My decision to attempt skiing to the North and South Poles began in February 2021, following a three-day training camp on a frigid Lake Granby in Colorado. The camp was led by the expert guide, Ryan Waters, the owner of Mountain Professionals Inc. Joining me for this training was my friend, Dr. Emily Farkas, whom I had met during a trip to Antarctica in 2018.
Our initial goal was to secure a spot on Ryan's team for a North Pole Expedition scheduled for April 2021, known as the "Last Degree" expedition. In this expedition, a plane or helicopter would drop our team off at Latitude 89, providing us with sleds, skis, and gear for a six-day journey to the North Pole. The traditional route to the North Pole typically involved traveling through Svalbard, Norway. This route included flying to Longyearbyen for preparations before taking a jet 1,200 miles to Camp Barneo, and then using helicopters to reach the 89th degree. Unfortunately, the 2021 season was canceled due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Norwegian government. We attempted to plan for 2022, but the situation worsened when Russia invaded Ukraine, leading Norwegian officials to prohibit Russian-made and owned Antonov jets from flying through Norwegian airspace.
In February 2023, it appeared that the conflicts between Russia and the Norwegian Government had been resolved. Emily and I decided to participate in a three-day polar training camp in northern Minnesota to refresh our skills. However, just three weeks before the expedition was scheduled to begin, the Norwegian government denied approval for flights to Camp Barneo, making it clear that the North Pole was not an option at that time. Consequently, I redirected my focus towards the South Pole. After months of training and resolving scheduling conflicts, the expedition's start date was set for January 1, 2024.
The expedition officially began when I boarded a flight from Washington Dulles Airport to Houston. My son Matt dropped me off for the start of a 7,000 mile, 26 hour journey.
Len with his son Matt
During the flight, the captain approached my seat and handed me a coin along with an envelope containing a letter from the crew, congratulating me for reaching 1,000,000 miles on United Airlines. I had been aware that I was approaching this milestone, but I had no idea it would coincide with the first segment of my journey to South America.
Upon arriving in Punta Arenas, on New year’s eve, ringing in the new year with a beer in my hotel room, I met the team of seven adventurers and our co-lead guide, Scott Kress by midafternoon over New Year’s Day dinner. We will dedicate each day of the expedition to one of the children that Hopecam connected in 2023. Over the next few days we will settle into logistical briefings and making final preparations, while eagerly awaited confirmation for our flight to Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica, scheduled before Thursday, January 4th. Happy New Year!
