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Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

nytimes.com

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Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#51

Post by watwut »

matz1 wrote: post #45
gist wrote: post #32

The way I think I have no clue why people take risks like this other than for the obvious fame and fortune. Just the way I am it seems to be either narcissistic or foolish. I am sure others spur them on because what is not to like about being the friend of someone who does something where you don't suffer any large downside (other than you lose them as a friend). Also there always seems to be a bit of 'watch car raci…

Because everyone different. To you it might be narcissistic or foolish but for him obviously it is highly important and meaningful.

If I died younger, my parents would suffer a lot. If I died now, my husband and kids would suffer. I would not want my husband to risk that much for trip, because me and kids need him.

It is kind of saying you don't have such people around.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#52

Post by tootie »

bydo wrote: post #8

Related, an excellent long-form New Yorker feature about another recent attempt: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark...

I read this and thought that whoever tries stuff like this is just a moron. There's not really much discovery to be made if any. It's extremely costly and dangerous. The only benefit is vanity.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#53

Post by ghaff »

watwut wrote: post #50
ghaff wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In winter conditions? That's probably true. Most people don't have the gear or know how to use it. I'm less convinced that at least a lot of people couldn't do a multi-day hike in decent weather if they wanted to.

Much better order is to loose weight first, train a bit to gain endurance, then try some one-day hikes and only then try multi day hike.

Oh I agree. The claim was that most people couldn’t do a multi-day hike. Not that they’d find it difficult and perhaps not fun.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#54

Post by gvb »

Related: "Ten things no one tells you before an Antarctic expedition" (2015) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/11315994/Ten-things-n...

1. You're going to have to eat a lot of raw butter.

When you are skiing across Antarctica and putting in 12-14 hour days of pulling a sled in minus 40C, you have to keep your calorie count up. A normal man burns about 2,500 calories in a day. We burn between 7,000 to 9,000. That means supplementing your dehydrated food with slabs of butter. In the first few days of the expedition, it tastes revolting, but then your body just craves the fat content and you eat the butter like blocks of cheese.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#55

Post by watwut »

ghaff wrote: post #53
watwut wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Much better order is to loose weight first, train a bit to gain endurance, then try some one-day hikes and only then try multi day hike.

Oh I agree. The claim was that most people couldn’t do a multi-day hike. Not that they’d find it difficult and perhaps not fun.

Depend on hike obviously. You can find easy multi day hike. But it kills the purpose of dping something hard in remote place I think.

And when you are about doing something hard in remote place, it is responsible to be at state where you know you limits before somebody has to carry you because you found them unexpectedly.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#56

Post by sterlind »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #38
Erik816 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Our culture is obsessed with talking about or thinking about losing weight, preferably with no discomfort or sacrifices involved. So the exact opposite of actually doing something really hard that will result in losing weight. That doesn't sell books.

Ha, now I'm imagining this book: The Frigid Formula: How to Rediscover the Ancient Secret to Rapid Weight Loss Inside, only one line: "Hike the Appalachian Trail in winter, eating only what you can carry or kill."

Doctors hate this!

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#59

Post by ImprovedSilence »

mattmanser wrote: post #29
pen2l wrote: post #3

I just find it really inspiring to know we have the presence of such adventurous explorers. Once we find ways to travel to other stars, we'll need these men to explore once again.

Inspiring? Having watched Everest and read Cold: Extreme Adventures at the Lowest Temperatures on Earth my view has changed to that these people are selfish glory seekers who can potentially cause a lot of grief and heartache for the people they leave behind when they screw up. As well as huge expense for rescue operations (which then put other people's life at risk). I sort of understand your pov, but in this day an…

They're 'A' type people that need to push the limit and (for better or worse) don't let things get in their way. The personality type can be very destructive and I agree that things like climbing everest are pointless these days, but it will continue because these people exist, and every so often that drive contributes to something good for humanity.
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