Two Australian Adventurers, James Castrission and Justin Jones, have announced their intentions to ski unsupported to the South Pole and then return to their starting point along the Antarctic coast later this year in an effort to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the famous Amundsen-Scott race to the Pole.
The duo plan to begin their expedition, which they've dubbed Crossing The Ice, this October. They estimate that it will take upwards of three months for them to cover the 2200km (1367 miles) on foot, while dragging 160 kilogram (352 pound) sleds behind them. Those sleds will be their life line, as they will contain all of their supplies and gear for the long weeks out on the ice.
Castrission and Jones are no stranger to difficult, long distance journeys. The two men became the first to row from Australia to New Zealand a few years back, covering 3318km (2061 miles) in the process. They expect this to be an even bigger challenge however, as they face one of the harshest, most inhospitable environments on the planet. They'll be undertaking the expedition to raise funds and awareness for the You Can foundation, an organization that is building special cancer centers for children across Australia.
According to their website, the start of the expedition is still more than 73 days away and during that time they'll continue on their training and preparation. They're also likely to be one of a number of teams that will be traveling to the South Pole this year as the celebration of both Amundsen and Scott ramps up. It'll probably be a very busy season at the bottom of the world, with even more ambitious projects like this one.