Todd Carmichael: “When you begin thinking about time – the place begins to crush down on you.” Solo and Unsupported, The Adventurist Interview
December 22, 2008
Editors Note: Todd Carmichael will be attempting to become the first American to reach the South Pole solo, unsupported, and unaided. It has been done twice previously, but never by an American. This interview originally appeared as a piece entitled “10 Questions: An Interview With Todd Carmichael” in U.S. Outdoors Today. As I mentioned on that site, I did have an opportunity to ask Todd a few more questions pertaining to this expedition and now bring this to you in it’s complete entirety. This interview originally took place on July 28, 2008 and is being republished upon the news of Todd Carmichael’s successful solo and unsupported journey to the South Pole. Congrats Todd!
First off, Todd, I want to thank-you for allowing me to conduct this interview. It is always a pleasure to speak with those that I follow closely with. I have had the opportunity to watch a few of your videos concerning this expedition. I must say that when I first heard about what you were going to be attempting, I thought you were nuts. After the videos, now I know your nuts! Why the South Pole?
Deserts are my thing - huge unmolested patches of the planet, and Antarctica in my opinion is THE most beautiful desert of them all. As for the South Pole, it’s a natural focal point - the navel of the world if you will.
I can remember reading about Shackleton, Amundsen, and Scott while I was growing up. They always made me think “You know what? When I grow up, I want to do that.” Do you have a similar experience, or how did this idea come about?
You hit it on the head. Their influence on me cannot be overstated. I grew up without a father and often fantasized that these men were my Dads, or at least Uncles. Sadly (brace yourself) my Father opted out of life by shooting himself, quite the opposite approach to life than these men. I suppose that just cries out for therapy or at least a big crying jag, but I prefer my way, living my life with both hands on the wheel, like my heroes.
Many of my readers might not know this, but you actually attempted to reach the South Pole last year. At that time, you were actually trekking with someone else who would be there, in whatever capacity, if something went wrong. How did you get from then till now, where your plan has changed a bit to go solo and unsupported?
What a great question. The answer is I am still on that expedition. Rather than accept defeat and turn back when Jason was evacuated, I opted to go on solo. All was going fine until the massive blizzard and subsequent food shortage clobbered me. It was then I realized that the expedition would be more than two months – more like fourteen. In my minds eye, I’m still there, building up for another 700-mile push. In my mind, I live in Antarctica, huddled in my tent waiting for the sun to come back around.
How do you train for being alone, on what amounts to a huge island of ice, for an extended period of time? Do you do any kind of climate training? You spoke of having to train like a marathon runner, and a body builder, all while trying to pack on an extra 15 pounds–can you give us a bit of this routine?
Being alone is never really an issue. I am not sure why. In my normal life I love the company of others, in short, I’m not the Unabomber type, it just doesn’t seem to bother me much. As for the cold, I don’t find that a problem either. The first week it takes some getting use to, but the body and mind adapt eventually. As for physical training, well, that’s another issue. Each day I either cycle 40 miles full out, pull a tracker tire uphill for two hours or complete a full metabolic lifting cycle – 22 machines all to failure with not rest. The rest of the time I eat eat eat and then, I have something to snack on.
Since my last question had a couple of parts to it, I will make this one a bit easier. What motivates you?
In general, defying the odds. As for this expedition, it’s defying the odds.
Many people who take up these big expeditions do so to try to raise money for specific causes. I have not heard, read, or seen where or if this is even a goal. If it’s not, why did you decide against this, and if it is, tell us a bit more.
I’m glad you say that. Often Americans can’t understand why I am trying to promote a cause (or two) with
my exploits. It seems natural for the English but Americans ask “Now wait a minute. Your trying to cross Antarctica in order to save Orangutans?” There is a disconnect somewhere. With this expedition I’ve joined forces with www.Desmogblog.com, the Moveon.org for global warming. Also, as with everything I do, I contribute all of my sponsorship funds and speaking dollars to help the efforts of Dr Galdikas. She is the woman fighting for the lives of the last wild orangutans in Borneo. www.orangutan.org. I suppose I should make that clearer.
On your Expedition website, I noticed a comment from your mother. How does your family feel about these expeditions? Do they support what you are trying to do?
Mom hates it and wishes I would stop, but it’s been that way since I was old enough to drive. Poor old girl. (I say that with the deepest respect). The wife supports it but has her worries. She seems to like me better when I am working toward an expedition. She says I’m happier and more contented. My wife’s family hates it but says little, but supports it, especially my nervous brother in law, Brian. All that said I am lucky to have their love and support, despite the hating of it, they wish for my dreams.
Is there a plan in place, if, for some unknown reason, you would have to abort this expedition?
I can always call down to a temporary camp at Patriot hills and they can send an evacuation plane. It takes a while but they come. Just so you know, I can think of no harder call to make. To do it I need to be broken.
Can you talk a bit about safety? I am sure that when you’re the only one on this vast continent, things have to be looked at a bit different.
In short, successful expeditions are about managing risk, recognizing where the risks are and mitigating them. For this expedition the risks (in order) are 1) the tent (loosing it in the wind or burning it down) 2) Laziness (not adjusting cloths to the weather: i.e. frostbite, windburn or wet/frozen base layers. 3) Crevasses, not reading the landscape, and falling into one 4) Injury (not physically preparing or stretching) 5) Going silly mad.
How do you know when to say “hey, you know what? I’ve had enough.” A pick-up or evacuation could take time. Days. Is this something you actually have to keep in the back of your mind or is this a constant awareness?
Well, it’s kicking around there someone, next to say, my thoughts on salad dressing or laundry detergent. You try not to think about it too much. Realistically, the triggers for evacuation come down to two things: food, or the lack of it, and two, a serious injury. As for the first one, food and time on the ice are related. This year I will not make the same mistake as last, bad weather means more time on the ice means the need for more food. This year I intend to drag along a full buffet. As for the second, injury, knock on wood.
When you finally do reach the Pole, solo and unsupported, have you planned how you’re going to celebrate?
First, I intend to play some real wicked air guitar. After shredding it up some I’ll then plant a few flags, the first the American flag that covered my Grandfather at his funeral, that’s an important one to me, two, the Ethiopian Flag, in tribute to a country that means a great deal to me and my wife, and finally, my expedition flag. After a few photo op moments and a proper thanking of the gods I’ll pitch my tent and sleep for 20 hours. (There is no beer at the South Pole.)
Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O’Brian, Jerry Springer, or Oprah: which of these talk shows would you be most interested in hooking up with and why?
Um, Keith Olberman and/or Jon Stuart. These guys love sport, are switched on, and seem to care about the same things I do.
Will you be carrying an Ipod with you, AND what kind of music do you prefer in Antarctica? I, personally, would be going with the “Rocky” theme song. Eye of the Tiger? Yeah. That’s a great motivator.
No iPod for me. I’ve tried it before but it gives me a sense of time. When you have 14 hours to pull uphill and against the wind the last thing you want is a sense of the minutes passing. When you begin thinking about time – the place begins to crush down on you.
What about food? What will you be eating on your expedition. In the early days of polar exploration, a lot was to be said for whale blubber. Since hunting whales is illegal in the United States, I am guessing you are going with something else..
Whale, pony and/or dog to be exact, none of which I eat, or want to, BLECK. During the workday, it’s all about fatty sausage and chocolate -oodles. The key is calories, I burn about 9,000 of them per day, and so I need to eat over a pound of each. The mornings its instant oatmeal and at the end of the day its freeze dried beef stew. Even given this, I’ll leave at 225pounds and return at 165. In short, I’m eating myself too.
Todd, it has been nice speaking with you. Once again I want to thank-you for allowing me to conduct this interview. Myself, The Adventurist and all of my loyal readers wish you the best of luck as you try to become the first American to go solo and unsupported to the South Pole. Good luck and Be Safe. Cheers-
Cheers!
Editor’s Note II: To read more about Todd Carmichael and his upcoming expedition to the South Pole, please visit his Expedition Earth: South Pole website.
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Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under Adventurist Interview |
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Great post! Looking forward to many more……
[...] began, I had the opportunity to interview him about his upcoming adventure. (You can read that interview here.) Todd’s time of 39 days, 7 hours, and 49 minutes is quite remarkable pending the [...]