Sh*** happened â ïž. Crevasse fall! Miraculously, no injury or more⊠just a scary moment where lifeâs balance was on the edge.
This occurred when we were on an exit arm glacier of the Agassiz icecap. Since, we let it sink in and decided to be transparent about it. We did big mistakes. We let our guard down as we were tired (26 days of hard labor on the body) and maybe acted too confident about what we were doing.
We know the drills though⊠blocking knot connected to the back of the sleds, max tension on the rope, easy access to the crevasse rescue kit / carrying it and so on.
Our guard is right back up with triple precautions đ€. We are still on the way to attempt an unsupported full crossing of Ellesmere island đšđŠ. It was a magical moment to see the light of the sun again and away from the darkness of that hole đ„”.
#welcometonature
đ«đ· ET VOILĂ đłđŽ! New speed record in Antarctica! Hercules Inlet (Dec 20th 2023 at 0852) to the South Pole (Jan 11th 2023 at 1500) solo & unsupported : 1132km in 22 days, 6 hours and 8 min. Average: 51 km /day. Time & track recorded by @antarcticlogistics . (All previous posts - archives - have been done by Caro. Now I am back online). Thanks to all of you who followed the journey and send some great comments (that I just read)!
I am still confused on how it somehow worked out and where did I find the energy to keep on skiing. Maybe because I rebuilt strength from the last minute canceled North Pole expedition but most importantly because I am surrounded by great and genuine people, married to a polar ninja and soon to become a father. The stars were correctly aligned despite the powder and the white out for the first half of the journey. I always keep in mind what Amundsen said about creating your own luckâŠ
To my friend Christian Eide. In 2011, you established the speed record in 24 days, 1 hour and 13 min. Christian, I didnât beat your record. You pushed myself to the edge and WE improved the time. Even if I was solo on the ice, it is to me a team effort. Without you and the help of Lars, I donât think I would have pulled it off. Moreover, when you established the record, you didnât have no one to beat but yourself. In my case, I knew your daily distances and it helped me pushing further. Always easier to break a record than to establish it (?)âŠ
Will I apply for the Guinness World Records? No. I am not here for the fame and I donât share the trajectory and the values of this organization (e.g recognizing records for guided expeditions and other categories that do not make sense to me). Also, with the current wars on the planet at the moment, it doesnât feel right to me to claim that record.
Thanks to my wife @caro.line.cote , my good friend @maria.f.witchell , these legends @polarlars and @borgeousland , also @janstol , @margretha.flatland , @lucas_mao24 , @runekrogh_beyondlimits , Greg M,
the team @helsport and the whole family @antarcticlogistics in Union Glacier and at the South Pole camp who had been SO supportive!
đž @steinretzlaff
Polar bear training style đ»ââïž. My fascination for the polar regions takes me to enjoy this rare moments feeling like a wild animal! And striving to find my place in the polar eco-system. Couldnât have dreamt of a better honeymoon đŻđđ .
đ„ @caro.line.cote â€ïž
ps: this was not part of ÂŽParad Ice Moonâ - the circumnavigation unsupported of Bylot Island in 18 days - but part of a post-expedition training further out from the shore of the island.
#welcometonature #seaice #survivalskills #arctic #ice #polarbear #coldbath #polarexplorer #exploration #canadianarctic
đ§šBOOMđ§š! Sheâs back. 35 days. From south to north. Spitsbergen crossed on skis, leading the group she was guiding. Caroline just came home.
Back in 2021, we took on that island together - 63 days (skiing out and back from Longyearbyen), in the heart of winter, fully unsupported, chasing the first winter traverse. Thatâs what people tend to remember about that expedition. Not me.
What I remember, deep in the Arctic winter, moisture seeping into everything, no sun at all for the first three weeks, discomfort pushed to the extreme, a thermometer reading -38°C in the morning⊠is that we never blame each other. Not one time. Itâs on that ice that the foundations of our relationship were laid, and then of our marriage.
Today, watching her head back out there to guide and take responsibility for a group makes me immensely proud.
Fascinated by the Vikings, we named our son Leif. When I look at Caroline, I see a warrior. One of those who, a thousand years ago, would have carved her name into the sagas, her gaze turned toward the far North. Without ever complaining.
Deeply inspired by this woman who pushes her limits. And with her, ours. Thank you, and welcome home babe â€ïž
This March, two places remain to cross Svalbard from south to north, ~ 35 days, with @ouslandexplorers . đ§
A rare opportunity to experience the Arctic in its purest form.
See full expedition details on ousland.no.
Choose carefully.
Beyond the 78th parallel north lies a world of ice, a place that reveals who you really are.
East to West: A true Arctic crossing through glaciers.
Newtontoppen Summer: Climb and ski to Svalbardâs highest peak, under a sun that never sets.
Full-Length Expedition: Thirty days across Spitsbergen: the ultimate challenge for true polar explorers.
Train for the Arctic: Every great journey begins with preparation. Learn the skills, master the mindset, and step confidently into the wilderness.
At the edge of the world, comfort disappears but what you find instead is freedom, teamwork, and awe.
đ Learn more and apply for our next departures via
https://www.ousland.no/svalbard-choice
#Svalbard #OuslandExplorers #PolarExpedition #ArcticAdventure #SkiExpedition #ExploreWithoutLimits
