Filming and going as fast as they can…
Published on 29.12.2008 - SouthPole Quest
The three men are advancing at an average rate of around twenty nautical miles (37 kilometres) a day and are attempting a speed record.
They don't talk about it much (as though they already knew that the speed record between Hercules Inlet and the South Pole is no longer within their grasp, but we're not sure which record it is), but they will have to get a move on if they want to reach the South Pole in time (beginning of January).
In his update on 28th December (day 23 of their adventure), Ray Zahab explained the difficulties that the team is experiencing on account of the fact that the trio is not only attempting to set a speed record, but also has to film the whole of the trek as they go. They have to try and shoot as many sequences as possible of their journey every day, or at least every two days. And there's another complication to this requirement, too: while Richard Weber and Kevin Vallely are travelling on skis, Ray Zahab is on foot, wearing a good pair of snow boots. So it's a bit of mystery how they manage to maintain a steady pace between them.
Ray also tells us that the team has a special plan that will come into play once the men have reached 88 degrees South. He is building the suspense by not disclosing anything about future techniques for covering the ground ahead. To be continued, as they say...
