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Scout enters Antarctic record books
27/01/2012
Bryony Balen, a scouting adventurer, has become the youngest Briton to ski from the edge of the Antarctic landmass at the Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole.
Hostile but beautiful terrain
The team of five adventurers – with different levels of experience – tackled some of the coldest and most hostile terrain in the world, with inclines of 3,000m. Most expeditions of this type allow 60 days and plan for 70, but Bryony's expedition took just 56 days to cover 1,135km.
Temperatures of around minus 12 degrees Celsius were not the only challenges the team had to contend with. They faced white-out conditions, sastrugi (sharp ridges caused by snow erosion), and frozen condensation in their goggles blocking their vision. This was on top of sleep deprivation and the exhaustion of skiing for eight hours a day while lugging ski sleds full of tents and equipment, plus a 60kg backpack containing food and supplies.
Be prepared
As a scout, Bryony knows that preparation is everything. The expedition took a total of three and a half years to plan, including taking a year out from her geography studies at Newcastle University: '...to focus on a fierce training regime and prepare myself mentally and physically for the challenge ahead.'
Alongside the physical fitness training at her university sports centre, Bryony had to ensure her body could cope with the expedition by putting on nearly 20kg. The planning phase also included calculating how many calories they would need to feed the team for the total number of days, plus the logistics of packing it all onto their sleds. There was mental motivation to consider too, and, as Bryony’s aim was to raise funds for charity, a fundraising partner also had to be found in difficult economic times.
Historic footsteps
Bryony celebrated her 21st birthday while on the expedition. The team also took time out to remember the groundbreaking adventurers whose legendary footsteps they were following. They paused on 17 January, the date that marked 100 years since Captain Scott’s ill-fated Terra Nova expedition reached the Pole.
Building an adventure
Bryony says the expedition built on her enthusiasm for outdoor activities and personal challenges. She credits its success to her previous experience of teamwork, preparation for other expeditions she has organised, as well as the challenges undertaken for the Queen’s scout award which she is currently completing.
Bryony rightly acknowledges: 'I think it's safe to say I'll never have a boring life!'
Find out how you can join in the adventure by visiting scouts.org.uk/join
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