Dickinson Conrad and Hilary (United Kingdom)

Dickinson Conrad and Hilary

Conrad's love of cross-country spans over 30 years. He learnt to ski whilstserving as an Officer in the British Army, specialising in winterwarfare and Arctic survival. Upon leaving the Army, Conrad continuedhis skiing and joined numerous expeditions to Greenland (4 times),Iceland, Spitzbergan, Yukon (Mount Logan), Sierra Nevada (California),Siberia and Sweden. In addition, for the last 20 years, Conrad andHilary, (his wife) have made an annual pilgrimage to Norway duringwinter to enjoy their sport. Conrad leads an expedition to Norway mostyears.

In 2004/2005, Conrad, and a party of 4 (including his wife) skiedunsupported from the edge of the Antarctic Continent to the South Polein 52 days and then after a change of skis and a re-supply of food andfuel kited back to the edge of the Antarctic Continent in 17 days. Thisfollowed on from his crossing of the Greenland Icecap in 2003.

He lives with his wife Hilary a keen triathlete in ruralNorthumberland, where he enjoys fell running and mountain marathons.Whenever he gets the chance he loves to go telemark skiing in the Alpsand also Munro "bagging" in Scotland. Conrad and Hilary have twochildren Laura and Joel. Conrad is 50 years old.

Source: Northgate

List of major accomplishments

2004 - 2005: Kites on Ice from November to January. Guided by professionnal polar guide Matty McNair, Conrad (49) andHillary Dickinson (51) left Hercules Inlet on November 1st 2004. Theirplan was to ski their way into the record books by trekking to the Polewithout any back-up support. On December 23rd, they reach AmundsenScott base and going back to Patriot Hills by kite-skying, they wereback at Hercules Inlet on Januray 12th.
The Dickinsons completed the journey in a record 70 days, using kite powerfor the return journey - a remarkable achievement. By using kites, theycompleted the second leg in just 17 days at speeds of up to 25 mph.