Through the Homeland of Ice and Storms

"2400 Kilometers of Antarctica with Reinhold Messner and Arved Fuchs"

In 1989, the German polar explorer Arved Fuchs and the South Tyrolean mountaineer Reinhold Messner set out together to reach the South Pole on skis without sled dogs or motor technology and then cross the entire Antarctic. There are problems right from the start because the onward transport to the starting point by plane cannot be carried out on time. Finally, the adventurers set off from Patriot Hills Base Camp on the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf to the Pole. The completely different character traits of the two men quickly emerge. Messner is impetuous and pushes for speed. The calm Fuchs divides his strength and consistently follows his pace during all planned breaks. On New Year's Eve 1989, the two men are warmly welcomed by the crew of the US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. But the much larger and more dangerous part of their adventurous continental crossing still lies ahead of them. The 3-part documentary shows one of the last great adventures of modern times in impressive pictures.

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Created By

Status

Ended

Original Name

Durch die Heimat des Eises und der Stürme

First Air Date

December 1, 1990

Last Air Date

December 1, 1990

Seasons

Episodes

Language

German

Production Companies

Spiegel TV SWR

Networks

Das Erste SWR Fernsehen Phoenix

S01E03

Auf der Todesroute zur McMurdo-Bucht

After the short stay at the South Pole with its hospitable part-time residents, Arved Fuchs and Reinhold Messner set off again to complete their Antarctic crossing. The much longer part of their adventurous journey lies ahead of them. They have chosen the so-called death route via the Beardmore Glacier and the Ross Ice Shelf, which Robert Falcon Scott once took when he wanted to return from the South Pole and died along with all his remaining men. The goal of McMurdo Bay should be reached within 45 days because the provisions only last that long. Since they now most likely have the wind at their backs, they are equipped with large ski sails, which they want to be pulled along with their heavy sleds. But frozen ice crusts, crevasses and storms keep stopping them again and again, putting the completion of the expedition in jeopardy.

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