Now that’s snow!

Jan 5 2008 by Hudd Student1, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

MIRFIELD explorer Cameron Hudson, 27, has seen snow before.

But the occasional flurry in West Yorkshire is nothing compared to the astonishing white vista before him today.

Cameron is deep in Antarctica – enduring sub-zero temperatures for the Optical Express South Pole Challenge charity trek, following in the steps of Amundsen and Scott.

The 700-mile overland journey started in late November and is in aid of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, International Glaucoma Association and Guide Dogs charities.

The incredible adventure was expected to take around 60 days.

Accompanying optometrist Cameron are John Huston, an American outdoor pursuits expert and polar guide, Everest summiteer Sumiyo Tsuzuki, and Peter Blaikie who, at 70 years of age, will be the oldest person ever to reach the South Pole on foot.

By this week, the team were close to the Thiels mountains, with a much-needed resupply station, and despite temperatures dropping to below -30°C, they hope to reach the Pole within days.

The trekkers were averaging around twelve nautical miles per day.

Throughout their Antarctic journey the team will collect important data, which will determine whether their body clocks are disrupted by the effects of the 24-hour daylight.

They will also wear specialist activity monitors to monitor their sleep-wake patterns. This research may help to provide new insight into eye diseases.

Cameron is keeping in touch with the rest of the world via a website and his last update said: “The Thiels mountains came into view yesterday and provided us with a real target to aim for. Our thoughts are firmly fixed on the food that awaits!”

Having trained for twelve months in preparation for the incredible journey, Cameron and his team are not only having to trek and ski through arduous conditions, but are pulling sleds of equipment which are equivalent to their own body weight.

And it’s not just the low temperatures which make the conditions difficult; head winds slow down progress as well as lowering the temperature further, and constant daylight pushes them to their limits.

Cameron explained that there’s always more to do after a day’s trekking. “John is making a few repairs to his boot liners and I to my gloves,” he said.

“There are always plenty jobs to be done at the end of the travel day.

“It was a beautiful New Year’s Eve here in Antarctica. The sun breaking through the clouds has lit up the scenery in ever changing ways, thus we all had our cameras out. The tent is toasty warm tonight and we all have red cheeks having eaten a glowing bowl of pasta.”

As a researcher at Cardiff University, Cameron and the team are carrying out a pioneering research project into the effects of 24-hour daylight in Antarctica on the human body clock and vision, in particular relation to the hormone Melatonin, and are wearing special equipment to monitor their sleep-wake patterns.

This research may help to provide new insight into eye diseases which cause damage to cells in the retina that are responsible for Melatonin production, and the effects of these conditions on the human body.

They are hoping to raise an incredible £25,000 for RNIB, IGA and Guide Dogs charities, and you can make a donation at www.justgiving.com/visionsouthpole.