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SOUTH POLE WEB CHAT

The final frontier - the Dickinsons at the South Pole

North East couple, the Dickinsons, have just completed an intrepid, record breaking trip to the South Pole.

But what does it take to get your name into the history books and successfully complete one of the most physically demanding and extreme journeys on earth?

We put your questions to the Dickinsons in our Inside Out web chat.

"Physically it's very demanding - it's like doing the Great North Run pulling a cast iron bath full of water for 70 continuous days." Conrad Dickinson.

The Dickinsons reached and returned from the South Pole in record breaking time. They are two of only 43 people who have ever been to the South Pole unsupported.

An epic journey

Q. How did you manage to eat on the journey to the South Pole? What type of food did you carry on the sledges - and did it have to be light in weight? (Philip in Alnwick).

A. Yes, the food had to be lightweight. The rule of thumb is one kg per person per day that gives about 5,000 calories. To save weight we operated on 4,500 calories but were using nearer to 7,000 per day - hence the weight loss! We even took all the wrappers off the food and chocolate bars to save weight.

The routine for the day was granola and hot water for breakfast, and for dinner we had soup and noodles plus a freeze dried main meal that rotated every five days for variety.

It'll be alright on the kite - Conrad shows off his kite power

This was followed by two shortbread biscuits. Every degree (60 nautical miles) we had a "degree treat" of some chocolate. Hot drinks were consumed in large quantities and we had a hot water bottle for drinks during the day- we had either hot orange or lemon juice.

50% of our calorie intake was through snacks taken every two hours during our 15 minute break. The snacks were mixed according to individuals preference but included salami, cheese, chocolate, nuts and dried fruit. Each individual took 31 kilo of snacks for the trip -that's a lot of chocolate!

Eating snacks was hard because you could not take your mits off so we started off like horses with nose bags, because obviously it's hard to pick up peanuts when your fingers are enclosed - then we discovered the spoon! Cheese and salami had to be kept in a chest pocket otherwise it froze

Q. How much training did you have to do to prepare for the trip, and what did it involve? (Stephen in Durham).

A. Lots and lots of training! Both aerobic and muscle building in the gym on a daily basis six months prior to the trip. The best training is however pulling two car tyres behind you over rough ground for five or six hours - we tended to do it in the dark or the middle of Slaley Forest - it saved explanations to bemused onlookers!!! The other training was putting on body weight - ideally 24% body fat -that was fun especially cream cakes and beer!

Q. Did you ever think that you weren't going to make it there and back? What were your worst and best moments? (Dave in Houghton).

A. We always thought we would be very lucky if we completed the trip mainly because we had so much to achieve in a very tight "time window" of 77 days. Delays in flights to Antarctica are very frequent and a seven day delay at the beginning would have ruined the trip.

We got an excellent start with no delays and reached the South Pole on schedule, but due to having extremely weakened bodies through weight-loss (two-three stones), we thought we would not be able to kite back on time. We also had doubts about kiting back due to the extremely rough snow and ice surface as a result of the worst weather in 15 years.

Worst moment? It was stumbling into an area of ice disturbance not marked on the map and having no alternative but to crisscross through a maze of crevasses and ice ridges for 11 hours, not knowing if you and the sledge would either break through the ice bridges or get pulled down an ice slope by loosing your footing.

Best moment? Kiting back past amazing scenery in a third of the time with a great deal less effort! We were very privileged to see the beauty of Antarctic and all its amazing lighting effects and untouched mountains

Q. How did you decide on kite power - and did you have to do extensive training to use it? (Jeanette in Hexham).

A. Early explorers have always used the prevailing wind in both the Arctic and Antarctic, mainly by rigging sails on sledges.

Ski power - Conrad Dickinson pushes polarbound

Kiting is a relatively new sport, but it is growing quickly. Advancements in kite technology has been tremendous and you can now kite 45 degrees INTO the wind, whereas previously you could only go downwind.

We did a great deal of training, firstly with "spider kites" on the beach in South Wales then on a trip crossing Greenland. We then went to Finse in Norway and trained with the leading Norwegian instructor.

We capped of our training by two weeks on the sea ice in Baffin Island (Canada). Despite all the training we were still very cautious with the kites because they have immense power and you can easily be lifted off the ground or dragged hundreds of metres. We wore helmets all the time.

Uncomfortable conditions

Q. This may sound gross but is it really true that you wore the same underpants for 70 days?!! Wasn't that really uncomfortable? How do you get changed and put fresh clothing on when the temperatures are so low? (Mary in Heaton).

A. Yes, same underpants for 52 days but they were turned inside out after 52 days! I know it's not ideal but you cannot take spare clothes. Other team members wore NO underpants!

The tent is surprisingly warm because of a greenhouse effect caused on the double walls by the sun. We changed clothes for sleeping in and also had a daily "rub down" with a cloth and a poly bag full of hot water.

You wear the same clothes all the time in "layers", and only add or subtract layers to alter your temperature according to weather conditions and physical effort. A good shower was the order of the day when we finished.

Q. This may seem like a strange, if not weird question to ask, but it's always something I've wondered - just how did the Dickinson's attend to their "ablutions". Especially toiletries given the danger of frostbite? (Steve Ellwood, Whitley Bay).

Actually, it's not a strange question at all, but gives some idea as to the degree of planning you have to do. The three "girls" all had underclothes, fleece trousers and wind proof trousers that had "front to back" zips that" line up" with each other. They could therefore "go " quickly and easily at the various breaks during the days.

Hygiene was maintained by a quick wipe after with a snow "wedgie". At night you did NOT want to leave the warmth of the tent so we had a "pee" bottle each (1/2 litre), and Hilary had an American designed funnel and tube to get the pee from body to bottle. Pee bottles had to be emptied to avoid freezing overnight.

A trip to the loo can be a major operation in Antarctica!

The "girls" kiting harnesses were adapted with clips on the leg straps that could be released and not interfere with the clothing crutch zips. Toilet paper was rationed to three rolls per person i.e. two metres per day.

Guys pee as normal. As regards longer ablutions the dried food kept us "regular", and Hilary and I dug a deep hole in the rear porch of the tent, which we used before taking down the tent in the morning thereby affording some shelter from the wind.

On days where people were forced to "go" outside as a result of tummy upsets or just caught short, the order of the day was speed, and make sure your loo paper does not blow away in the strong winds.

It was advisable for guys to hang onto their "bits " whilst squatting and ensure everything is well wrapped up and zips fully fastened when you have finished . Last year a guy did get frost bite simply because he forgot to do up his zip - the result was evacuation and amputation of two inches.

Ablutions are a very serious issue that need planning and thought. Although snow covers everything, we made a point of always burying everything after we had "finished".

Q. Are you suffering any physical after effects from the trip?
(Dan in Sunderland)

A. We're very tired and need to put on weight. Your eyesight takes a time to readjust to non-white surroundings and our toes are still "numb", but that tends to recover after three weeks. A normal diet can have its moments for the first week back!

Extreme environments

Q. Did you see any signs of animal or plant life on the whole of your Antarctic trip? (Suzy, Newcastle).

Extreme adventure - the Dickinsons at the South Poll

A. We saw no animal life or plant life apart from some lichen on rocks. It is a totally sterile environment this far inland, but it is compensated by the amazing scenery and lighting effects.

At the South Pole station the Americans had an amazing greenhouse artificially heated and lit with a whole host of plants and flowers - totally surreal.

Q. Were you ever worried that you might lose your lives at any point on the trip, and did you ever feel seriously in danger - if so, when? (Colin, Morpeth).

A. We never thought we would lose our lives, but naturally there were moments when the weather was extreme or you were in a crevasse field and you felt a little more anxious. In these moments you are simply more cautious, focus on the task in hand and use your experience to ensure your safety.

On two occasions we stopped kiting - once when the wind was too high and we risked injury because we were out of control, and secondly when visibility was 20 metres and we would lose someone who fell.

Q. What are the light conditions like - does it get dark for very long at the South Pole at the time of year you did the trip?
(Maureen, Carlisle).

A. There is 24 hours daylight at this time of year with sun most days, although it does not improve the temperature unlike Mediterranean sun!! This 24 hour light helped us kite because we could kite day or night if the wind was available, and the sun helped us navigate by moving 15 degrees every hour

Q. Hilary, how did you manage the strenuous challenge when you had no army experience or prior knowledge of extreme climates? (Paul, Kent).

Taking it to the limit - Hilary Dickinson pushed the envelope

A. Although I had no formal Arctic training through the Army like Conrad has had, I have had over 20 years experience of extreme cold conditions through numerous expeditions including crossing Greenland last year.

The physical challenge although hard, was within my limits as I enjoy triathlons!

Women tend to do quite well in cold climates as they tend to have a higher percentage of body fat. Having said all of that, it was a challenge and required a huge amount of day to day willpower to keep going and the kiting was just outright scary at times!

Future adventures

Q. What are your future plans? Are you going to try skiing to the North Pole next time? (John in Pooley Bridge).

Q. Are you planning to trek across the Sahara next? Or do you have another epic journey in mind? (Mike).

A. The North pole is an option - it is colder, harder, and darker. We would certainly like to do it in 2006..... IF WE COULD FIND A SPONSOR. We would do it "unsupported" - that involves double hauling your sledges of 120 kilos through the pressure ridges of ice.

Polar bears and open water leads are another dimension that would have to faced (these are not present in Antarctica). Less than 30 people have ever reached the North Pole unsupported.

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