Polar Exploration A practical handbook for North and South Pole expeditions - Cicerone

With regular coverage in the press and on television, polar exploration seems to be becoming more and more accessible. The number of people travelling to the North or South Pole as ‘tourists’ is rising at a great rate. But it is not something to be done lightly.

Making the most of your time in this life-changing, and sometimes life-threatening, environment requires many months of mental and physical preparation – and a lot of detailed planning. To appreciate the beauty of an Arctic storm or the survival skills of a polar fox, you will need to have everything under control. In this comprehensive handbook, veteran polar explorer and pioneer Dixie Dansercoer tells you all you need to know to select, plan and enjoy the expedition of your lifetime.

• describes both the Arctic and the Antarctic terrain, climate and particular challenges
• includes a chapter on understanding and coping with extreme cold
• packed with practical tips on preparation and planning, from keeping expedition sponsors happy to what to pack
• illustrated with vivid first-hand accounts of many expeditions and evocative photographs

Seasons

Arctic: flights in/out from November to April - early winter or late spring best for daylight; Antarctic: commercial flights in/out from late October to early March.

Centres

Arctic: fly in from Canada or Russia to Resolute Bay Station, among others; Antarctic: fly in either from Puenta Arenas (Chile) to Patriot Hills or from Cape Town to Novolazarevskaya