TREK TO THE SOUTH POLE
Time Period: 30th of November 2008 - 28th of January 2009
Conditions: Extreme
Dangers/Threat: Sub-zero temperatures, gale force winds
Throughout the four year duration of the Pangaea Expedition Mike Horn has decided not only to share the adventure with the younger generation but also to partake in several expeditions of his own. As is known through his previous expediitions, Mike Horn seeks to challenge himself whilst amongst the nature and its elements. Antarctica presented itself and Mike saw an exciting new challenge - to trek almost 1'500kms, from the continent edge to the South Pole via Hercules Inlet.
Mike had previously spent many months in the Arctic during his recent expeditions and had already been to the North Pole twice, so travelling on the ice and in extreme cold did not represent any great new challenges to him. As Antarctica is a continent, Mike no longer found himself floating precariously on an unstable block of ice, neither did he risk the eventual encounters with polar bears as he did in the north, nor need to swim in glacial waters. This time the challenge that he found was the hard continual uphill slogg and a lot of fresh snow that weighed him down even further. His sled was heavy - 190 kilos heavy - so the effort needed to pull such a heavy load uphill through thick snow was phenominal. Mike continued with skins on his skis for most of the journey before he was able to take his skins off and start using a kite.
Mike was met during his trek by HSH Prince Albert II, Norwegian Explorer, Borge Ousland and two Young Explorers, Clémence Cadiro (Fr) and Nicolas Valdivieso (Chilli), and he accompanied them for three days to the South Pole (prior to his own arrival to the Pole). It was great for him to be able to share these moments and to live something unique with other motivated people as himself and to appreciate with them the magestic beauty of the frozen landscapes of Antarctica.
After 59 days Mike arrived at the South Pole tired but happy.
SOUTH POLE Expedition 
