SOUTH POLE LAST DEGREE

WELCOME TO A VERY SPECIAL South Pole LAST DEGREE

The South Pole. The word is enough to give most people the chills. For adventurer seekers, it is the pinnacle of goals.
For 2024 we invite you to a very special setup for our Last Degree. You will be guided by one of Norway’s leading contemporary explorers, AK. In 2022-23 he executed a historic expedition, doing the South Pole trip Fridjof Nansen never got to do himself. After reaching the South Pole with you, he will aim to break the South Pole speed record.

No place is more remote, more different, more logistically impossible – but at the same time, the Pole is engulfed in mystique and the most fascinating history.
To walk on your esteem to the Geographical South Pole will leave a mark for life. - For 2024, Ousland Explorers invite you to a very special ‘Legend Edition South Pole Last Degree!

Expedition details

The main date is December 7th 2024. That is when our flight to Antarctica leaves Punta Arenas.

You will be required to meet up in Punta Arenas 5 full days in advance for preparation, briefings, packing, control equipment, and meeting the team.

To give you an idea as of now: You should leave home (probably) December 1st 2024. Your flight will take you to Santiago, Chile. You will change to the Domestic Terminal next door before flying all the way south to the tip of South America. (The lefthand side gives the best view of the stunning Andes mountain range…)

Des 2nd to 5th is packing, equipment checks, Antarctic briefings, and planning. On Dec 6th, one day before departing, we weigh and check-in of all our equipment for the plane to be packed.

Jan 7th we fly from Punta Arenas to Union Glacier Basecamp a 4 ½ hour flight over Drake Straight, and the Antarctic Peninsula, before we land in the Ellsworth Mountain Range.

Just to land in Antarctica is amazing in itself. We are welcomed by dry, cold, and crystal-clear polar air, and the feeling that the sky is higher than anywhere else on Earth. On top that of, Union Glacier Camp is surrounded by stunning mountains and scenery for your first night in Antarctica.

Jan 8th: As all preparations are done in Punta, we are ready to fly out as early as possible to 89° South. This to maximize our time out in the field and give ourselves the best chance of success possible.

• The first days are super slow as we acclimatize to the cold, the snow, and the altitude - while spending time establishing good routines and camps, breathing, drinking and enjoying being there. Then we gradually walk longer and longer distances over the pristine snowfields. How many days we will use? Not sure :-)

Dec 16th (maybe :-) We ski into the Geographical South Pole. Here we will of course take pictures ‘en masse’ at the ceremonial Pole with the famous ‘lollypop’ marker surrounded by the flags from all the original Antarctic Treaty signature nations. We will view the impressive, nearby Amundsen-Scott Station which looks like a station on the moon. But most importantly, we will be greeted in ALE’s comfortable mess tent for our first small celebration.

Des 17th: we fly back from the South Pole to Union Glacier to celebrate for real!

Des18th: You leave Antarctica behind and fly back to Punta Arenas and civilization. AK will stay behind for his last preparations before heading out for his grueling record attempt. – We are pretty sure you will follow him closely due to the bonds formed from your expedition with him.

Des 19th: Leave this day as a spare / weather day as we do not quite know when we will be back.

Des 20th: You fly back home (but please book tickets that can be changed)

TOUR GUIDE: AK

AK Glück-Teigland, is a 1982 model Norwegian from the daunting and beautiful western part of Norway. Living by the famous Hardangerfjord, he is known for never letting the chance to scale the steep sides of the fjords and head over the waste Mountain Plateaus. This has made him a formidable skier, and winning extreme ski races and leading long and groundbreaking crossings all over.

Yearly he also guides some of the most beautiful and dramatic ski trips in Norway. One is over the huge Hallingskarvet Mountain Range. The other is from the High mountains, over the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, and down on the western side. You go from full winter to the blooming of spring by the deep fjords.

Known for his deep interest in folklore, Polar history, and the extreme, it is hard to imagine a better and more interesting guide possible.

That he after the Last Degree will undertake the most extreme of South Pole Expeditions says it all. It will give you a unique insight into what it takes to take on Antarctica.

COST & WHAT IT INCLUDES:

Cost per person: The price for 2024 has not been defined yet but is in the region of 77-79.000 US$, an immediate deposit of US$ 7.500 is paid upfront, and the remaining 100 days before departure.

This includes a Punta Arenas-Union Glacier return flight, a flight to drop off point, and a return flight from the South Pole to Union Glacier, all food & service while in Antarctica (both at Union Glacier with its hospitality units and in the field), all camp-, safety- and communication equipment, medical screen, sleds, harness, and the experienced guide/leader.

• Equipment: A lot of specialized things that is not in everybody’s cupboard, and often not easy to find in the next-door sports shop, like extreme skiing boots, bindings, skis, skins, poles, parkas, underwear, sleeping bags, mattress, super mittens, face mask etc etc. All this is essential for both your comfort and safety. We will help advise you.

But we also provide the service of providing everything: You meet up in Punta Arenas with a toothbrush and an iPhone, and we show up with the rest. This has proved popular as it is top-quality equipment at a good price. - It’s up to you :-)

• In the equipment list (which will arrive soon), you will find all the items explained in detail.

• What is not included in the price is: • return-ticket to Punta Arenas in Chile • Lodging and food while staying in Punta Arenas. • A personal travel and medical evacuation insurance. • Personal equipment as defined in the Equipment list. • Cost of training- or information gatherings in either the US or Norway.