Rune Gjeldnes returned to Oslo in March after 90 days and 4 804 kilometres skiing across freezing Antarctica. With this expedition on his merit list, the Norwegian has completed a unique triumph: He is the first person to ski unsupported across the world's three largest ice caps.
23/03/2006 :: Norwegian explorer Rune Gjeldnes set several world records when he arrived at Terra Nova 3 February. He became the first person to cross Antarctica, the Arctic Ocean and Greenland unsupported, and also set a record with a record distance of 4 804 kilometres skiing alone. With a 180 kilogram sled, he set out in November 2005 and crossed the extremely dangerous ice cap of Antarctica.
At times the adventurous Norwegian had to crawl on all fours because of the extreme weather. But even in the desolate ice-filled landscape, Gjeldnes took the time to celebrate some major events. Both Norway's centennial anniversary and his five-year anniversary with his girlfriend received proper recognition, even though the lack of company put a slight damper on the festivities.
Alone on the ice, Gjeldnes had plenty of time to reflect, and on his expedition webpage the explorer has written down one of his mottoes:
"It's important to live in the moment while you can. Tomorrow it may be too late. Today is where it's at."
Gjeldnes follows a long line of prominent Norwegian explorers. When he reached the South Pole in December 2005, he crossed an area that Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was the first to reach in 1911. And when Gjeldnes crossed Greenland in 1996, it was Fridtjof Nansen's path from 1888 that he followed.
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs