Читать книгу Polar Exploration. A practical handbook for North and South Pole expeditions онлайн

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The visual splendour of a so-called monochrome environment destroys the myth of the poles as simply frozen deserts

A re-vamped branch of polar expeditioning has emerged in recent years. Cars! Heavily modified by Icelandic specialists, 6×6 vehicles are now making their way across the ice to the South Pole (and soon enough to the North Pole), covering hundreds of kilometres a day in heated luxury. Being the first to attempt the use of cars on a South Pole expedition, somewhat unsuccessfully, Shackleton would be somewhat gratified to know that, a century later, his idea is bearing fruit. How the traditionalist trekker views such a development is another matter. Does it belittle or heighten the achievements of a skier travelling at 3km/h? A small band of specialist adventurers are striving to redress the daily-distance balance, using steerable kites to harness the wind and covering distances in hours that would take the traditional sled-hauler weeks.

Modern man has forgotten the art of survival