As of 7:00AM (GMT) Bryony Balen became the youngest Britain to ski to the Geographic South Pole from the Hercules Inlet! Overall Bryony and the team have skied 1134.9km (705miles) over a period of 56 days. The journey took her across the planets coldest continent, where temperatures reached as low as -45°C (-49°F) and facing the daily struggle of high winds, white-outs, sastrugi, and an almost permanent uphill climb!
In the last two days of the expedition the team trekked 67km, a huge push to get there just a little sooner! Bryony told me she would promptly sleep after the long days (and nights) skiing, followed by a visit to the centre and the pole marker before heading back to the Union Glacier Base (via aeroplane) at 4PM (GMT). Naturally, she is ecstatic!
Congratulations Bryony!
Upon her arrival, Bryony will become the youngest Britain to Ski from the Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole, skiing a total of 1135km (705miles) and ascending 2076m (8878ft); and taking a meagre 57 days to complete it! Of course, Bryony and the team haven’t made it yet, we all need to show our greatest support and wish the team all the best for this final push to the Pole!
Passing 89° yesterday was a big milestone for the team, as Bryony mentions in her audio update (at the Polar Explorers blog). When discussing the proximity to the Pole, Bob made the remark, “the thinnest veneer of civilisation awaits us”! Conditions are fair and the team see little obstruction on the final push (bar the usual troublesome sastrugi). As normal with an update you can find new maps on the tracking page!
