Icelander Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir is planning to walk a distance of 1,140 kilometers to the South Pole.
Greenland, where Vilborg trained earlier this year. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Vilborg, who trained in Greenland earlier this year, intends to set off in mid-November. She will first fly to Punta Arenas in Chile where she will stay for several days before continuing on to Antarctica. She will commence her journey from Hercules Inlet, mbl.is reports.
“This is a monumentally challenging task but I am very excited to tackle it,” Vilborg said of her upcoming journey.
The walk is 1,140 kilometers and she can expect a strong headwind, difficult skiing conditions and zastrugi. “The planned number of walking days is 50, and in order to achieve that, you need to walk an average of 22 kilometers a day. I will start with shorter distances while I’m getting used to the conditions and the sled is fully loaded,” Vilborg explained.
Vilborg will have two sledges with supplies and equipment weighing 100 kilograms. “It is essential to be well prepared for a mission like this and to be able to deal with various situations that might arise,” she said, explaining that the food she will bring must be energy rich, easy on the stomach and must not weigh much.
ZR
