Todd Carmichael 2008 Expedition Earth South Pole Update: Challenging Hannah McKeand’s World Speed Record
December 14, 2008
Todd Carmichael has pushed himself to the brink of doing something unthinkable. For 31 days, Todd Carmichael has battled the wind, the snow, and the bitter cold of one of the world’s most desolate places. He started this expedition to the South Pole with the intentions of maybe becoming the first American to go solo and unsupported to the Pole. Today, roughly 8 days out from his destination, Todd is sitting neck and neck with World Record Holder Hannah McKeand for the fastest solo and unsupported expedition….ever.
Todd’s possible record has not come without a price. Two days in, one of the bindings on his ski snapped. He fought through that and rigged it up to work. The very next day, the binding on the second ski snapped. After some choice words for the binding manufacturer, Todd got up, tossed his skis aside, and decided to go on foot. Has anyone actually walked to the South Pole, on foot, solo and unsupported? Probably not. Todd wouldn’t be happy with that record, though. Eight days from the end, Todd Carmichael has pulled within reach of passing Hannah McKeand’s record breaking pace from 2006. Hannah made the historic solo and unsupported expedition in a time of 39 days, 10 hours, and 33 minutes. With just 8 days to go before Todd Carmichael reaches the Pole, it is looking like he may overcome a nearly 20 mile deficit to Hannah’s 2006 pace, to take over the world record.
It hasn’t come without struggle.
The early goings of Todd’s attempt looked less than bright. He had the problem’s with the bindings on his skis, he complained of some early onsetting frostbite to his face, then he had to sit…and sit…and wait…and wait some more while time kept rolling on. Two days of sitting, waiting for a weather window to open, seemingly had Todd more than 20 miles off Hannah’s record pace. Over the last week, while fighting the harshest part of Antarctica, Todd has been averaging nearly 19 miles a day. Not bad for being on foot and dragging your own supplies up and down the harsh Antarctic sastrugi.
Todd’s latest update has him well within reach of Hannah McKeand’s record. Todd takes a moment to contemplate the day’s events which ended with another 18 nautical miles under his feet. His voice cracks when he speaks of nearing the pace that Hannah set prior. He calls her one of the world’s toughest expeditionists and world champion. In his next breathe, Todd Carmichael vows that her record will go down…with all due respect, probably tomorrow. Todd is set to pass where Hannah ended her 33rd day, and then go beyond.
He has entered the vast Sastrugi fields near the 88th degree. These make for the up and down situations that Todd has complained of being so tiresome. The soft snow and the change in elevations has routinely been the reasoning why adventurers have always went to the Pole on skis . He’s running on adrenaline. Todd knows that the record is his to win or lose. The only thing that could stop him is the weather, or something major becoming a factor.
As Todd nears this meeting with South Pole history, I want to ask all of you to stop by his site and wish him on. He has been driven by the emails and reads them daily. It takes his mind off the moment and let’s him not focus so much on history, but of that feeling that he is doing something that many people will never have the opportunity to do. Todd knows the history, he understands the timeline, he respects both, but also knows that The South Pole, solo and unsupported World Speed Record, is his destiny to take. We will see that destiny in less than eight days….
As Todd would say, “Rock Hard and Carry A Big Stick!,” Best of Luck, Todd!
From The Adventurist Vault:
Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under 2008 South Pole, South Pole, Todd Carmichael |
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