Born in 1962 in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, Dixie has spent most of his life travelling the world, taking on many challenges across a wide range of outdoor activities. From mountaineering to mountain biking, from running to powerkite-skiing and from sailing to wind- and kitesurfing, Dixie will use any method to explore the extremes of our planet. A list of Dixie’s adventures and achievements is shown at the bottom of this post.

Polar Explorer Dixie Dansercoer

Dixie’s most recent expedition to Antarctic followed in the footsteps of a voyage from the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. In 1897 Belgian Royal Navy Lieutenant Adrien Victor Joseph de Gerlache sailed from Belgium to the Antarctic with a multinational team, including Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole. From September 2007 to May 2008, Dixie and 6 crew members on the “Euronav Belgica” re-enacted the 20 landings made by Adrien the Gerlach commemorating the historic sailing expedition.

On his first visit to Antarctica, 10 years earlier, Dixie crossed through the south pole on a 4000 km trip using skis and powerkites. This was the first time powerkites had been used for this type of expedition.

Dixie Dansercoer Kite Surfing in the Antarctic

These expeditions are not just for fun! Dixie also undertakes scientific experiments and in-depth photographic recording of the scenery, plants and wildlife.

In order to gain an insight into the fascinating life of the polar explorer and extreme sports expeditionist, we contacted Dixie and asked him a few questions…

Dixie Dansercoer Interview

CheapTents.com: What inspired you to become a polar explorer?
Dixie: It has been a gradual confrontation with ice and snow. At first in the (high) mountains during alpine excursions and climbing trips where I was intrigued by the wonders of ice, glaciers, snow and the shades of white.

CheapTents.com: What has been your biggest achievement?
Dixie: With the necessary humility, I have enjoyed the privilege of having completed integral crossings of both the Arctic ocean and the Antarctic continent on foot. One was 106 days while the other lasted 99 days.

CheapTents.com: You are a specialist in many outdoor activities, such as climbing, powerkiting, windsurfing, sailing, mountain biking, running and treking. Which is your favourite and why?
Dixie: Even though I am very ambitious and clearly try to outperform myself without going into competition neither with mother nature nor with other polar explorers, I thoroughly enjoy the more relaxed outings in deep and serene nature. Without stressful and complicated undertakings and in the company of good friends, camping with the ability to soak up nature in it’s purest form, far away from the busy world, is what I really enjoy.

CheapTents.com: What is the thing you find most rewarding about undertaking a polar expedition?
Dixie: Being able to submerge myself in a simple frozen world and almost becoming one with the surroundings is a privilege. Realizing that I am using my senses just like the animals in order to sniff danger or to know how to tell sweet or salty water just by looking at it while on an expedition on the arctic ocean, proves that the depth of the experience is more important than the possible success.

Penguins! The polar wildlife is important to Dixie. Source: Flickr by V.P.Tz.

CheapTents.com: How do you keep motivated on long polar expeditions, especially in areas of unchanging scenery and during whiteouts?
Dixie: I must say that it has gradually become normal and natural to accept non-perfection. I have taken the preparations of all of the expeditions that I have undertaken very seriously and know that the hardships come with monotony, endless hours of skiing, eating the same food every day for 100 days in a row.

It is clear that experience helps because you simply know what is ahead and you have learned to accept all difficulty. I also have learned to accept that I am a normal citizen suddenly being stripped from the comforts of modern society and that it initially takes effort to put myself in a new life stripped of anything. The most important thing that keeps me motivated is my sincere passion for the polar regions and the amazement of it’s beauty.

CheapTents.com: What has been your worst injury (if any) from outdoor activities and how did it happen?
Dixie: On day 32 during the crossing of the Antarctic I was lifted up in the air in stormy conditions by the kite-system that we used and thrown back onto the hard ice twice. Leaving me unconscious and with two broken ribs I had to take one day of rest in the tent before continuing.

CheapTents.com: During your expedition to the arctic in 2007 you have undertaken scientific measurements. What did you measure and how can this help to improve our understanding of the polar environment?
Dixie: The scientific mission we took along was in cooperation with the ESA (European Space Agency) whereby we were asked to measure the thickness of the snow layer on top of the frozen (saline) arctic ice.

It was important enough to the ESA because in the past they had only been able to predict the melting of the ice on the arctic ocean by using satellite imagery that can measure the ice thickness every 2 to 3 centimeters, which is of course with utmost precision. However, the parameters used did not take into account the snow that acts like a blanket, slowing down the melting of the ice.

Therefore the predictions were quite exaggerated and we were asked to do the field work. Every 40 km we would measure the snow layer over a distance of 500 meters and this every 5 meters. All the data are now being processed and will allow [ESA] to create more clarity into the matter of the melting of the arctic ice.

Ice Melting in the Ever-Changing Arctic. Source: Flickr by nick_russill

CheapTents.com: Which polar region, the Arctic or Antarctic, do you like the most and why?
Dixie: Clearly the Arctic ocean. It is like a love and hate affair because the living conditions in the Arctic are much harder compared to the Antarctic where it is dryer and less dynamic.

The Arctic ocean offers a wide variety of colours and the confrontation with the wildlife naturally makes things more interesting.

CheapTents.com: How did you feel when you first found out that you have the polar explorer statue made of you?
Dixie: The statue in Nieuwpoort, Belgium was inaugurated at the start of our sailing expedition to the Antarctic and was an initiative of the city of Nieuwpoort who had previously made me their honorary citizenship in 1998. Made by artist Freddy Cappon it is a tribute to my life as a polar explorer, but also to the importance of a little nation as Belgium with a clear polar history.

The Polar Explorer Statue of Dixie Dansercoer in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. Source: Flickr by sophiea

CheapTents.com: Do you have any expeditions planned for the near future?
Dixie: A completely different kind of expedition is the travelling exhibition that I am putting together:
www.antarcticmatters.org

It contains all of the challenges of big expeditions with organizational, budgetary and logistical challenges, but this time … Without the extreme lifestyle.

I do have another ambitious polar expedition planned for the 2011-2012 Antarctic season when I will try to execute a 6 to 7000 km expedition in east Antarctica.

CheapTents.com: What are your favourite bits of gear, and why?
Dixie: I may say that I am a freak when it comes to gear. Always testing, feeling, comparing ease in use and especially weighing since we have to shave off every gram that is too much.

I strive for excellence in quality which is usually measured by its sturdyness and solidity. But other criteria are ease in use and versatility.

Strangely enough, I tend to form a sort of relationship with equipment which I know is dead material, but when you use gear so much and for so long, I guess it is normal…

CheapTents.com: Any people or sponsors that you would like thank?
Dixie: It has been a pleasure to work with long-time and trusted partners like Sprayway and Hike-Away in Belgium who distribute Vaude.

The past has proven that with evolving materials and ethical developments my preference seems to be going towards those companies who not only follow the trends, but who have that pioneering instinct that I incorporate in my business as well.

(Ant)Arctic Matters

Dixie’s latest project (Ant)Arctic Matters is a travelling expedition that aims to showcase the beauty of polar regions and in doing so, will help us to understand and protect these globally important environments.

A large part of the (Ant)Arctic Matters exhibition has been created by artists using an array of unique sensory and audio-visual techniques that will help to highlight the fragile character of the Polar Regions.

The website contains stunning photographs of the polar regions, including scenery, wildlife and Dixie in action!

This project is completely different to anything I’ve done in the past. I want to show the whole world the crucial importance of protecting our superb polar regions. We can all make a contribution, by changing our own consumer behaviour. Green technologies, particularly apparent in our country, play an essential role.

Dixie Dansercoer’s Adventures and Achievements

For more information about Dixie’s expeditions please visit his website, www.circles.cc

• Two Round The World trips West to East and East to West, 1984-1986
• Belgian windsurfing champion in the wave-riding discipline, 1987.
• Cho Oyu, Tibet, climbing expedition, 1990.
• Mount Kenya, climbed the N/E and S/W faces, 1991.
• Mount Teide, Tenerife, World and Guinness Record holder for high altitude mountain biking, 1991.
• Mont Blanc, France, winter ascent, 1992.
• Mount Fuji, Japan, winter ascent, 1992.
• Australia and Belgium, Ironman Triathlon, 1993.
• Organiser and participant “Karakoram Bike Adventure”, 1200km through Pakistan and China, 1994.
• Belgium “La Transardennaise” 160 km Ultra-Marathon: 2nd place, 1994.
• Langjökul Glacier, Iceland, polar trek, 1995.
• Mount Cameroon, climbing expedition, 1995.
• Trans-Greenland expedition with Alain Hubert, 700 km on skis with powerkites, 1995.
• Mount Pisco, Peru, Alpamayo trek and ascent, 1996.
• Mount Everest climb (camp two) and ascent of Island Peak, 1996.
• Spitsbergen, Svalbard, polar trek,1997.
• South Through The Pole: Crossing of the Antarctic continent with Alain Hubert: 4000 km skiing / powerkiting, including scientific research, 1997-98.
• Antarctica 2000: Ascent of Mount Vinson with Julie Brown and polar trek Ellsworth Mountain Range with Rudy Van Snick, 2000.
• The Ultimate Arctic Crossing: Attempted traverse of the Arctic Ocean from Siberia to Canada. With Alain Hubert. 69 days. February – May 2002.
• Sierre-Zinal Switzerland, mountain running race, August 2003.
• Les Templiers Nants, France, 65 km mountain race, October 2003.
• Bering Strait Odyssey: Attempt to cross the Bering Strait from Alaska to Siberia and back. With Troy Henkels. March – April 2005.
• Bornem, Belgium:100 km running race: 3rd place, August 2006
• Successful crossing of the Arctic Ocean, from Siberia to Greenland, world premier 1800 km in 106 days, February-June 2007
• In The Wake Of The Belgica: Sailing expedition to the Antarctic peninsula. Pioneering sailing, wind-and kitesurfing, climbing and canoeing expedition, Sept 2007- May 2008
• Gondo Switzerland (Simplon Pass), double marathon, 9th place, 2008

Extreme Expeditionists

If you enjoyed reading our interview with polar explorer Dixie Dansercoer then you will almost certainly enjoy reading our interviews with other professional adventurers and mountaineers, such as:

• Alison Gannett – Pro Ski-Mountaineer / Climate Change Consultant
• Mikael Strandberg – Pro Explorer and Adventurer
• Kit Deslauriers – Pro Ski-Mountaineer / Climber
• Renan Ozturk – Pro Mountaineer & Artist
• Kevin Thaw – Pro UK all-rounder Climber

On the 27th of December 2008 Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth reached the South Pole. Their unsupported, unassisted expedition from Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole took 45 days 13 hours and 30 minutes.

It is only just starting to sink in that we are actually here and we are over the moon. On reaching the South Pole we believe that we have become only the 12th/13th Britons in history ever to make it to the South Pole from the edge of Antarctica unsupported (no resupply) and unassisted (man-hauling only). Since the start of our planning, it has been a five year journey to get here and we look forward to reflecting on what we have done.

On Christmas day, while most of us were eating and drinking too much, Adam and Gavin spent 12 hours pulling sleds across the Antarctic snow. This was followed by a gruelling 22 hour march starting on Boxing day, taking them to the South Pole at 0915 GMT on the 27th of December.

South Pole Space Station

Adam and Gavin have been rewarded with a tour of the US Amundsen-Scott scientific research base at the south pole. Where experiments measuring seismic activity and studies of the sky and atmosphere are taking place.

The base itself was like a space station inside and out, a remote scientific outpost.

Return from the South Pole

A Twin Otter plane took Adam and Gavin back to the Patriot Hills Camp. This flight took 5 hours and gave the intrepid explorers a chance to see how far they had hiked across the snow and ice of the Antarctic.

Congratulations!

It is difficult to imagine the hardships endured on such an expedition, or the rewards that come with it. Our warmest congratulations go out to Adam and Gavin for their excellent achievement!

Adam and Gavin are hoping to raise £250,000 to help save Robert Falcon Scott’s hut.

On 11/11/08 Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth set off on an expedition to the South Pole. Adam and Gavin are well past 88 degrees now. Man hauling their sleds for a staggering 10.5 hours per day they are becoming tired and hungry. They are losing weight and feeling the cold.

We are now properly on the plateaux though, so flatter terrain. Both glad to tick off another day.

Their height on the plateau is about 2700 meters, 1000 meters of which they climbed in the past week. Fortunately there is only another 135 meters left for them to climb to the South Pole.

In terms of distance, they have covered over 900 km and now have less than 200 km to go.

They are hoping to reach the South Pole by New Year’s day.

Adam and Gavin are hoping to raise £250,000 to help save Robert Falcon Scott’s hut.

On Friday 12th November, Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth passed the 86.5 degree line on their way to the South Pole. Adam and Gavin have been walking across the Antarctic for nearly five weeks now. They estimate that they will reach the South Pole on New Year’s Day.

With the snow softer and sastrugi less extreme, they have been able to ski instead of walk. This has meant using different muscles and has given a much needed rest to the muscles that are used for walking. They are pulling all of their expedition gear, including their tent and their food, on sleds without any help from dogs or snow-mobiles.

They are both in good spirits as they climb up to the polar plateaux.

We are celebrating every degree now with some extra food..on monday we had half a cake each (which was the size of a brick).

Food for Thought and Snow for Dinner

Adam and Gavin have provided their daily routine on their live update website, which I have reproduced below.

Whilst you are all gearing up for the Christmas party season, spare a thought for us …

7.15am -wake and reluctantly get ready.
Eat breakfast, do personal duties, sort kit and take down camp.
before 9.30am be on the move, starting our day’s man hauling.

No day is easy, in fact they are all very hard. We do a 10hr shift, with breaks every hour..for water and a bit of food. but not long enough to get too cold (it is still -20C before wind chill). For the last 2hrs we have a 1minute break at the half hour-so we can push on. At the end we are both exhausted and another step not possible. The sled weight may be reducing as we eat our rations, but the fatigue in legs gets worse. Even if we are both incredibly tired at 6hrs and bored of the white white white landscape, we always push on for the full day, things can get better.. After finishing, we then have to set up camp. It could be very windy.

7.30pm Get tent up and kit from sleds into tent by 8.
8.00pm call Patriot Hills with our position.
8.30pm one of us will start to melt snow in the vestibule. This will take up to 2hrs for all our water. The snow is incredibly dry. The other will have the chance to repair any equipment or himself! and perhaps call home or post a dispatch. During this time we will both start to eat (first meal-we are now eating 2, as we have a hard week of altitude gain) and rehydrate.

10.30pm water finished, and by 11pm time for second meal.
11pm record our expedition video diary, reflect on the day.

12am to sleep..although this will be broken up, as we will wake a number of times no matter how tired. it is hot in tent at night in down sleeping bags, and bright with 24hr sun. We are both suffering from lack of proper sleep.
The next day we do it all again…for 50 days. This is what we have to do to make it. No matter how tired or how cold. A test of mind, body and soul.

Shopping Centre or South Pole?

Where would you rather be? Your local shopping centre, battling the crowds trying to find those perfect Christmas presents…

Shopping Centre. Source: Flickr by MacBites

…or the South Pole, freezing cold with only your expedition partner to get on your nerves? Click on the “comments” link below and let us know!

South Pole. Source: Flickr by darth_emma

Perhaps the best answer is to be in The Lake District, North Wales or The Scottish Highlands and buy all your Christmas Presents and outdoor gear online, using your mobile phone or laptop!

Adam Wilton

Adam was born in London and 30 years old. He works as an investment banker at Kaupthing Bank in London.

Adam’s previous expeditions and challenges include:

Marathon of Britain 2005 (52 miles, 2 days)
Marathon des Sables 2004 (140 miles)
Guadarun, Guadeloupe 2005 (80 miles)
Mont Blanc Ultra 2005 (100 miles non-stop)
Greenland Expedition 2007 (8 first ascents; >200 km ice cap travel)
World Long Course Duathlon Championships 2008.

Adam and Gavin are hoping to raise £250,000 to help save Robert Falcon Scott’s hut.

British South Pole Expedition Updates

British South Pole Expedition 25th November
British South Pole Expedition Update 1 2nd December
British South Pole Expedition Update 2 8th December

On 11/11/08 Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth set off on an expedition to the South Pole. They have now reached the half way point, the 85 degree line.

The sun has been out and the wind is not strong, but the ambient temperature is still a bone chilling minus 19 degrees Celsius.

Adam and Gavin have no supply lines. They have with them everything that they need to survive the expedition, which they intend to complete on New Year’s Day 2009, when they arrive at the South Pole. Previously the Sastrugi were making the going hard. Now the snow has become soft skiing is impossible, so Adam and Gavin are walking, pulling their sleds behind them.

We both agree that this has been toughest thing we have ever done-nothing compares. Every day we put in 9 hours hard effort hauling in extreme conditions.

Since our previous British South Pole expedition update, the view for Adam and Gavin has improved: they can now see the Thiel Mountains on the horizon. This makes a change from seeing nothing but snow in every direction!

By the end of the week they will start the difficult ascent onto the Antarctic plateau. Increasing their day to 9.5 hours they will be able to start eating their larger ration bags of 6500 calories. So far they have been eating 5000+calories a day. Their food rations are made up of porridge, nuts, chocolate, flapjacks, kendal mint cake etc, protein recovery drinks, dehydrated meals and lots of butter.

Adam and Gavin are hoping to raise £250,000 to help save Robert Falcon Scott’s hut.

Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Hut. Source: www.ukaht.org

Gavin Booth

Gavin was born in Aberdeen and is 33 years old. When he is not in the South Pole he works for GE Real Estate in London. His hobby is adventuring: ultra marathons, road cycling and climbing mountains.

Gavin’s previous expeditions and challenges include:

Caledonian Challenge 2002, 2003 (54 miles)
Marathon of Britain 2005 (52 miles, 2 days)
Marathon des Sables 2004 (140 miles)
Yukon Arctic Ultra 2005 (100 miles non-stop)
Guadarun, Guadeloupe 2005 (80 miles)
Mont Blanc Ultra 2005 (100 miles non-stop)
Greenland Expedition 2007 (8 first ascents; >200 km ice cap travel)

More information about Adam, Gavin and their expedition can be found on their British South Pole expedition website.

On 11/11/08 Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth set off on an expedition to the South Pole. By the wonders of modern technology they are sending back progress reports which can be accessed via their website.

So far they have nearly covered a third of the total distance. Having started at 80 degrees they are now past the 83 degree line. The going is tough with poor visibility. Some days there is not a lot to see, just white in every direction! The sun has been shining on occasion and their spirits are high. To ensure adequate calorific intake they are eating 65 grams of butter with every meal. Yummy!

The goal is to hit 85degrees by next tuesday-that will keep us on target for an end of year finish at the pole?

Adam and Gavin are hoping to raise £250,000 to help save Robert Falcon Scott’s hut.

Sastrugi

One thing that has hampered Adam and Gavin’s progress are the Sastrugi. These are robust, small, furry creatures that attack humans with sharp, wooden handled spears. Since the Sastrugi are so short they mainly attack human’s ankles and legs. They reputedly hail from a galaxy far, far, far away.

Either that, or Sastrugi is the name for grooved surface features found on the surface of the snow in polar regions. The Sastrugi ridges form parallel to the prevailing winds and can be as high as 1 metre. They are sharp and irregular which makes them difficult to traverse and energy draining.

As well as encountering Sastrugi, Adam and Gavin could well encounter some Nunataks.

Sastrugi. Source: Flickr by foto3116

Even with the cold snap that we’re currently experiencing in the UK, it is difficult to imagine how severe the conditions are in the South Pole. As ever, we hope that everything continues to go well for Adam and Gavin.

Earlier this month Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth set off on a two man expedition to the geographic South Pole. Their journey started about a week ago at Hercules Inlet and will cover a distance of 1,130 km. They will climb almost 3,000 m on their expedition and will be heading into winds of up to 55 knots. With no support or re-supply they will each be pulling sleds of 120 kg with all their expedition equipment. Average Antarctic temperatures will be from – 25 °C to -40 °C.

Campaign to Save Robert Falcon Scott’s Hut

Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Hut. Source: www.ukaht.org

Adam and Gavin are hoping to raise £250,000 to help save Robert Falcon Scott’s hut. Located at Cape Evans, the hut dates back from Robert Falcon Scott’s ill fated Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole. The hut is of great historic value but is unfortunately deteriorating in the harsh weather conditions of the Antarctic. Preserving the hut and other Antarctic artefacts is a huge and expensive task, taken on by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. Any donations made will be doubled as a match funding pledge has been set up through the generosity of a British Charitable Foundation .

Frozen Sleeping Bags and Mitts

Adam and Gavin have been walking for nearly two weeks now. The weather has been harsh: snow storms and cold, biting winds. They have been waking up to find their sleeping bags and mitts frozen. It has been hard going, nevertheless they have reported that they are making good progress. Further progress reports on the South Pole expedition can be found on their British South Pole Expedition website. Adam and Gavin aim to reach the South Pole by New Year’s day 2009. If they have any energy left by that time they might consider celebrating by doing the crampon dance. Good luck guys!

This video was created by Broken Pixel, an animator / editor / painter / designer. It depicts the heroic story of Robert Falcon Scott’s ill fated Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole.

Terra Nova Video

The song Terra Nova was performed by the band iLiKETRAiNS and reached UK chart position 132 in May 2006. iLiKETRAiNS are a post-rock band from Leeds, England. Their songs are composed of expansive orchestral and guitar-based sounds. They are signed to Beggars Banquet Records.

Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition

Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition took place from 1910 to 1913. The name Terra Nova is that of the expedition’s supply ship, meaning ‘new ground’.

The objective of the trip was to reach the South Pole and to carry out scientific research and geographical exploration. On the 1st of November 1911, Scott and his team embarked on their journey to the South Pole. They reached the South Pole on 17th of January 1912, however Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had reached the South Pole just over one month before Scott’s team.

Scott’s team met with tragedy on the return journey from the South Pole as they crossed the Antarctic. Due to extremely bad weather conditions and weakness through dehydration, malnutrition and possibly scurvy, they were unable return back to their base at hut point. They died on 29th of March 1912.

Detailed accounts of Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition can be found on many websites.