Welcome to the News page!

Please go to the Updates from the Ice page for the information and updates which came straight from the frozen continent during the trip.

News

  • 23rd January 2009 - Pete and Tess arrive at the Geographic South Pole!
  • 19th December - The competitors have arrived safely in Antarctica. Go to the Updates from the Ice page for news throughout the build-up and the race itself.
  • A huge thank you from Peter to Dr. Simon Fynn, the Theatre staff and the Cardiac Day Ward nurses at for the excellent care received during his recent Catheter Ablation operation. Please go to the Papworth Hospital Charity to support the excellent work done.
  • Fantastic new film by Ollie Films now on YouTube of Pete and Tess' 105 mile South Downs Way Tyre Pull! Click here to view. 
  • 18th October - Visit www.holisticchannel.org.uk (Go to the Climb For Tibet section to view footage) for live interviews with Pete and Tess before they set off on the 105 mile South Downs Way Tyre Pull.
  • 12th October - Calling all peace-loving Teachers - we now have a CD which can be used at assemblies, requesting peace messages from pupils. These will be taken to and read at the South Pole in January next year. Contact Tess at tessburrows@yahoo.co.uk to request the CD.
  • 11th October - Here's a link for some Alpine training footage in the French Alps on the Mont Blanc Massif.
  • 10th September – Tess on Edge Media TV in Sept/Oct see interview on www.holisticchannel.org.uk inspirational and Climb for Tibet (Go to the Climb For Tibet section to view footage).
  • 5th September – Tess has successful Laser treatment on her eyes to dispense with the tricky business of contact lenses in extreme cold conditions. Worth checking out www.accuvision.co.uk if anybody is considering having laser treatment done.
  • 1st September – Peace Messages to be sent from disabled and disadvantaged flyers. See www.freedomintheair.org
  • 27th August –Tess and Pete to fly the Gesar Foundation flag at the South Pole. See www.gesarfoundation.org
  • 9th August – Tess, Pete and friend Rima climbed Pen Y Fan, 886 metres, South Wales’ highest mountain in the pouring rain and howling gales pulling tyres to the summit and back to the valley. Tough training! See pics under Training.
  • 28th-30th July – Pete and Tess complete the 65 mile Isle of Wight coastal path in 2.5 days, averaging 26 miles per day. Exiting wild camping enroute with stunning coastal views. See pics under Training.
  • 18th-21st July – Crevasse Rescue training based at Kaprun in the Austrian Alps. 2 days of intensive instruction on the Kitsteinhorn Glacier sleeping out one night. Also completed a ski navigation excercise. See pics under Training.
  • 28th June – Welsh 3000ers. All 15 peaks over three thousand feet in Snowdonia were ascended in 21 hours. See pics under Training.
  • 23rd May-20th June – South West Coastal Path. Details as per periodic reports at the end of this page. See pics under Training.
  • 16th April – London Marathon. Tess completes her first London Marathon carrying a Tibetan Flag for 26 miles. A superb effort in 5 hours 56 minutes.
  • 1st-15th March – Ski Mountaineering training based at Banaske, Spanish Pyrennes. See pics under Training.
  • 19th-27th January – South Pole Training based at Dombas in Norway. See pics under Training.
  • 5th-12th January 2008 – Ski and ski mountaineering training, plus crevasse rescue based at Tignes, French Alps. See pics under Training.
  • 16th December 2007 – Ski and ski mountaineering training based at Les Deux Alps, French Alps. See pics under Training.
  • 6th October 2007 – 24hr run at Tooting Bec Athletic Track. Pete completes 76 miles and Tess completes 60 miles. Both were hoping for more miliage but happy to have survived the 24 hour race! See pics under Training. 

  • Uphill ski training and equipment testing – Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

    The final opportunity to test kit and get some training in before departure has been completed.

    24/11/08 - Day 1

    Greetings from our first camp at Pygajarvi at 67 degrees, 4 minutes North, within the Arctic Circle, where the snow is crisp, deep and even. Brilliant training in snowy conditions. Pete & Tess.

    28/11/08 - Day 5

    Training complete after four nights out and over 80km skied in Lapland's winter wonderland! A simply awesome experience. Bring on the race!! Pete & Tess.

  • South Downs Way Tyre Pull

  • Pete and Tess have completed another tough training exercise, pulling tyres for over 100 miles along the South Downs Way. Watch out below for regular updates of their progress and thoughts as they continue to bolster their fitness prior to departure for Antarctica.

    18/10/08 - Day 1

    Tough going on the first day. Very undulating over Beachy Head. Camping westwards of Alfreston, having completed 12 miles so far.

    22/10/08 - Day 4

    Great fourth day. Covered 19 miles in glorious weather. Now at Amberley with about 45 miles to go. Just waiting for a friend before going in the pub! Much love, P & T.

    24/10/08 - Day 6

    Now at the village of Exton. 90 miles done, 10 to go! Extreme muddy conditions today but still managed approximately 18 miles. Autumn colours look amazing. P & T.

    25/10/08 - Day 7

    104.5 mile tyre pull completed. Probably the first people to do this event so a world record! Phenomenal training in gruelling conditions, up and down numerous hills. Remarkably neither of us have any niggly injuries and feel really great. Bring on The South Pole Race! Pete & Tess

    South West Coastal Path Update
  • Pete and Tess completed the South West Coastal Path as part of their training for the South Pole Race later this year. They covered an amazing 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to Poole harbour in Dorset, travelling south west from Minehead and then east to Poole via Lands End, in 28 and a half days.
  • You can read their updates from the trip below.  

  • 23/5/08
  • Day 1
  •  
  • Brilliant first day - 23 miles from Minehead to Lynmouth in 10 hours including stops. Slightly sore shoulders as some time since we've carried heavy sacks. Next update in a couple of days. Pete and Tess.
     
    26/5/08
    Day 4
     
    Reached Westwood Ho today, 89 miles from the start. Now 4 miles ahead of schedule, despite heavy rain yesterday and gale force winds today. Pete and Tess.
     
    30/5/08
    Day 8
     
    Now passed 150 miles. Today Pete has sickness and The Big D!...which is really slowing progress. Currently 4 miles form Port Isaac where the views are stunning in spite of the overcast conditions. Pete and Tess.

    1/6/08
    Day 10

    Love from Tess's mobile at Trevose Head! 176 miles down. Pete is better, but his knee is struggling. Tess is now vomiting, maybe due to stream water. However the sun is out and spirits are good.

    3/6/08
    Day 12

    Walking the line where the ocean dances with the Earth. Always totally stunning - beautiful wild flowers, birds and seals and a roaring turquoise sea. We've camped on cliff tops, in gardens and streams and on paths. Tess still v nauseous although the vomiting has stopped. Relentlessly aching muscles.     Now at St Ives and a third of the way through, having covered 234 miles. May reach Lands End tomorrow! Pete and Tess.

    5/6/08
    Day 14

    To the ends of the Earth and beyond! Greetings from Lands End. WE'RE SOAKED THROUGH! But hearts are warm. 255 miles gone. Love from this incredible place.

    7/6/08
    Day 16

    Half way!!! 315 miles down. This is great training. Slept on most southerly point of the UK last night and this morning walked beside an amazing ten foot shark! Love Pete and Tess.

    9/6/08
    Day 18

    A tough day in the heat. Now at     Mevagissey, and covered 351 miles. Pete has a new method of staying warm at night...he wears his underpants on his head!! Pete and Tess.

    11/6/08
    Day 20

    Two thirds done! 420 miles completed. Now back in Devon, via Plymouth. Last night we stayed in a naturist camp! Pete and Tess.

    14/6/08
    Day 23

    Soaked through again! At Torquay, 2 miles off 500.

    15/6/08
    Day 24

    Wet socks and boots this morning! It's the best kind of fun!

    18/6/08
    Day 27

    Greetings from Weymouth. Tiring day around Portland Isle. Spoke out South Pole peace messages to a wild sea, as today is Saga Dawa and the effect is multiplied a thousand fold. Now just 40 miles to go! Love from Pete and Tess.

    20/6/08
    Day 29

    Greetings from the end of the path. 28 and a half days. All things are possible... 630 miles blessed by earth and sea. Thanks for your supporting thoughts. Much love from us both. Pete and Tess.