Todd Carmichael: Expedition Earth South Pole Update #1
November 8, 2008
Todd Carmichael, who is striving to become the first American to go solo and unsupported to the South Pole, has recently sent along his first update. Here it is in it’s entirety.
Spent the last few days in Punta Chile mostly just suffering from a lung infection and going through what final prep I can. As if my old set of lungs aren’t enough to remind me of my age, tendonitis has returned in my lower left leg. Alas, one must use what body they have.
News as to flight date and time to the ice is beginning to circulate. Thoughts are Sunday or Monday is looking good. I’m begging to be well by then.
Today at 4:30 my gear and supplies will be weighed and boarded. What’s left from there is the wait, hunkered in my tiny hotel room, drinking cough syrup and listening for the phone to ring.
Cheers from Punta - hack cough weeeeze,
Todd
As Todd mentioned, he is currently sitting in Punta Arenas, Chile. This is normally the launching point for most, if not all, Antarctic/South Pole expeditions. One of the reasons that most expeditions launch from Puntas Arenas is that it offers one of very few places in the world that are within reach of the frozen continent by plane. Even journeys to our nation’s three polar stations begin and end in Puntas Arenas.
In the next couple of days, Todd will load his equipment and gear onto a small plane, then be dumped in Antarctica to begin his expedition. The plane will take off and leave nothing more but Todd and his sledge for the rest of the journey. Todd will have to survive on his own, with no resupply, for the roughly 700 mile journey to the geographic South Pole.
Let’s hope that the tendonitus and lung infection clear up before Monday when Todd should be hitting the ice! I have already sent him my best wishes and I will be updating this site on a regular basis with more information concerning Todd Carmichael’s Expedition Earth South Pole quest.
Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it,From The Adventurist Vault:
Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under Todd Carmichael |
I really hate to hear that you’re not feeling well Todd. I wish you the best on your trek to the South Pole. Just be sure and use your common sense that the good Lord gave you and don’t strike out until you are healed enough from that respiratory infection. The South Pole isn’t going anywhere…it can wait a couple of more days. Cold temperatures and lung infections do NOT go together. Don’t make me come down there.
Good luck!
Donna in Houston
Donna-thanks for the support for Todd. I will try to make sure he sees it, but it may not be till he gets back to the states. I am not sure if he has internet access in Antarctica. As far as I know, he only has a SAT phone to stay in touch.
Thanks a bunch Jason. Came on to see the latest news on Todd and his trek AND his health of course. Meant to check back sooner, but husband lost his mother and things have been kind of hectic around here of late. Hoping Todd is feeling much better and he’s ready to go to the ends of the earth. All the best, Donna
good luck old man
bgOOD LUCK tODD,FROM AN 82 YEAR OLD RETIREE IN pHILLY SUBURBS.bE WATCHING YOUR PROGRESS.its ZERO c.here now..
[...] - Todd Carmichael: Expedition Earth South Pole Update #1 saved by bailesje2009-08-14 - Friday Blogroll Call: It’s Winter in Antarctica saved by [...]