Gareth Brauteseth

I have said quite a bit about the Ilyusion IL 76 that is the mainstay of what happens in our corner of Antarctica, but that isn’t the only little machine that makes all the projects tick.

There are a few more vehicles that, for the lack of a better explanation, are larger than life.

The Perfect Parking Lot

Modified “Hilux for the Ice” is my natural favourite.

This incredible vehicle was made famous the world over when Jeremy Clarkson and his mates raced to the North Pole in a red one. Orders apparently started streaming in and now even you can buy one. For 100 000 euro you can drive one wherever you want because to be absolutely honest there is not much stopping you.

The Dashboard

One only needs to look at the accessory panel to realize what a crazy car this is. Compressors, heaters, winches, auxillary pumps, other pumps, fuel tank isolators and the list goes on.

A real collection of accesories

The modifications for the ice are actually crucial because without them they would just slide around and look like toys. One of the major aspects of the conversion is obviously the size of the tyres and the raised suspension. Each tyre has 437 metal studs that get drilled into them which have the same effect as crampons on ice.

The pilots are all Icelandic and if they are representative of the whole of Iceland, well then I think Iceland has the most helpful, friendliest nation on earth. Yeah, sure, they have volcanoes that mess up flight patterns in Europe, but they are awesome.

Arctic trucks are a team we will never forget. They winched our man out of a crevasse, they fixed our skidoos, they started our heaters, they fixed our skidoos again, they supplied Vodka and they did it all with a smile on their face. Big thanks to Gisli, Ayo, Frere, Gisli , Hlynar and Ghumi

The Check List of kit has come together.

If any of you are planning on going south, consider this checklist to keep warm and always remember layers. I board the Ilyusion Il-76 on Tuesday Nov 2 at 11pm, in shorts and T-Shirt which is perfect for long lazy days in Cape Town in November.

In 1 Bag I will have-

• Thermal Pants
• Thermal Top
• Fleece Pants
• T-shirt
• Long Sleeve Shirt
• Fleece Top
• Goretex Trousers
• Goretex Jacket
• 4 Pairs of Ski Socks
• Down Insulated Jacket
• 3 pairs of gloves
• Neck Gator
• Beanie- a warm one
• Goggles
• Polarised Sunglasses
• Baffin Boots
• Tekkies (Trainers-we call them Tekkies in South Africa)
• SPF 100 Sunblock
• Toothbrush
• Tooth Paste
• Nail Clippers
• Camera
• Deodorant
• Diary
• Pen
• Laptop
• Humour
• Books- Good Ones, Cry the beloved country James Bond etc.

So, if you planning to travel to South, this is what you should pack. If there is something else, please let me know…

So, in a few days I head down to Antarctica.

When you type weather forecast Antarctica into your goggle search bar, the response is something staggering.

Obviously the temperature is something ridiculous with the average being somewhere around -49degrees C and the lowest ever recorded a chilly -89degrees C. When the wind doesn’t blow I am assured it is around the freezing point.

The wind has been measured at 200mph, that is strong, one sure way to dry the washing, but wait a minute, the washing freezes!

Luckily I am going down in summer where the sun will be up 24hours a day; yes that’s it 24 hours a day. So, a good pare of sunglasses is absolutely crucial.

That’s why I must say thank a million to my mates at BLUEYE.

BLUEYE is technology coming out of Australia that is amazing. The Injection molded PC Polarized Lenses have a track record of research coming out of your ears. But the proof is in the pudding. You suspend the lenses off the end of your nose and you experience a whole new level of Sun Shade experience.

The brand is specifically designed for extreme sports in mind, made from Polycarbonate material the lenses carry the best impact-resistant material available to
protect your eyes.

I have a few models to test out but what excites me the most are the Zoo frames that are going to be very handy for Kite Skiing on the ice. The lighter lenses won’t be very handy as the white of the ice is brutal, but the darker lenses will most definitely come into their own.

SUUNTO T3c

I’ve been searching for a time machine to take along on my adventures.  There are so many brands out there these days, but none that really meet my needs like the SUUNTO range. Made for adventure!

I picked up the T3c from the guys in Jozi last week and it is going to be incredible. I have never come across a watch with such quick, accurate heart rate pickup and when I take delivery of my foot pod and GPS pod I am sure I am going to have some insane report backs.

If anyone is interested in the SUUNTO range give me a shout.

Big thanks to the guys at SUUNTO for partnering with me on my adventures.

Out

G