Adventurer Todd Carmichael Has Reached the South Pole Unassisted
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC 
on 12.28.08
photo: DeSmogblog.com
Like "fighting your way through a junkyard that is 20 miles long . . . blindfolded" is how 44-year-old eco-adventurer Todd Carmichael describes his recent trek across Antarctica to the South Pole. The temperature was a mere 35 degrees below zero and white outs were common.
Todd Carmichael of Philadelphia, Pa., is the first American to complete the 700 mile trek across Antarctica to the South Pole unassisted. Carmichael arrived at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station at 4:10 p.m. on December 21, exactly 97 years and one week after the first polar explorer Roald Amundsen first achieved the frosty feat.
Even more impressive is that while Amundsen was joined by a team and sled dogs, Carmichael accomplished the challenging trek all by his lonesome. He brought along only the bare essentials (i.e. his tent, satellite phone, and food). After Carmichael waved goodbye to his pilot he wouldn't see another face for nearly two months.
In 2004 Carmichael, owner of La Colombe coffee, did a 100 mile test trek and last year he was forced to abandon the expedition when ruthless conditions prevented him from continuing. But this time he was able to successfully endure temperatures of 35 degrees below zero and constant white out conditions.
His accomplishment is unsurpassed by any American. Only four other individuals have completed the trek by themselves.
Carmichael is also an eco writer for Desmogblog.com and Huffington Post for which he writes about preserving the unforgiving lands that he holds so dear and global warming. He also diaries his adventures on his blog SubZeroSolo.com.
via: DeSmogBlog
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"...from Antarctica to the South Pole..."? A little uninformative as the South Pole is on the continent of Antarctica. Looks like Carmichael was dropped off by an aircraft at a point 80 degrees south and 80 degrees west, kind of in the middle of things and he made his way to 90 south. A feat, true, but nothing like Amundsen's. DB
Isn't a trek from Antarctica to the South Pole kind of like a trek from my house to my bathroom? The South Pole is part of Antarctica, after all.
It's a much more impressive feat in the article than it is in your headline.
Okay, so a self-promoting Richard Branson-wannabe millionaire takes his pricey gear, including a GPS, most likely a few radios, and satellite phone (for God's sake!), gets flown halfway there, and gets flown back out again -- and calls it unassisted?! He could have probably ordered a pizza any time he wanted -- let alone calling in someone to rescue his butt if things went wrong, like they did on his previous holiday.
He does go to great lengths to make himself seem like some sort of hero by comparing himself to Amundsen, which is a bit of a stretch. Amundsen didn't have all sorts of fancy lightweight gear from REI, or wherever. Amundsen's gear was made out of wood, canvas, and steel. Plus Amundsen had to make the return trip under his own steam. Amundsen didn't have the nice option of dialing up a rescue plane on on his satellite phone whenever he wanted, or to chat with his publicist.
And what, pray tell, makes this guy an "eco-writer"? We can only guess at how much fuel was consumed, and how much CO2 emitted, carting him and his equipment to Antarctica and back! What an absurd and obscene publicity stunt.
Oh, and minus 35, you say? Up here in my neck of the woods, it was -39 Celcius most of the previous week (and that's without the wind-chill). I'm just happy when it's warmer than -45. I've worked in that weather every day of the winter for years. So do thousands of others in northern parts of Canada. And I'm not keeping warm by taking a nice hike. Much of the time I'm standing in one spot, bending stainless steel tubing, connecting wires, or repairing valves. The other week I was crawling on my back for a few hours running electrical heat trace cable on pipes underneath metal buildings. I should mention, my trade seems pretty easy, compared to what I've seen welders and pipefitters endure. But then, we're not glamorous yuppie millionaires, who can take exotic adventure vacations whenever we want.
If "eco-adventurer" Carmicheal thinks walking in a white-out is difficult, he should try driving in them. On the highway. With oncoming traffic.
I'm sure he'll have lots of valiant tales about his "dashing" adventures to tell his yuppie friends at trendy cocktail parties, when he gets back to Philidelphia for a facial and pedicure. Then again, I doubt he'd last half a day in one of our jobs up north. Gah. What a phoney.
The purpose of this was what, now? I wonder how much fossil fuel was wasted in this rich boy's exotic vacation.
How was he "unassisted"?? He had a SATELLITE PHONE with him!
Every single one of the previous comments are 100% accurate. Todd Carmichael only cares about HIMSELF and his overstuffed ego. He has and will continue to pull the wool over many peoples eyes. In one of his "eco" written stories, he asks that President Elect Obama give him a call at the South Pole because [Todd] is a supporter of Obama and they also have many of the same views on Global Warming. Hey Todd, get over yourself. The world is experiencing one of the worse economic slow downs since the great depression and he wants our new president to call him. Oh thats right he doesn't feel the economic recession because he is a millionaire. He became a millionaire by smooth talking, great marketing and using someone elses idea. I guess in todays society that is how it is. CEO's will never suffer, however everyone around them will. It says a lot when people, that really work hard for a living, and do not even live in the same country see right through him. I know Todd. I only wish everyone else truly knew him.