THE FIRST FINNISH ANTARCTIC SOLO EXPEDITION
"Polar exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has yet been devised." — Cherry-Garrard.
 My aim is to ski across the Antarctica to South Pole solo, unsupported and unassisted starting on November 2008. My expedition starts from 80th latitude and ends to 90th latitude to Amundsen-Scott Base on the South Pole.
Only one engine and a pair of well trained skies will participate on the expedition. The slegde will contain 100 kilos of equipment and gear of which most is food and fuel for the cooker.
In total the expedition measures approx. 1100 kilometres and will take 50-60 days by skiing. The hardest obstacles in the expedition are the constant physical strain on the body and the psychological pressure of lonelyness.
 Eventhough the cold temparatures are usually not the issue for Scandinavians, on solo expeditions it is an important factor which has to be recognised as it counts to the overall work load. The continous cold enviroment adds to the psychological stress but with the best equipment and appropriate preparations this can be reduced to a manageable level.
Navigation and communication present techical problems which are solved by satellite navigation systems and satellite phones. Ordinary compass navigation becomes unreliable as specially made compasses with south weighted needles are needed. The enviroment and weather combined also can create a navigational problem as on white-out situations no fixed points can be seen. The satellite phones provide a media channel and a safety line to the outside world. Daily dispatches of pictures, text and video can be sent to media and sponsors to keep the audience updated as expedition goes on.
If you want to know more about my expedition or if you want to support or sponsor my expedition please contant me by email: teemu.lakkasuo [at] etelanapa.fi.
You can follow my preparation and expedition on these pages.
Contact information:
Teemu Lakkasuo
teemu . lakkasuo [at] southpole . fi
tel. +358 (0)40 56 222 99
NEWS
-13.10.2008- Equipment sent to Chile
Equipment are finally sent to Punta Arenas and hopefully they will be waiting me there when I arrive to Chile. Somehow it seemed that it's impossible to get all the equipment and food fitted into the sledge (pulk). Read more from DIARY.
-03.10.2008- The pulka is finally ready
The pulka is finally finnished. The pulka is carved out of carbon-fiber and it came out light and durable. Now I just need to see that all my equiment actually fit into the pulka and then the pulka is off to Chile. Read more from DIARY.
-30.09.2008- Argos
It seems that Argos transmitters have battery problems and they have been recalled. Read more from DIARY.
-11.09.2008- Tent
Finally the tent issue has been settled. Hilleberg Nammatj 2 GT with double poles and snowflaps will be the shelter used on the expedition. Read more from DIARY.
-21.08.2008- 72 days to go...
72 days to go and I still have tons to do before departure. Read more from DIARY.
-19.07.2008- Physical training is a major part in daily expedition preparation routines
Daily endurance training takes over 3 hours per day... Read more from DIARY.
-3.06.2008- Brandit joins the Antarctic Solo Expedition and marks new territory
Brandit secured their seat from the South Pole expedition and marks new territory. Read more from DIARY or click the logo on the right.
-26.05.2008- Insurances sorted out
Finally insurances were sorted out and everything looks good.
-24.04.2008- Problems with insurances
Last week was spent trying to find Search and Rescue insurance. It seems that Finnish insurance companies do not offer such insurances or at least very reluctant offering them.
-24.04.2008- Two Wolfskin tents tested
I tested two Wolfskin tents eventhough southern Finland is already snowless. Read more from DIARY.
-15.04.2008- Athletes of the Finnish Transplant Sports Association registered kilometres!
Thank you for all athletes who participated in registering the kilometres. the FTSA athletes now have the kilometres 0-9 registered. Read more from DIARY.
-10.04.2008- Back from Lapland
The end of year 2007 and the beginning of 2008 has been physical preparation. Also the search for supporters has started.
A three week trip to Lapland was this years high-light as the winter has been quite poor in the Southern Finland. Read more from DIARY.
-17.11.2007- Silver in foil fencing!
Hard training week got the end it deserved! I won silver in foil fencing in the Finnish National Championships today. The competition took place in Töölö Kisahalli, Helsinki.
-08.11.2007- Live on Voice Radio!
This morning I made a visit to Voice Radio. Juha and Vappu made though questions about expetition food, lonelyness and other other plans. See more from www.voice.fi
-22.10.2007- First equipment list released!
First equipment list is released. The list will evolve throughout the testing and preparation period. Food and fuel quantities will become more accurate as testing the cookers fuel consumption proceeds. Check the complete list and visit EQUIPMENT -page.
-27.09.2007- Lahja Elamalle Organ donation programme has join the Antarctic Solo Expedition!
Lahja Elämälle is a Finnish organ donation programme. Read more about the programme and the Antarctic Solo Expedition from www.southpole.fi.
-10.09.2007- Take part in reaching the South Pole!
Take part in reaching the South Pole! If you're interested in sponsoring the Antarctic Solo Expedition or you wish to be seen as one of the partners helping me to reach South Pole contact teemu.lakkasuo (at) etelanapa.fi. For more information please visit PARTNERS -page
-11.07.2007- Subscribing the Antarctic Solo Expedition RSS-feed!
Click HERE to subscribe the Southpole.fi RSS-feed directly to you computer. You can stay up-to-date with the preparation and expedition as all news and diary releases are sent over RSS-feed to all subscribers.
-01.07.2007- southpole.fi is open!
Southpole.fi is open and contents are updated when ever possible.
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