Week 6 – Crossing Antarctica, A 1000 miles alone

Team Army is proud to be sponsoring Lou on this record breaking quest. This is the sixth week of the expedition in his own words:

Dec 7th – Day 35 in Antarctica. Lou is now only a few days from the South Pole, but it’s a tough day today. He was expecting firm surface up at 9,000ft on the Polar plateau, but the usually hard-packed surface is soft and Lou is forced to heave the heavy pulk along for a slow, hard slog. Apparently it’s a tough season all across Antarctica – Lou still gets in 13 nautical miles …  >>READ MORE>>


Dec 8th – Day 36 in Antarctica. A good day. Lou moves on across a hard, flat surface through light winds and great visibility. It’s a flat run all day and Lou makes 15 nautical miles. He’s now only 8 nautical miles from 89 degrees South, which is the last degree to the Pole …  >>READ MORE>>


Dec 9th – Day 37 in Antarctica. Another clear weather day with good visibility and light winds. Lou has a hard day with 11 hours of monotonous clock-watching, feeling slightly lethargic and lacking energy after 37 days without proper rest. He’s delighted to find at the end of the day that he’s made 14 nautical miles …


Dec 10th – Day 38 in Antarctica. Last night Lou heard one of ALE’s aircrafts rumbling as it passed overhead – his first taste of civilisation in a long while. He wakes up to good visibility and pushes on through strong side on winds. After chipping through the start of his 14.6 nautical mile day he spots a dark shape on the horizon, drawing closer…  >>READ MORE>>


Dec 11th – Day 39 in Antarctica. A hard day. Whiteout conditions, snowfall and strong winds that hurl out whipping spindrift. Lou digs in to 11 hours of compass-staring and finds time for reflection on his performance and past expeditions…


Dec 12th – Day 40 in Antarctica. Lou has now gone through 40 days of food. It’s a tough start. Full-on whiteout. Heavy snowfall. Lou is forced to trudge through deep snow, with the heavy pulk resisting him and pulling hard against the harness. At the end of the day he sets up camp around 11 miles from the South Pole. He plans to arrive there tomorrow, at which point he’ll take stock of his resources, perform a dynamic risk assessment and ensure he has adequate supplies to attempt the second leg and push on…


Dec 13th – Day 41 in Antarctica. After a 4am wake-up Lou’s on his way to the South Pole, ploughing through total whiteout conditions. He skis 11 miles, searching for the Pole through the driving snow, until finally he spots a radar installation. He’s made it! Lou meets the head of ALE camp and the rest of the ALE staff. He then moves on to get clear of the Pole and camps at the end of the runway outside the South Pole Station. That’s 16.2 nautical miles and a huge milestone day…

Expedition Facts

Capt Lou Rudd MBE is attempting to become the first person in history to complete a solo crossing of Antarctica, unsupported and unassisted. He will travel for 70 days over a distance of 1,500km, from Messner to the Ross Ice Shelf via the South Pole.

When: 1 Nov 18 to late Jan 19

Total Distance: 1,500km

Duration: 75 days

Hauling 140kg of food and equipment

No Resupplies/wind/ vehicle assistance/ outside help

Avg Temp: -30c

Calories: 6,000 per day

https://shackletonlondon.com/pages/expedition

PRE-EXPEDITION LOGS – https://shackletonlondon.com/blogs/pre-expedition

https://lourudd.com/