SOUTH POLE

Mike Horn Team

• Mike Horn
• H.S.H Prince Albert
• Borge Ousland

Young Explorers Team

• Clémence Cadario, 20, France
• Nicolas Valdivieso, 18, Chile 

DAY-BY-DAY DIARY (excerpts from Mike)

Clémence and Nicolas spent one week together with Mike and Borge walking on average 25 km a day. The Young Explorers are amongst the youngest to ever ski the last degree to the South Pole. Mike was especially pleased with the pace that the two Young Explorers managed to maintain - which was faster than what Mike originally had anticipated.

11th of January

Mike has company at 88°42.436' S 82°37.137' W!

It was an emotional moment for Mike Horn when he heard the engines of a twin Otter approaching from the NW direction of Patriot Hills. Onboard were three adventurers eager to join him and to walk with him the last degree to the South Pole.

At 8 am Chilean time, in favourable weather conditions, explorer and friend, Borge Ousland and two Young Explorers, Clèmence Cadario and Nicolas Valdivieso, stepped off the plane and were greeted by an elated Mike.

It had been 41 days since Mike left the Antarctic coastline and since he had seen or spoken to other people. He was thrilled to have company again! For Clèmence and Nicolas also, this was an unbelievable moment that will remain in their memories for the rest of their lives.

After the first Pangaea selection camp in Château-d'Oex, Switzerland, the two YEP candidates were chosen to accompany Mike on the last degree of his trek to the South Pole and it was decided that they would be accompanied by only the best of the best! Borge Ousland, undoubtedly the most experienced of any other polar explorer, and Mike Horn, with his wealth of exploration experience, will accompany these two youths, share their knowledge and experience, and will ensure that Clèmence and Nicolas will arrive safely at the Pole.

With temperatures of -28°C the team decided not to stop for long. They quickly started walking to reheat their bodies and to acclimatise to the Antarctic conditions. Around 3 hours later they set up camp and celebrated their meeting in true Swiss style, with a typical fondue from the Swiss region of L'Etivaz and Chilean wine. Afterwards Clèmence and Nicolas familiarised themselves with their four man tent and Antarctic environment as Mike and Borge discussed their strategy for the next few days.

With 144kms to walk until they reach the Pole they will take it easy initially and will try and advance more and more each day. Today, being their first real day on the ice they will try and advance about 10-15 km. Mike estimates they will arrive at the Pole in about 9 days time.

After a hearty breakfast the team will set off. Weather conditions today are favourable with sun, no wind and temperatures of around -28°C. Clèmence and Nicolas are both pulling sleds, laden with 12 days worth of food and other odd and ends, so the going will not be easy. It will need huge adjustment on their behalf with a lot of stamina and motivation.  They have been well prepared for the task that lies ahead of them. They are also both ready to face the challenge and are excited to live this amazing experience.

We'll be following Clèmence and Nicolas's progress closely as they approach the Pole and send them lots of encouragement from the Mike Horn team back in Switzerland!

12th of January

From a lone traveller to one of a group!! Mike calls from Lat 88°51 S Lon 83°14 W!

Mike, Borge, Clèmence and Nicolas are joined on the Antarctic ice cap by H.S.H Prince Albert, and his team of 8 people.

HSH Prince Albert II left South America on the 5th of January for a three week tour of Antarctica. This trip, in acknowledgment of the end of the international polar year, is to visit 26 international scientific bases on the glacial continent that are currently measuring the impact of global warming on this greatly affected continent.

"The royal team arrived at 7 pm local time, just when Borge, Clémence, Nicolas and I were about to complete our day and set up camp. It was the first day walking for Clémence and Nicolas and we were happy to have advanced 16.5kms - not bad at all! Clémence and Nicolas took it all in their stride, with no problems at all, even with the very cold conditions."

"With visitors dropping in on us like this, we quickly set up several tents, with one larger one where we could congregate and chat about our Antarctic experiences. It's always a great pleasure meeting up with Prince Albert. We have met many times in the past, but this was certainly unique! We have a joint passion for the ice and have both visited the Arctic and Antarctic. I am very fortunate to have the Principality of Monaco supporting the Pangaea Expedition and to be associated with like-minded and motivated people who concentrate their efforts in creating awareness about the environment and the importance of its' preservation."

"Tomorrow we'll all walk together towards the Pole. It will be interesting for me to be with a group of people for a change. I'm looking forward to sharing this amazing time with these dear friends.
Even though it may be short, it'll be an experience I will never forget!"
Mike Horn

14th of January

Mike calls at 16h00 Swiss time.

"We've had a great few days in the company of Prince Albert and his team, says Mike.

During the first day together, we walked 12kms. Luckily the conditions were relatively good, even though the temperatures were very cold and winds moderate to sometimes strong. Surprisingly enough everybody adjusted very well considering they had all stepped entirely out of their usual environment.

Prior to this, myself, Borge, Clèmence and Nicholas left our equipment at about 118kms from the Pole. Marking the GPS position where we left the equipment will allow us to find it again when we return after the royal party has left.

The following day in Prince Alberts’ company, we had a 10km walk to the pole. It was a victorious moment for myself, Prince Albert, Borge, Clèmence and Nicolas as we held onto the South Pole monument to have our photo taken.

Not only is it amazing to see the large buildings and research station at the pole but also to see it buzzing with scientists and researchers. It’s incredible to have so much information about the world’s evolution right here under our feet and to know that we have arrived at the same point where men have tried to conquer now for centuries.

Prince Albert and his party have now left us and today we will backtrack once again to our equipment. As soon as we are reunited we can start again our trip to the South Pole.

With 118kms to go, I think it will take us around six days, but now we know where we are going it might even be faster. We’ll see!

Clèmence and Nicholas seem to have acclimatised nicely now and seem to be rearing to go under their own steam. Borge and I will guide them safely to their goal and they will soon be some of the youngest people to walk the last degree to the South Pole.

Regards to all those people who are following our progress!!
 

YEP 1 SOUTH POLE