The expedition will begin within the Berkner Island Outer Coastal Zone, approximately 10km north of where the team will be dropped by Twin Otter aircraft in early November 2026. This precise start point ensures the journey qualifies as a Full Unsupported South Pole Ski Expedition, beginning at the true outer coast of Antarctica. From there, the team will traverse the full length of Berkner Island before descending onto the Filchner Ice Shelf - a vast, exposed stretch of terrain that marks the transition toward the continent’s interior.
After the team have crossed the Filchner Ice Shelf, they will be faced with one of the most demanding sections of the journey: the ascent through the Pensacola Mountains and up onto the Antarctic landmass. This steep, crevassed terrain will require hauling 130kg pulks through a vertical ascent of approximately 1,176m over 2–3 days.
Once the team are up onto the Antarctic Plateau, the route turns into a test of discipline and endurance across hundreds of kilometres of sastrugi, whiteouts, and katabatic winds, all the way to the Geographic South Pole.
In total, the team will ski 1,349 km over roughly two months, carrying everything they need from day one and remaining completely unsupported throughout. The route follows in the footsteps of Henry Worsley’s third and ultimately fatal expedition, although his journey began from the southern end of Berkner Island.
