Posted: Feb 06, 2008 05:40 pm EST
(ExplorersWeb.com) Following her solo, record breaking SP trek last year, Hannah McKeand has spent most her time onboard the Blizzard, latest sailing at Antarctica. Now, the crew is one man short and Hannah sent out the following call:

"In about one week the Blizzard is due to set sail from Punta Arenas in the south of Chile, 9000 miles across the Southern Ocean to the South Magnetic Pole."

"The mission is the final leg of Rob Gauntlett and James Hooper's 180 Degrees expedition from magnetic pole to magnetic pole."
www.180degrees.com

"The voyage will take around two months and will end in Sydney in early April. We are one crew member short. We are looking for a tough, fit, experienced sailor/adventurer to join the team."

"This is very last minute and would involve being on a plane to Punta Arenas by the end of this week. All travel expenses will be paid and we can promise the trip of a lifetime."

"If you are interested in getting involved or you know of someone who fits the bill and you think it would be worth us approaching, please get in touch, as it is essential we find our last crew person. For more information on the Blizzard and her skipper David Pryce visit www.blizzardexpeditions.com"

"Many thanks, Hannah."

(Ed: email Hannah at info@blizzardexpeditions.com)

After earning a degree in Classics at Lampeter University and working as Marketing Manager and then Tour Manager for the Watermill Theatre in Newbury U.K. for seven years, at 31 Hannah McKeand decided to drop everything, mortgage the house and go exploring.

In 2001 she traveled across the Western Desert on the borders of Egypt, Libya and Sudan; the first of several trips to the Northern Africa desert areas. In 2004, she hiked across Afghanistan. Later that year she joined a guided team that arrived at the Geographic South Pole on Dec 29, 2004.

Back from Antarctica in 2005, Hannah completed half the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, sailing as watch leader on Glasgow Clipper from Liverpool, England to Portugal, Brazil, Durban, Fremantle, Singapore and the Philippines.

Hannah resurfaced in 2006 teaming up with David Pryce, an experienced Antarctic and Southern Ocean sailor. They launched Blizzard Expeditions, an adventure outfit company exploring the Southern Ocean regions including Antarctica, South Georgia, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego as well as Cape Horn and the Beagle Channel.

Her main expedition was however a solo, unsupported trip to the South Pole. At 8.33 PM December 29 2006 Hannah McKeand arrived at the Pole, reaching her goal and beating the old Hercules Inlet to SP record by 2 days. She started out at Hercules Inlet at 10 AM GMT on November 19 2006 and arrived at the South Pole on Thursday December 28 at 8.33pm GMT. The final skiing time was 39 days, 10 hours and 33 min, almost 2 days faster than the previous record of 41 days 8 hours and 14 min. Hannah is now the fastest unsupported South Pole skier in the world and the 9th woman to ski to the Pole without resupplies.

Hannah plans to attempt a solo, unsupplied/unassisted trip to the North Pole in spring 2008.

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