole and enshrined in the expedition’s message #BELIEVEINIT
believeinit

400 km to go! Can we be home in time for Christmas?

Still time to take more pictures for cameraman Simon Foster as the Antarctica2 tractor expedition gets closer to home.

(Antarctica – 18th December 2014): The drive back from the South Pole is proving every bit as exciting and emotional for the Antarctica2 tractor expedition team as, hour by hour, they tick off the distance home.

The latest news is that they have less than 400 km to go to Novo Runway on the Antarctic coast. The MF 5610 put in yet another fantastic record-breaking run of 384 km and is as strong as ever despite the incredibly punishing schedule.

Now high up in the mountains at an elevation of 3314 metres (10,872 ft), the team members found themselves once again “gasping for breath” in the thin air. Thankfully, the weather has been clear with light blue skies but the temperature has dipped to minus 30 degrees C – dropping to around minus 37 with wind chill. As Expedition Lead Guide , Matty McNair said in her daily report: “It’s nippy out there.” Emotions are running high with the team as they all eager to get back home to their loved-ones in time for Christmas.

Everyone on the crew is pitching in with tractor driving shifts to ensure the MF 5610 is kept constantly on-the-move. There is no rest for the tractor. The drivers report that the cab is extremely warm and the seat very comfortable. The five-point seat belt helps them strap themselves down when driving over rough terrain. For in-cab entertainment, team members are passing the time in various different ways listening to music, podcasts and audio books. Manon Ossevoort, Lead Driver is listening to French lessons. Favourite sounds in the cab range from U2, Louise Attaque, Faithless, Trio, Muse, Endochine, Black Keys and Icelandic music.

special tractor tent

Matty has designed and made a special tent to, during maintenance, protect the tractor and the team from the extreme cold and wind. A different tent than I used on my journey through Africa, but is one is as genius and does exactly wat is needed :-)