Mark is attempting to become the first person in history to solo ski both the South and North Geographic Pole’s consecutively.Ten years in the making, Mark’s vision has become a reality. After flying out to Puerto Arenas, Chile, he will spend a week acclimatising before being dropped off at the edge of Antarctica on 16 November. He will then be left alone to trek the 680 miles to the South Pole. A little over a month later, he will be picked up and flown north, ready to start all over again and conquer the North Pole.
You can follow how Mark gets on, with GPS navigation and satellite phone updates, at: http://www.markwoodexplorer.com/blog.
“My skis only arrived yesterday! Now, after such a long time preparing, it feels like it’s really going to happen,” said Mark.
He added: “I have an understanding of what I’m getting myself into, but only once I’m one the ice can I really know how tough it’s going to be. I turn 45 next month, so it’s now or never!”
Sir Ranulph Fiennes has termed this extraordinary expedition “the toughest journey on the planet”. And the planet is Mark’s motivation.
Mark is using his challenge to engage people with the effects of climate change. Using a unique sponsorship platform, The DoNation (thedonation.org.uk), he is asking people for support, not in cash but action.
