Antarctica Speed Record - Day 23

Day 23 was f***ing horrible. 13 hours skiing to claw 40.5km in really poor conditions, barely any visibility dipping between whiteout and poor visibility.  It snowed for a bit as well and to make life more confusing I had a northerly wind.  It was a pretty tough day.  Obviously there is the sastrugi but it is really important to me that I push through this.  I’ll be in to the 88^th degree by the end of today.  It was my strategy to get through the 87^th degree as quickly as possible, obviously I am pushing as hard as I can every day but it was the 87^th degree that cost my expedition last year where I lost so much time and I didn’t want to make the same mistake again.  This morning I am 249km/154 miles from the South Pole, by the end of today I will be just over 200km from the South Pole.

Today was obviously my original target date to reach the pole.  I set myself a goal of 23 days in order to break Christian Eide’s world speed record for the fastest solo, unsupported and unassisted ski to the South Pole, which currently stands at 24 days 1 hour and 13 minutes.  Today is day 24 and I am still 249km from the pole.

As far as the record goes, I am feeling pretty mixed about it.  I’m not dwelling on it, I am not thinking about it, the most important thing is to get to the South Pole safely and within my food rations.  I’m estimating I have 5 to 6 more days before I get to the pole so as far as the record goes I’m not thinking about it too much but I am aware of the significance of what I am doing out here.  I know what it means and what it takes to complete the journey as fast as I am completing it.  It might not be the world record that I came here to break, ultimately Mother Nature has played the biggest part in that as she always does, but I know that getting to the South Pole in under 30 days is a really significant feat.

My updates have been pretty short on this expedition.  That has been for a few reasons but you’ll be able to see everything and get the full picture on Channel 5 later this year when my new TV series is out.  Thank you for all your continued support and messages on Twitter and Facebook.

FAST FACTS:

• Richard is on course to record the 2^nd fastest solo journey to the South Pole in history.  With the world record now out of his grasp his aim is to complete the journey in under 30 days.  Only one other person has ever achieved this solo.

• Richard is on course to become the fastest ever Brit to ski solo, unassisted and unsupported to the South Pole.

• Currently the fastest ever Brit and the 2nd fastest time in history was held by the accomplished polar leader Brit Hannah McKeand, who in 2006 reached the pole in 39 days, 9 hours and 33 minutes.

• Richard is set to record the fastest ever solo, unsupported and unassisted journey to the South Pole by a Briton in history.

• Richard is also on course to become the first ever welsh person to ski solo, unsupported and unassisted to the South Pole.

S87°45’18”, W082°18’39”

Altitude: 2546m

Hours skied: 13

Distance skied: 40.3km/24 miles

Total hours skied: 279.6

Total distance travelled: 880.1km/546 miles

Estimated distance to go: 269.9km/167 miles

Note total distance to go stat is based on actual km skied by Richard.  This is not related to Richard’s GPS co-ordinates or his route, therefore his actual km to go may differ depending on his route/gps position.  It is an estimated figure.