Blog

Over the past week I have been busy linking with schools via Skype. Talking directly into their classrooms as part of the educational program for the expedition. On the South Pole Expedition I talked to the students from my  tent in the middle of the remote Antarctic wilderness. It was a great feeling to be able to communicate first hand from the cold extremes of the planet. 

I want to send a  big thank you to Mrs Brake and her students at Finham Park Comprehensive School for making the scary snakes as part of saving energy through the DoNation Site. Not only is it a fun excersise but it gets the students thinking about their own planet.

There is no problem with people growing up and making their way through life with a respect for the planet they live on.

It’s a different way of thinking. The students involveded in the project I set up for the expedition – MY LIFE IN A FREEZER – have been inspiring me with own knowledge of the environment. Take a look at Mrs Brakes students work click – http://thedonation.org.uk/about/our-blog/school-snakes
I also want to thank the following schools whoI have Skyped in the last few days. There are a further 30 schools involved and via Skype itself we are extending this around the globe. It’s all about awareness and individual responsibility.

Colebourne Primary – St Margret’s – King Henry prep – President Kennedy – Tile Hill school – Joseph cash primary – Corley Centre

I have spent the last few days planning the next phase of the expedition to the North Pole. Being in Canada I have been able to catch up with and drain valuable knowledge from the best in the business.

I spoke to Matty McNair about training this month in preparation for the open water.

Rick Selleck (Alert Liaison officer) about general logistics and routes.

Alan Chambers (UK based) about possibilities for heading from the North back to Canada and tonight I had a meal with Richard Weber. Richard has so much knowledge from his 7 journeys to the North Pole.

The picture is off (left to right) Michael Archer –  Me – Richard Weber at BC in Antarctica a few weeks ago.

A BIG THANK YOU to the students at Corely Centre  in Coventry / UK for pledging action at DoNation to support the environment and the expedition. I look forward to Skyping into their classrooms next week as part of the “My Life In A Freezer” programme.

Take 5 minutes to read through their questions and pledges. All I can say is Fantastic work Guys – wonderful!

http://thedonation.org.uk/doers/mark-wood/north-south-solo-expedition

Hi mark,
Congratulations on completing the first part of your expedition! We have
all been thinking of you and we all wish you good luck. We have also been on do
nation and we have pleged to use tap water instead of bottled water.
From Bethany and Katherine

A – Thank you and pass this idea onto your parents as well – Mark

Hello mark
Congratulations on your journey to the south pole I have also chose a
DOaction I chose the walk on DOaction I hope evreything goes well keep up
the good work
From Oli Wish you luck!

A – That’s great Oli – you see more of life when you walk – thank you – Mark

Hi mark congratulations so far
We Wish you all the best for the future the Do Nation action i will be
doing is pc power from connor

A – Pc Power – I’m sure other people will want to go onto the site to check out what this is – well done – Mark

Hi
Great job , Have you seen any animales at the artic – Wish you all the best for the future, I’ve….got on DoNation & chose “compeuter say no”

A – On the South Pole I saw nothing but in the North there is a possiblitiy of seeing loads of animals including the Polar Bear – Mark

To Mark
Well done for your progress so far. Wishing you lots of luck for the north
pole we are all thinking about you.
from Alex

ps my do nation is tintin

A – Thank you Alex – check out Tintin at

http://thedonation.org.uk/doers/mark-wood/north-south-solo-expedition

Congratulations we have all been thinking about you good luck on the
journey to the north pole hope you have fun I have signed up for turn it off

A – Thank you for pledging on DoNation and good luck – Mark

Congratulations Mark
You made it we have been thinking about you alot in lessons and stuff. hope you come and visit when you get back and we are doing a Donation im doing a
biking one I was going to do a walking one but it diddent work wish you
all the best for the future keep up the brilliant work.

Peace Out from bobbie .

It’s good to see your not giving up from not doing the walking and you switched to biking – take a look at this page -

http://www.markwoodexplorer.com/portfolio/cycle-usa-2006

and peace out to you too – Mark

Hello mark your a brave man you have self belief,and ithink whith the right
attitude u Kud be a very brave man. best wishes

Harry
I will promise to turn off lights more

A – Thank you Harry – I have trained hard for the expedition and know what Im getting into so I dont regard myself as brave – but they are kind words that I’ll take with me on the final section of the journey.

Nice to see your saving energy – make sure you educate your parents on your pledge through DoNation aswell – Mark

I had a great Skype link with Colebourne Primary School in the Midlands – UK today.
Thank you to all the students (young explorers) and teachers for some great questions about the expedition. I look forward to meeting them all on the “My Life In A Freezer” project later this year.
make a real difference and support the expedition through action – click on;

http://thedonation.org.uk/doers/mark-wood/north-south-solo-expedition

One of the main reasons for succeeding on the South Pole expedition was to do with maintaining myself and the equipement.

Each day I worked on broken bindings – skis – tent – sledge  and other equipment to keep the expedition going. I maintained my feet and tried to keep my health up on route. Over 50 days in normal life you pick up illnesses and things around you fail. So you head to the chemist or hard ware store – the only shop I had was the items I carried with me.

Go to Facebook – @north south solo for more pictures

Kit List – Hercules Inlet to the South Geographic Pole – 2011 / 2012

Tent items

• Sleeping bag – Rab 1200 with a Rab bivi bag
• Sleeping bag mat – mountain hardwear
• Tent – Hilleberg – nammatj 2
• Pegs – Hilliberg x 5
• Shovel – OR (outdoor research)
• Pulk – Greenland design – snowsled UK
• Harness – snowsled UK
• Skis – x 1pr fisher
• Bindings – Rotterfella x 2pr and 2spare
• Boots – extreme planet
• Ski poles – 1 pr tech
• Stuff sacks – x8 lifeventure
• Tent boots – MEC – mountain equipemnt co-op
• Goggles – x 2 Oakley attached home made face guards

Clothing

• Base layersx 2 – Devold
• Midlayer trousers – Jack Wolfskin (with added side vent zips)
• socks – thinnys / thick – smartwool
• VBL socks – MEC
• Underwear – Jack wolfskin
• Buff – Buff
• Necker – extremities
• Thin necker – Devold
• Hat – Oakley
• Expedition Jacket – wintergreen and ruff
• Midlayer extra jacket – thin – Arcteryx
• Down vest top – Kathmandu
• Down Jacket – Marmott
• Working gloves – OR
• Working gloves – thicker – Marmott
• Mitts – OR

Kitchen items

• Stoves x 2 MSR
• Pot x 1 MSR
• Protector x MSR
• Heat exchanger x MSR
• Spare parts – MSR
• Fuel Bottles x 4 MSR
• Wooden board – Bob wood’s garage (will return after the expediton to the North!!)
• Food bowl x MSR
• Flaskx 1 Stanley
• Mug x 1 Stanley
• Spoon x 2
• Water bottle – Lifeventure
• water bottle protector – OR
• Knife – Buck

Communication and filming equipment

• Camcorder – sony HDR-CX115 x 2 spare batteries
• Satalite Phone x 2 – Iridium 9505AC
• Spare Satalite Phone Batteries x 6
• Camera – Canon IXUS – 8 spare batteries
• voice recorder – sony – micro
• solar panel – Brunton
• GPS x2 – etrex / Garmin x 4 spare batteries
• Compass x 2 – silver
• Location beacon – McMurdo

Missing in action

• Ipod – MIA day two!

During my 50 days crossing the Antarctic ice I had to cover up all my skin areas to protect myself from head winds – minus tempretures and the strong rays from the sun.

My face mask and ruff became not only a good protection but also created a micro climate for me to endure what ever came at me.

see more at facebook – @north south solo

http://www.facebook.com/#!/NorthSouthSolo?sk=wall&filter=1

After 50 days and 612 N miles of Antarctic ice I arrived at the Goegraphic South Pole – only half way through the North South Solo Expedition.

To support my attempt donate action and not money by logging on to;

http://thedonation.org.uk/doers/mark-wood/north-south-solo-expedition