Weber’s tourists at the Pole !
Published on 02.01.2012 - South Pole and Back - Ski & Kite
Richard Weber has made it to the South Pole with 3 clients. They had left the Ronne Iceshelf on 23 November. On the way, two people had to be rescued. Because of a infection for one and because of a broken wrist for the second.
When Richard Weber left the Rone Iceshelf on 23 November, he had four tourists-clients with him. Chris de Lapuente (businessman), Ruth storm (business coach in private equity), Michael Archer (working in housing construction industry) and Kathy Braegger. The day after they left, the latter suddenly got a flue, and had difficulties to pull her sled. By chance, a ALE Twin Otter with a doctor on board passed by : after a close check-up, he diagnosed a serious infection and decided that the tourist had to be airlifted without delay.
The next one to leave the expedition was Chris de Lapuente who nevertheless did everything he could to stay in the game. But how can you pull a sled with a broken wrist ? For Chris who had also an injured knee, the game was over. On 22 December, when he was a mere eight days ski from his goal, he was airlifted.
Aside from these setbacks, Weber's tourists have done very well during the progression. When they approached the final goal, they covered a staggering last two degrees in 6 days, which is a 37 kil pace per day. Quite an achievement for people who were not used to polar travels -although all of them had already been either to the North or the South Pole before.
Now Ruth Storm is flying back home while Richard Weber and Michael Archer will continue kiting in reverse way, trying to reach Hercules Inlet (a 1.100 km trek) before 26 January.
