Modern Antarctic kit is designed to be lightweight and comfortable, which is essential for expedition members like mountain guide Simon Abrahams . Abrahams has worked in the Antarctic often since 1992, when he first joined the British Antarctic Survey as a field guide. In 1996-98, he overwintered for 18 months while based at Rothera Station. He's part of a team of guides assembled by polar experts David Rootes and Nick Lewis . The guides ensure that the film crews work in this environment safely, and an essential element of survival is clothing.
Conditions change so quickly here.
Past expeditions have traveled on foot, dog sled, skis, wind-power, the newly invented motor car, ponies, and even bicycles, and each had their drawbacks. I led the first dog-sled expedition that crossed Antarctica. This was Shackleton's dream in 1915, but he was stopped when his ship the Endurance was crushed in the sea ice. I choose the longest route, which was just a few miles short of 3,800 miles. We left in mid-winter and traveled through spring, summer, fall and into the beginning of the winter season of 1990.