THE LONGEST MARCH 2005- 2006

After the world’s worst ski trip across the Arctic Ocean, Rune Gjeldnes took on the whole of Antarctica with the world’s longest ski trip: A full 4804 kilometres across the Antarctic.

It just wasn’t enough for Rune to become the first person to traverse Greenland lengthways 3000 km unsupported, or to be the first to cross the North Pole by way of Siberia to Canada unsupported in 109 days. He wanted more.

The world’s most inhospitable continent, the Antarctic lay waiting. This time he went alone to follow and fulfil an old dream, his dream of Antarctica. He wanted to be the first person in the world to cross both Poles unsupported. For Rune, this turned out to be the longest march. It became the world’s longest ski trip when he broke the old record with a full 1000 km. A distance which equals the distance between Dublin and Boston or between London and Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The result of four years of planning and preparations. Few believed it could be done. November 6th, 2005 he began his journey home from Queen Maud’s Land, hauling a 180 kilo sledge behind him. He started off by ascending to 3000 meters altitude and reached the South Pole after 45 days and 2200 kilometres. He hadn’t even come half way. The journey became a battle against the margins, the elements and most of all- against himself.