During the first weeks of travel, temperatures will range between -20°C to -30°C with nearly constant katabatic head winds of 5-15 mph. Upon reaching 85.00° South (midway to the pole), the Trans-Antarctic mountain range, one of the longest mountain chains in the world, will come into view. The Trans-Antarctic Mountains extend from the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula to Cape Adare, a distance of 3000 miles. From here the surface becomes disturbed as the ice hits the mainland of old Antarctica, and Cameron and John will be skiing over ice dunes, created by the wind, and snow bridged crevasses.
The team will then ascend to 3000m as they approach the South Polar plateau. With the gain elevation, temperatures will steadily drop to below -30°C. Spending Christmas and New Year on the ice, Cameron and John hope to reach the Pole by early January 2008.