An expedition by Arctic Trucks reached the Pole of Innaccessibility, which holds the record of being the coldest average temperature on earth, -58.2C. The expedition was lead by Hlynur Sigurðsson and Eiður Smári Valsson from Arctic Trucks along with three other companions from Russia. This is a big expedition which aims to be the first in the world to cross Antarctica between Ronne Iceschelf and Nivilisen Iceshelf via South Pole. The POI is put in extra as an extra achievement. Overall the expedition started in Punta Arenas in Chile South America the 3rd January and planned to end in Cape Town South Africa 21st of January.
Arctic Trucks has once before achived reaching Pole of Innaccessibility, this was in January 2011 – photo Gísli Jónsson and Guðmundur Guðjónsson.
The expedition route, starting from Union Glacier on 3rd January, driving to the Ronne Iceshelf and then to South Pole. From South Pole to FD83 around the Clean Air Zone (CZ). From reaching the Point of Inaccessbility (POI), they will drive back to FD83 and continue to Novo and Nivlisen Iceshelf and formally complete this crossing of Antarctica
The story behind this pole says that during the cold war, with the US “occupying” the South Pole, Russia was missing their own important “Pole” so they had their Geologists research what point in Antarctica was the hardest to reach, this being furthest from the sea.
They named this Pole Of Inaccessibility and made a big expedition there ending in 1958 leaving behind a small research station. They came back in 1967 but since then it has not been in use. Now the station has been covered by snow but the statue of Lenin facing Moscow is still visible on the top. Very few people have ever been there since.
This place has the record of holding the lowest average temperature on earth or -58.2C
(FD83 is area for Fuel Drop at 83 degrees, an area where fuel is dropped down in parachutes for servicing flights going between South Pole and Novo).
(The Team!)
The 6×6 AT vehicles have been fitted with the new AT/Nokian 44 inch tyres. This particular car has been driven thousands of km in Antarctica both for science and adventure purpose. Before this season it has crossed Antarctica between Ronne and Ross Iceshelfs with stop at South Pole 10 times.
