Antarctica trek "easy"?
February 12, 2012
Reporter: Alex Cullen
Producer: Paul Waterhouse
Watch Cas and Jonesy prepare for their adventure
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When a solo polar explorer says trekking more than 2200 kilometres from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back in minus 30 degree temperatures was "easier than I thought", you have to question his sanity. But then again, that is the enigma of Norway's Aleksandr Gamme.
Speaking to him in his first Australian interview via satellite phone from the base in Punta Arenas, Chile last week, it occurred to me just how extreme this guy is. I mean come on! You seriously mean to tell me that skiing up to twelve hours a day in the worst conditions on earth were, in his words, "not so bad"?
He forms an unlikely trio with two of Australia's toughest young blokes, James Castrission and Justin Jones. Cas and Jonesy had a plan to be the first people to trek unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back again. Plenty have tried and all have failed.
Everything was in place and after two years of intense preparation they were on. That was until they arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile, the gateway to Antarctica where they met this tall, unassuming 35-year-old Norwegian. He was planning on doing exactly what they were setting out to do. It was now a race.
He started a day ahead of them and they kept in contact along the way as the inexperienced Aussies battled the elements and Gamme glided along like a gazelle on skates.
After 87 gruelling days on that hellish terrain Gamme got there first. But he didn't cross the finish line. In one of the most extraordinary acts of sportsmanship, he waited three days until his Australian companions caught up and they crossed the line together.
After speaking with Aleksandr in Antarctica where he was waiting for transport back to Chile, it occurred to me just how upbeat and healthy he sounded after what he calls his biggest achievement.
"It feels great, I mean, it was a long journey. Things like this you plan for a long time and ah.. I'm very, very happy.
"I've never been out solo for such a long time and I was actually.. it was easier than I thought, I was mentally very well prepared and I have been skiing quite a bit solo earlier but never been out for such a long time".
The bloke was born with skis on his feet which makes the fact that his Aussie counterparts Cas and Jonesy arrived just days behind him that much more remarkable.
Gamme has plenty of experience in the Arctic Circle and has been skiing for more than 30 years. Cas and Jonesy have been skiing for just over two with a couple of training trips to Canada and New Zealand. Their experience pales in comparison and Cas even likened the pair to the Jamaican bobsled team in the movie Cool Runnings. The experts are saying their feat is simply astounding.
"It was a phenomenal gesture for him to wait at the finish line and it's really what adventure's all about you know". Said a very tired and a very sore James Castrission in an interview we did earlier in the day.
"Its not about beating people at the end of the day, not about getting one up on someone else, it's about three blokes getting out there against nature and learning about yourselves and experiencing an incredible part of the world and it was just phenomenal seeing him there waiting for us. Its something that we're not ever going to forget and I'm sure Aleks won't either".
When asked how he kept himself from going mad trudging along in that unforgiving environment Gamme said he carried three ipods which included "physics lectures, language courses and music".
He's still downplaying his achievement though. "I have to say, it wasn't such a big thing, I was keeping the mood up in my own company.. I'm pretty happy from that".
Jonesy wasn't quite sure if this was the last big trip for the pair. "That's a tough question. James is getting married in two weeks time. In all honesty, we've had a few great ideas and we're really excited to get into Punta and getting out of here in time and we've got a few exciting projects on the horizon but over the next few months, I don't know if we're going to be coming (back) down here'.
And who could blame them.
Contact information
James and Justin's website includes videos, photo galleries and daily updates of their progress.
[http:www.casandjonesy.com.au/|www.casandjonesy.com.au/]
Facebook.com/casandjonesy
Sponsor a Step
Cas and Jonesy have crossed the ice to raise money for You Can, to help young Australians fight cancer. You can be part of it too by sponsoring a step. For more information go to the website Sony Foundation/casandjonesy
