Expeditions

The Polar Trilogy

The ultimate polar experience where you ski to the North Pole, South Pole and across Greenland all in one year. These three destinations mark the polar equivalent to mountaineering's "Seven Summits." and doing them back-to-back packs a lifetime of adventure into one year. The timing allows you to rest inbetween expeditions, but lets you keep your hard-earned muscles and cardiovascular stamina. The Polar Trilogy usually starts with South Pole in January, followed by the North Pole in April and Greenland in May but the order can be altered to fit your schedule. More...

2009 Dates & Prices
South Pole January 4-16, 2009
North Pole April 14-27, 2009
Greenland - May 11-June 7, 2009
Polar Trilogy cost: Please call for pricing

Itinerary
The "Trilogy" kicks off with the South Pole ski Expedition which starts and ends in Punta Arenas, Chile. A few months rest after you return allow you to prep for the North Pole, which starts and ends in Longyearbyen, Norway in April. You'll then head to Greenland for the final leg, a 550 km crossing of the world's second largest icecap. For daily itineraries please see each individual expedition page.

Qualifications
This expedition series is for people who are in good shape, and who are eager to push themselves physically and mentally. Prior cross country skiing experience is preferred, but not required. You will need to have very good cardiovascular endurance and the ability to ski several hours at a time pulling a heavy sled, with only short pauses, day after day. Each expedition in this series demands that you stay well-fed and hydrated. You need to be proactive about keeping yourself healthy and free of injury. An evacuation from any of these expeditions is very costly and logistically difficult. Training and preparation is vital to the success of each expedition in this series. Though you might not be a world-class athlete when you join us for the first expedition, you will have likely have become one by the completion of the final expedition! Contact us to learn more about what you need to know before you register, and what we will teach you during the included polar shakedown training.

Equipment
Upon registration, you will receive a comprehensive gear guide including an instructional DVD that explains the importance of each item as well as gear recommendations from our past participants.

• 1 pair skis and ski poles (supplied by PolarExplorers)
• 1 pair skins covering the full length of your skis (supplied by PolarExplorers)
• 1 pair snow pack ski boots (bring your own or let PolarExplorers supply this item)
• 1 pair extra boot liners (bring your own or let PolarExplorers supply this item)
• Sleeping bag rated to at least -35° Celsius (bring your own or let PolarExplorers supply this item)
• Bivy sack (bring your own or let PolarExplorers supply this item)
• 2 sleeping pads (PolarExplorers will provide one pad)
• 1 wind anorak with hood (provided to all Polar Trilogy team members)
• 1 wind pants
• 1 insulated parka with hood
• 1 warm fleece jacket and pants
• 2 sets synthetic or wool underwear, medium weight top and bottom- 2nd set optional
• 3 sets mitts: 1 regular, 1 overmitts, 1 spare regular mitts or gloves
• 2 pair liner gloves
• 2 hats: 1 lightweight balaclava, 1 ski type
• 2 neck gaiters
• 3 pair socks and sock liners
• 1 face mask
• Sun glasses and/ or mountain ski glasses
• 2 pr. anti-fog goggles
• 1 sturdy small backpack with waist belt and sternum strap
• 2 Thermos bottles or insulated water bottles
• 1 set eating utensils with bowl
• Pocket knife / multi-tool
• Personal toiletries
• 1 pee bottle (small plastic bottle)
• Face cream, lip protection
• 4 carabiners

What's Included:

• PolarExplorers expertise in planning and preparation (call us anytime!)
• PolarExplorers guides (world-class polar guides having guided a combined 40+ polar expeditions & adventures)
• 5-day Polar Shakedown Training (THE best polar training available!)
• PolarExplorer's "Polar Prep" DVD covering personal clothing & equipment and tips for training.
• Daily online expedition blogs for friends and family back home
• Pick up at local airports and transfer to hotels
• Welcome reception on first night of expeditions
• All charter air transportation during expeditions as outlined in each expdition itinerary
• Up to three nights lodging in hotels with dinners and breakfasts included (North Pole and Greenland only)
• Skis, poles, sleds (quality gear that's tried and true in the polar environment)
• Tents & all group camping gear
• All food while on the ice
• Polar Trilogy expedition patch
• Official Polar Trilogy certificate & vest upon completion
• Communication and safety gear
• Baggage allowance as outlined in each expedition itinerary

What's Not Included:

• Travel to each expedition's start/end location
• Personal clothing and accessories
• Full medical, baggage, trip cancellation and evacuation insurance (required)
• Excess baggage costs
• Extended stay fees associated with weather delays
• Taxes and gratuity
• Travel to Polar Shakedown location

Full Expedition Description
The ultimate polar experience where you ski to the North Pole, South Pole and across Greenland all in one year. These three destinations mark the polar equivalent to mountaineering's "Seven Summits." and doing them back-to-back packs a lifetime of adventure into one year. The timing allows you to rest inbetween expeditions, but lets you keep your hard-earned muscles and cardiovascular stamina. The Polar Trilogy usually starts with South Pole in January, followed by the North Pole in April and Greenland in May but the order can be altered to fit your schedule. Typically this series includes last degree ski expeditions to the North and South Poles and a dogsled-supported ski expedition across Greenland. Options may exist to change your South Pole last degree expedition to the last two degrees. We also recommend climbing Vinson Massif while you are in Antarctica. At the North Pole, you may opt to participate in the one or two degree dogsled & ski expedition instead of the last degree ski expedition (for an additional fee). In Greenland we can make recommendations for pre or post expedition excursions to some of the most dramatic and scenic destinaltions in the Arctic. Contact us for more information, or chcek out each individual expedition page for more descriptions (North Pole Ski Expedition, South Pole Ski Expedition, Greenland Crossing)