South Pole 2002

Nearly 20 years after my obsession with the South Pole began, my dream was finally realised on the afternoon of 28 December 2002 when I walked the final few paces to the red and white polar marker side by side with my 3 team mates (Andrew Gerber, Pat Woodhead and Paul Landry).

45 and a bit cold, breathtaking, tough and downright exhausting days after setting off from Hercules Inlet, our ramshackle team of polar novices (Paul excluded) had metamorphosed into an efficient and successful unit. Our journey south was the toughest thing I have ever had to do, but it was also one of the most enjoyable - an adventure in the truest sense.

Our 705 mile route to the South Pole Our base camp at Patriot Hills We encountered our first blue ice during the climb above Hercules Inlet Sledging past the Ellsworth Mountains Finding a route through the endless fields of sastrugi Making repairs to a damaged ski Sledging past the Thiel Mountains The incessant winds were the bane of our lives Andrew kiting beneath a spectacular "sun dog" Typical campsite in the land of the midnight sun Half way through our marathon 31 hour push to the pole Our arrival at the Pole Our happy team at the South Pole The American science base at the Pole with HRH The Prince of Wales on the expedition's return Terra Australis Incognita - the last place on Earth