Cold Living: What a Day on the Ice Looks Like
We are quickly approaching the start of the Montane Yukon Ultra! In about 11 weeks time I will be at the start line of a very cold landscape preparing for my longest and coldest endurance effort to date. Because of the race’s similarity to what life will be like in Antarctica and on my qualifier, I’m going to use this as a chance to give y’all some insight as to what I will actually be doing during my long days alone in the field.
Some Common Questions
So, What are you doing?
I am attempting to be the youngest person in history to ski solo/unsupported/unassisted to the South Pole from the edge of Antarctica.
Solo — I will be completely alone for the duration of the journey
Unsupported — Everything I need to survive on the ice will be packed away into my sled, and I will have NO RESUPPLIES along the way. No one will be there to offer me a warm place to stay, any extra gear, or even a friendly hug as I traverse to the Pole.
Unassisted — I will rely on the power of my body to get me to the pole. This isn’t the same kind of resort-style, downhill skiing. It is far more akin to walking, and so I will have no motors, no kites, no dogs, or anything else to move me rather quickly across the ice.
What will you be bringing with you?
The beauty of polar expeditions is similar to what’s so great about long-distance backpacking; you can make the most of your time by living simply.
I will need warm clothes, a polar-grade tent, sleeping bag, pulk, food, and a handful of navigation devices — that’s really it!
Since I will be dragging every ounce of what I bring behind me on my pulk as I navigate the frozen landscape, it’s important for me to do everything I can to keep my weight low. For the sake of weight savings, I will be wearing the same set of clothes everyday that I’m on the ice, and what few luxury items I bring like my headphones and a few sweet treats will be as minimal and as light as I can manage.
How do you know where you’re going?
100 years ago during the golden age of Antarctic exploration we were still trying to fully understand what it meant to approach the geomagnetic pole and how it would affect compasses. Nowadays we have not only have enough science to make that process easier to manage (with practice), but I am fortunate enough to also have GPS while in the field. This means that during both the pristine, sunny days and on the gnarliest of whiteout blizzards I should be able to keep solid track of where I am and where I’m going.
What will your days look like?
Though I’ve never done well in intense structure, the beauty of polar travel is I generally know exactly what I need to be doing at any given moment. The days will generally look something like this:
Wake up and melt snow for breakfast and the day’s drinking water.
Pack up tent, orient myself toward the pole, and skii
Work continually for 90-minutes, and then take approximately a 10-minute break for food, water, bathroom, and orientation
Repeat that walking / eating process for 10-12 hours a day, then set up my tent for the evening
Melt snow for dinner, attend to any blisters or other discomforts, and take daily health and GPS readings to report to the logistics company
Journal, update my audio log (which you should be able to listen to everyday), and then sleep
While it won’t be easy, there is a degree of simplicity in all long-distance treks, be they backpacking or pulk-dragging
How far is the trek?
In a straight line, which is to say if I navigate my way to the Pole without going off-route, the journey is a little over 700 miles. Due to the size of that walk, I will be breaking my objectives into degrees of latitude. The South Pole lies at 90 degrees S in latitude, and there are about 70 miles between degrees of latitude.
How far will you go each day? How long will the journey take?
I will be the first to admit that although I have lots of backpacking and ultrarunning experience, there isn’t any room to go into this endeavor cocky. The goal will be to move forward for 10-12 hours per day, and after I complete my qualifier this season I will have a better understanding of what my daily average should be.
WOn’t you be lonely?
Likely, yeah. Apart from the physicality that this endeavor demands, I will also need to strengthen my mind and my technical abilities to ensure I am safe out on the ice. Monotony during long days of just walking can be dangerous, so I have things that will keep my mind busy during the journey.
Whelp, that’s it for now! Feel free to reach out in the comments or on my contact page with any other questions regarding the trip.