Cycle South will be a world-first bicycle journey across the Antarctic continent to the South Pole. Covering nearly 750 miles, the route will traverse from Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole, and if conditions permit, 750 miles back to the coast again. In the past explorers have famously quipped, 'because it's there.' However, the goal of the Cycle South expedition is to combine adventure and advocacy to demonstrate the many ways in which people can use a bicycle to protect our environment as well as improve the quality of our lives.

Using skis and sled dogs, Roald Amundsen was the first to traverse the snow and ice of Antarctica to successfully reach the South Pole. Since that time however, only a handful of expeditions have reached the Pole. In the race to the South Pole, expeditions have employed tractors, snowmobiles, trucks and more, but never has a traverse been completed on a bicycle.

In my opinion, modern expeditions are less about geographic firsts and more about story telling. The Cycle South expedition will use the a bicycle expedition to the Geographic South Pole to achieve the following objectives:

• Complete the first-ever bicycle expedition to the Geographic South Pole (and return should conditions prove favorable)
• Engage a global audience through daily updates, podcasts, videos, real-time tracking, and more
• Produce a documentary film and book
• Raise money for several bicycle-themed advocacy groups (Parkinson's Disease, Climate Change, Bicycle Accessibility and Developing Nation Bicycle Donations)
• Develop a post expedition multi-media lecture series

Route:

The route will span from the edge of the Antarctic continent at Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole a distance of 600 nautical miles (roughly 750 statute miles). Should conditions be favorable, I will then cycle back the entire distance to Hercules Inlet. In 2009, I completed the same traverse on skis over the course of 51 days and consequently and am very familiar with the route.

Equipment:

While bicycles have been around for nearly two centuries, the technology allowing efficient winter travel is relatively new. Therefore, cycling in Antarctica requires a wide variety of custom modifications to be able traverse such a varied terrain while carrying several weeks provisions, gear and supplies. I will pedal the Surly Moonlander which uses nearly five inch wide low-pressure tires to provide float and traction over the snow and ice. I will be carrying all my gear in specially designed panniers and food and fuel will be pared down to the bare minimum.

Obstacles:

Surprisingly, the terrain in Antarctica is relatively conducive to snow bike travel as the snow is dense and compact. That said, storms can deposit large quantities snow which can create debilitating pockets of soft powder. Crevasses, whiteouts and sastrugi also pose formidable obstacles.

Travel Schedule:

The Cycle South expedition will follow a very regimented travel schedule:

0600 - wake up, snow melt, breakfast
0730 - strike camp
0800 - first biking shift
0930 - break
0940 - second biking shift
1100 - break
1110 - third biking shift
1230 - break
1240 - fourth biking shift
1400 - lunch
1500 - fifth biking shift
1630 - break
1640 - sixth biking shift
1800 - break
1810 - seventh biking shift
1930 - camp set up
2000 - dinner snow melt, web update, gear repair, check navigation
2200 - sleep

Project timeline:

Current - Training, gear testing and general expedition preparations
12.13 Depart Colorado for Punta Arenas, Chile
12.17 Depart for Antarctica via Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions Ilyushin -- weather permitting
12.20 Depart Union Glacier Base Camp for Hercules Inlet (edge of Antarctic continent) via ALE Twin Otter
12.21-01.12.13 Bicycle 750 miles to the Geographic South Pole
01.13-01.25 weather permitting return bicycle journey to Hercules Inlet
01.27 return ALE Ilyushin flight to Punta Arenas, Chile.