Video The Coldest Journey: A first attempt to cross the Antarctic in winter

The Antarctic continent in winter is more than just an extreme environment; it is a place of near permanent darkness with temperatures as low as -90C. It is no wonder that no one has ever been able to cross the entire continent during the winter. The Arctic has been crossed, but the Antarctic has always been deemed far too risky by government supporters and adventurers alike — until two years ago when a team of six committed themselves to the attempt.

Technological innovations allowing for a reduction of the risks and the desire for unique environmental scientific research led to the decision and on March 21, 2013 five of the original six-man “ice team” set off from Crown Bay, Antarctica in the attempt to reach McMurdo Sound via the South Pole — a journey which would take approximately six months. The risks they took on included lung damage from the severe temperatures, frostbite within seconds of exposure, and the impossibility of a search and rescue mission, should it be needed, due to the freezing of aircraft fuel.

Brian Newham was one of a two-man ski unit that would lead the team. An experienced British alpine mountaineer and advanced skier with considerable polar experience including nine visits to the Arctic, Brian would ski ahead of the three vehicles which were used for shelter, fuel, supplies, and research equipment. He would pull a radar that would inform the team of their biggest threat — enormous crevasses beneath the snow. After three months and 300 kilometers the weather and terrain were worse than ever and the expedition had to be called off.

Brian Newham will speak at the Revelstoke Library about this amazing expedition on Thursday, March 17 at 7 p.m.