Houlding heads for Antarctica’s Spectre

British climber and adventurer Leo Houlding will next week head to Antarctica on an extraordinary expedition to climb a 750m big wall and snow-kite across the continent.

On 7 November, Leo Houlding, Jean Burgun and Mark Sedon will depart from the UK on the first stage of their expedition to climb the 750m tall buttress of the 2,020m Spectre in the Gothic Mountains in Antarctica. Once Houlding, Burgun and Sedon arrive on the Antarctic continent, via South America, their journey there will involve: a flight in a Twin Otter ski equipped aircraft and snow-kiting with 200kg sledges known as pulks for 300km to reach the Spectre; alpine style ascents of highly technical climbs and unclimbed peaks; 400km of traditional man-hauling on cross-country skis, before finally snow-kiting a further 1100km back to the Union Glacier, concluding a complete trans-continental traverse before departing the Antarctic.

Individually, each phase – the journey in, the climb, and the journey out – will present a huge challenge to the team, but combined they present a genuinely audacious proposition with 2000km covered by ski and snow-kite alone.  The trip has been described by Sir Chris Bonington as “pushing the limits of Alpine style exploration”. Houlding has estimated that the expedition will last around 70 days, running from early November until the back end of January 2018.

Leo Houlding has been preparing for an attempt on the Spectre since 2013.  For over a year, Houlding has been working closely with the product team at Berghaus to develop clothing and equipment that is capable of performing in the extremes of temperature and conditions that the team will face in Antarctica.  Each element of the expedition presents particular challenges for kit, with three distinct sets of conditions to handle.  During the trip, Houlding, Burgun and Sedon will have to operate in temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius, and in winds of up to 80 knots, while at times hauling loads of 200kg.  In addition, the abrasive nature of the Spectre’s rock face will take its toll on the kit that is used.  And of course, everything must be carried for the entire duration of the trip, so weight must be kept to an absolute minimum without compromising durability.

In March this year, Houlding was joined by Jean Burgun and members of Berghaus’ MtnHaus innovation team on a training trip to Norway, where they tested prototypes of highly specialist garments that will now be used during the Spectre expedition.  The concepts, designs and technologies used in the products will feature in Berghaus’ winter 2018 range.

Leo Houlding recently became a trustee of the Outward Bound Trust, a charity dedicated for 75 years to enabling access to outdoor adventure for young people from all social backgrounds.  Houlding hopes to use the Spectre expedition, his first major trip since becoming a trustee, to help raise the profile the Outward Bound Trust and its valuable work.  Berghaus is a strategic partner of the trust and supports its role in encouraging more people to get out more, as part of the company’s wider efforts to redefine modern exploration and adventure.

Leo Houlding comments: “The Spectre expedition represents the very cutting edge of extreme adventure for an elite and highly experienced crew.  However, there is equal, if not more, value in the more accessible adventure Outward Bound introduces to thousands of young people every year.  Many of them have never experienced any form of outdoor adventure and would not have the chance were it not for the trust and its dedicated instructors.  Adventure is a relative term – I have no doubt that the youngsters who enjoy Outward Bound courses find them every bit as exciting, nerve wracking and fulfilling as we will on the Spectre expedition.”

“This is most adventurous and hardcore expedition concept that I’ve ever conceived of.  It represents true 21^st Century, new school exploration, with a mixed international team, and in the greatest playground on earth.  There is a realistic possibility of success, but the odds are not short, and of course no one has done this before.”

Once Houlding, Burgun and Sedon have landed on the Antarctic, they will transmit updates as often as they can, but opportunities to send news and images are likely to be very limited.  Any updates will be shared via Houlding’s personal and Berghaus’ social media platforms, and more details about the expedition can be found at www.spectreexpedition.com