A to Z Definitions

A triangular delineation in central Antarctica that connects South Pole (Axis), the outermost Pole of Inaccessibility (Centre) and the summit of Dome Argus (Summit) to form an Area.

A Crossing of Antarctica must contact any point or points on the ACSA

The ACSA is also a Margin

A generic term for any support or assistance used between the start and end of a journey

See also Support

An Expedition variant that travels out and back on a different route. The route has less than 90 degrees of arc between start and end

eg.

Ross Ice Shelf via Leverett Glacier to South Pole to Ross Ice Shelf via Axel Heiberg Glacier = Alternate Return South Pole Expedition

Ward Hunt Island to North Pole to Greenland = Alternate Return North Pole Expedition

Related variants:

• Full Alternate Return Expedition
• Inland Alternate Return Expedition
• Mid-Ocean Alternate Return Expedition

Antarctica is recognised by the Antarctic Treaty System as ‘the area below 60 degrees south latitude, including all ice shelves’. Ice shelves are an extension of Antarctic land ice and part of Antarctic geography and their outer perimeters, which are fronted by sea or annual sea ice, form part of the Antarctic coastline.

The Arctic Ocean (sometimes referred to as the Arctic or Polar Sea) is located mostly in the Arctic north polar region in the middle of the Northern Hemisphere and is almost completely surrounded by Eurasia and North America

A previous label used to describe the use of wind energy, dogs or machines for propulsion

The four primary directions of North, South, West and East (NSWE)

Intercardinals sit between each of the cardinals (NW, SE etc)

The generic name for a Path that encircles a recognisable geographical feature

A Circumnavigation Variant that encircles the outside of a geographical feature and:

• includes at least 90% of its expanse
• starts and ends at the same point

In the absence of Partial, Inner or Partial Inner in the label, Circumnavigation is implied

Related variants:

• Partial Circumnavigation
• Inner Circumnavigation
• Partial Inner Circumnavigation

Multiple journeys across a number of seasons, with no evidence of intentional continuity, may not be aggregated and claimed as a Circumnavigation, only the sequence of distinct journeys.

A Path that touches land in Greenland, Canada, USA, Henrietta or New Siberia Islands, Severnaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and Svalbard. May be discontinuous or multi-season continuous.

A Loop variant where the start and end points are the same.

A Closed Loop is measured by:

• tallying its camp to camp distances including start and end points, or...
• calculating its total enclosed area in relation to the total area of the host feature eg Greenland Ice Sheet

Related variant:

• Loop

A generic term for any coastline that borders sea, sea ice, ice shelf or land

See also Inner Coastal and Outer Coastal

Where Coastal is used without a qualifier (Inner or Outer), Outer Coastal is implied

Use of satellite phones, weather and ice forecasting and advisers on standby etc. are accepted forms of aid and not deemed as Support, unless used in combination with another form of aid. In many cases an expedition will not be permitted to proceed without multiple means of external communication.

Inter-team communication is not considered Support, unless used in combination with another form of aid.

Any journey communicating with the public is expected to use PECS.

See Code of Integrity for advice on communications usage.

A journey where team members remain in the field.

A journey that is not interrupted by motorised ferrying.

Example: Ski Expedition to the South Pole

In the absence of Discontinuous or Multi-Season in a label, Continuous is implied

See also Continuous - Multi-Season

See also Discontinuous

A journey where team members remain in the field during a temporary interruption to travel, and the interruption is an integral part of that journey (eg, overwintering).

Temporary interruptions typically occur when the whole journey is not achievable in a single operational season or push.

Example: Multi-Season Ski-Paddle-Snowkite Circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean

Although segments of a Multi-Season journey can be unsupported, a Multi-Season journey in its entirety cannot be claimed as unsupported unless it denies all forms of Aid. See Supported.

Coordinates are a set of mathematical values that show an exact position on the earth’s surface.

Coordinates are displayed in latitude then longitude and can be represented in a number of conventions, in order of common usage.

DMM (Degrees Decimal Minutes)

Northern Hemisphere example: 78°45.89' N, 161°12.61' E

Southern Hemisphere example: 85° 51.1236' S, 161° 12.61' W

Include up to 4 decimal places

DMS (Degrees Minutes Seconds)

Northern Hemisphere example: 78° 45' 53.4" N, 161° 12' 36.6" E

Southern Hemisphere example: 85° 51' 7.416" S, 161° 12' 36.6012" W

Include up to 4 decimal places

DD (Decimal Degrees)

Northern/Eastern Hemisphere example: 78.764833, 161.210167

Southern/Western Hemisphere example: -85.852060, -161.210167

Include up to 6 decimal places

WGS84 Polar Stereographic

NSIDC Sea Ice North example: Y 1155023.835599, X 1095306.751444

Antarctica example: Y -426844.173216, X -145225.094153

Y and X values up to 6 decimal places. Origins (0,0) are the geographic North and South Poles.

See also Waypoint.

A generic term for a Path that crosses from one margin to an opposite margin via a recognisable point. Traverse is sometimes used as an alternative term however Crossing is the preferred terminology and where Traverse is used, the Crossing definition will be applied.

Related variants:

• Full Crossing
• Inland Crossing
• Mid-Ocean Crossing
• Double Crossing
• Latitudinal Crossing of Greenland
• Diagonal Crossing of Greenland
• Longitudinal Crossing of Greenland
• North-South Crossing of Greenland

Multiple journeys across a number of seasons, with no evidence of intentional continuity, may not be aggregated and claimed as a Crossing, only the sequence of distinct journeys.

A Crossing variant that uses at least one Inner Coastal (Antarctica), Offshore (Arctic Ocean) or Inner Perimeter (Greenland) margin and does not use any Inland or Mid-Ocean margins

Related variants:

• Full Crossing
• Inland Crossing
• Mid-Ocean Crossing

• starts or ends on an inner coastline (see Inner Coastline)
• start and end are equal to or greater than 90º of arc or...
• ...starts on the Ronne-Filchner Ice Shelf (or associated islands) and ends on the Ross Ice Shelf (or associated islands), or vice versa
• contacts one or more points on the ACSA
• may not start and end on the same ice shelf

eg. Hercules Inlet to South Pole to Bay of Whales = Crossing of Antarctica

• may start or end up to 50km offshore if ice conditions dictate
• start and end are equal to or greater than 90º of arc
• contacts one or more points on the Northern Poles Line

• starts or ends on an inner ice sheet perimeter
• start and end are equal to or greater than 90º of arc in relation to its central point
• includes a minimum of 400km in linear distance

eg. Point 660 to Isortoq = Crossing of Greenland

See also Horizontal, Diagonal, Longitudinal and North-South Crossings of Greenland.

A Greenland Path variant where a straight line connecting the start and end points is greater than 22.5º angle in relation to true north/south and a line of latitude.

Greenland Crossing variants:

• may only use the descriptor pertaining to its variant
• are not obliged to use descriptors, all can be labelled Crossing of Greenland or Greenland Crossing (so long as general Path criteria are satisfied)
• can be Full, Inland or Double

Related Greenland Crossing variants:

• Latitudinal Crossing
• Longitudinal Crossing
• North-South Crossing

Not continuous.

A journey that has been disrupted by the temporary departure of any number of team members, or has relied on motorised ferrying.

Examples of a discontinuous journey are a return to civilisation to wait out a winter or ferrying a person or equipment on a vehicle or aircraft during part of the journey.

A Discontinuous journey is Supported and may have an altered Mode of Travel.

Multiple journeys across a number of seasons, with no evidence of intentional continuity, may not be aggregated and claimed as a greater achievement, only the sequence of distinct journeys. For example an expedition from Russia to North Pole followed by an expedition from North Pole to Canada the following year cannot be claimed as a crossing or a discontinuous crossing, particularly if the journey has shown to be achievable in a single season.

See also Continuous and Continuous Multi-Season

A journey’s distance pre-expedition should be calculated from start to end and include major Path deviations.

Standard routes such as Hercules Inlet to South Pole, Ward Hunt Island to North Pole and Point 660 to Isortoq coast across Greenland have recognised distances that should be used when promoting and immortalising journeys. Slight variants in these distances are acceptable.

PECS’s standardised method of recording total distance is the tallying of camp location intervals, including start and end points. In addition journeys can record finer waypoint intervals eg. 30 minutes, however the camp to camp tally will be the accepted distance.

Relaying a second sled or load should not be included in the tally.

Journeys on the Arctic Ocean should record straight line distance and a camp to camp tally that will take into consideration overnight drift.

Record distances are achieved by unsupported journeys and may be claimed across geographical regions, modes of travel, paths, gender and solo/team.

Unsupported distance records may also be claimed by the following path types:

1. Any return journey that places self-supplied caches on the outward leg and collects them on the return leg.

2. Any one-way journey (that does not collect self-supplied caches)

Whichever path is the overall longest may claim the minimalist title of eg. Longest Solo Unsupported Polar Ski Journey

If that longest distance is a one-way path it may claim the minimalist title of eg. Longest Solo Unsupported Polar Ski Journey

If that longest distance is a return path (as described above), a record may also be claimed by the longest one-way but must be qualified by its one-way status of eg. Longest Solo Unsupported One-way Polar Ski Journey.

See also Distances, Records and Claims, Self-Supplied

An Unsupported journey that has achieved a first gender, first route, first mode of travel or first unsupported. A Distinction may also be awarded at the discretion of the PECS Committee.

A Mode of Travel using dogs for propulsion. Dogsled participants are often on foot or skis however they may not claim Ski as a Mode of Travel as supplies are hauled by dogs.

Doglsedding, Dogsledder

Situated in east Antarctica, Dome Argus is the largest ice dome in Antarctica and the summit of the Antarctic plateau. 4093m / 13,428’ (Ellipsoidal) elevation. POS 80°28.5762’S, 76°50.2296’E.

Dome Argus is a corner point of the ACSA.

A Crossing variant that crosses and returns to or towards its original start point, starting and ending on an inner coastline, inner perimeter or off-shore coastline.

eg. Point 660 to Isortoq to Point 660 = Double Crossing of Greenland

Related Crossing variants:

• Full Double Crossing
• Partial Double Crossing

The removal of a soloist or team member by a third party during the course of a journey. Evacuation negates Unsupported status.

Expedition is used as a generalised term for a journey, such as used in Polar Expeditions Classifications Scheme.

A Path that is not a Crossing, Circumnavigation or Loop.

Related variants:

• Expedition
• Reverse Expedition
• Return Expedition
• Alternate Return Expedition

An Expedition Path variant that starts at an Inner Coastal (Antarctica), Offshore (Arctic Ocean) or Inner Perimeter (Greenland) margin and reaches a recognisable point

Related variants:

• Full Expedition
• Inland Expedition
• Mid-Ocean Expedition

A journey that starts or ends on an Inner Coastline and reaches a recognisable point.

eg. Hercules Inlet to South Pole = South Pole Expedition

A journey that starts or ends within 50km Offshore and reaches a recognisable point

eg. 30km from Canada to North Pole = North Pole Expeditionex

A journey that starts or ends on the ice sheet perimeter and reaches a recognisable point.

eg. Point 660 to Summit Camp = Greenland Expedition

Polar Explorers existed primarily during the 'golden era' of exploration until the mid 20th century, characterised by extremely limited availability of rescue and communications. Polar Explorers however rarely exist in the modern era. Air access, search and rescue, satellite communications, satellite imagery, and weather forecasting have all drastically mitigated exposure to risk, a fundamental metric of historic geographical exploration and discovery. Anybody describing themself as a 'Polar Explorer' today exposes themself to valid criticism as the label is typically used to affect greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.

The first person or expedition to complete a journey using a new Mode of Travel

The first person or journey to complete a new route or new mode of travel, or first gender

A First/New Route must have an aesthetic quality as determined by the PECS Committee

In Antarctica:

• follows a line that is distinctly different to any existing route, or..
• pioneers a glacier or ice stream of 40km minimum length between a coastline and the plateau

EXAMPLE - Ski from Bay of Whales to South Pole via untrodden Liv Glacier

UNACCEPTABLE EXAMPLE - Ski from Pirrit Hills (near Patriot Hills) to South Pole

On the Arctic Ocean:

• follows a path more than 10 degrees of longitude from any other route

In Greenland

• pioneers a primary glacier or ice stream between a coastline and the plateau, or..
• follows a line that is distinctly different to any existing route

EXAMPLE - Ski from Petermann Glacier to Isortoq

UNACCEPTABLE EXAMPLE - Ski from Point 660 to Ikkatteq (just north of Isortoq)

A Mode of Travel that utilises footwear or any footwear attachment for a stepping gait such as walking or running

A term used to denote a Full-Length/Width Expedition or Full-Length/Width Crossing.

A historical tribute to early journeys that used ships to access start and end points.

A Crossing variant that starts and ends at opposite Outer Coastal (Antarctica) or Coastal (Arctic Ocean, Greenland) margins and passes a recognisable point

Related variants:

• Crossing
• Inland Crossing
• Mid-Ocean Crossing

• starts and ends on an outer coastline
• has a minimum of 90 degrees of arc between start and end
• contacts one or more points on the ACSA
• may not start and end on the same ice shelf

eg. north Berkner Island to Bay of Whales = Full Crossing of Antarctica

• starts and ends on land
• has a minimum of 90 degrees of arc between start and end
• contacts the Northern Poles Line (NPL)
• crossings using seaborne access and exit must cover a minimum distance of 1500km

eg. Cape Arktichevski to Ward Hunt Island = Full Crossing of the Arctic Ocean

• starts or ends on an inner ice sheet perimeter
• start and end are equal to or greater than 90o of arc in relation to its central point
• includes a minimum of 400km in linear distance

eg. Kangerlussuaq to Isortoq = Full Crossing of Greenland

An Expedition variant that starts at an Outer Coastal (Antarctica) or Coastal (Arctic Ocean, Greenland) margin and reaches a recognisable point

Related variants:

• Expedition
• Inland Expedition
• Mid-Ocean Expedition

• is a One-Way, Reverse, Return or Alternate Return journey that travels to or from the South Pole or other significant point
• starts or ends on an Outer Coastline

eg.

• north Berkner Island to South Pole = Full South Pole Expedition
• South Pole to Bay of Whales = Full Reverse South Pole Expedition
• Bay of Whales to South Pole to Bay of Whales = Full Return South Pole Expedition
• Bay of Whales to South Pole to Ross Island = Full Alternate Return South Pole Expedition

• is a One-Way, Reverse, Return or Alternate Return journey, typically to or from the North Pole or other significant point
• starts or ends on a coastline

eg.Cape Arktichevski to North Pole = Full North Pole ExpeditionNorth Pole to Ward Hunt Island = Full Reverse North Pole ExpeditionWard Hunt Island to North Pole to Ward Hunt Island = Full Return North Pole ExpeditionWard Hunt Island to North Pole to Greenland = Full Alternate Return North Pole Expedition

• a Greenland journey that does not cross the island or ice sheet
• starts or ends on a coastline

eg. Kangerlussuaq to Summit Camp = Full Summit Camp Expedition

Any recognisable feature that can be circumnavigated in its entirety eg. icecap, mountain range, ice dome at 3000m elevation, island, archipelago etc.

Greenland is the world's largest island, located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. Three-quarters of Greenland is covered by the world’s second largest ice sheet.

Abandoned Distant Early Warning (DEW) Cold War radar stations. The DYE2 and DYE3 stations in Greenland offer historical interest and brief visits inside are not considered Support unless used as a weather shelter or removing artefacts (which could be used to repair equipment).

The ice sheet covering much of Greenland. Most journeys choose only to cross the ice sheet, a considerably less complex task than crossing the island coast to coast.

A Grounding Line is the delineation at which glaciers start to float, however it is more of a zone due to tidal fluctuations.

A Grounding Zone is the region where ice transitions from grounded icecap to freely floating ice shelf, typically over several kilometres. A journey using Inner Coastal Margins must be within the Grounding Zone.

See also Margins

A guided journey is one that uses a guide or guides to manage and lead a team while the journey is underway. Guides often plan unique and committing journeys for their clients and as such a Guided journey is not classified as Supported unless it falls within Supported definitions. A Guided journey must make reference to its guided status in either the Label or Description.

Generic term for a covering of ice over a large area

Geographical term for the world’s largest ice sheets including East Antarctic Ice Sheet, West Antarctic Ice Sheet and Greenland Ice Sheet.

The Greenland Ice Divide is the watershed ridge that runs north to south and divides the ice sheet into west and east.

The northern perimeter is at 81.00N 40.00W and 2000m elevation, the southern perimeter is at DMS 61^o55’48”N, 44^o49’48”W; DMM 61^o55.8’, 44^o40.8: DM 61.93 -44.68 and 2500m elevation. These points should be rounded within a 5km radius.

Any type of road, vehicle track or marked route. Unsupported journeys may not travel on roads except for short distances when crossing such tracks or when following routes into, out of or around bases, stations and camps as directed by authorities.

The most prominent ice road is the SPoT Ice Road in Antarctica however there are often very obvious tracks left by vehicles on other popular routes such as Union Glacier Camp to South Pole via Thiel Corner, much of it on the common Hercules Inlet to South Pole route, and the route from Novo to the plateau.

See also Road

A floating sheet of fresh-water ice permanently or semi-permanently attached to a land mass. Ice shelves are an extension of land ice and their outer perimeters form part of the seaward coastline. Ice shelves also have a landward or inner coastline where they connect to land.

Most of the world's ice shelves are in Antarctica, marked in blue.

A term often used to describe the Greenland Ice Sheet

A Margin in Antarctica on land that does not start or end on any coastline and is on land.

A Margin in Greenland that starts above the ice sheet perimeter

A Crossing variant that uses at least one Inland margin

Related variants:

• Crossing
• Full Crossing
• Mid-Ocean Crossing

• starts or ends inland
• touches the ACSA
• covers a minimum distance of 1500km
• has a distance ratio between inward and outward legs of no greater than 60:40

eg. Hercules Inlet to South Pole to Vostok = Inland Crossing of Antarctica

• starts or ends above the ice sheet perimeter
• covers a minimum distance of 400km

eg. Start on the ice sheet above Isortoq to Kangerlussuaq = Inland Crossing of Greenlandi

An Expedition variant that starts at an Inland (Antarctica and Greenland) margin and reaches a recognisable point.

Related variants:

• Expedition
• Full Expedition
• Mid-Ocean Expedition

• starts on the Antarctic landmass inland of any coastline
• reaches a recognisable point eg South Pole

eg. Novo to South Pole, Thiels Corner to South Pole, Vostok to South Pole = Inland South Pole Expedition

• starts above the ice sheet perimeter
• reaches a recognisable point on the ice sheet eg ice sheet summit

eg. above eastern icefall to Summit Camp = Inland Summit Camp Expedition

A Circumnavigation variant that follows the inside of a geographical feature’s perimeter, such as a frozen lake or an icecap.

An Inner Circumnavigation:

• encircles at least 90% of a geographical feature’s expanse
• starts and ends at the same point

Where the perimeter or area cannot be measured the route should use an 8-Point System - contact the feature's cardinal extremes (northernmost, southernmost, westernmost and easternmost) and an additional 4 points to form 8 touching points spaced evenly around the perimeter. The start/end point may be one of the 8 points.

Related variants:

• Circumnavigation
• Partial Circumnavigation
• Partial Inner Circumnavigation

An Antarctic Margin indicated by the landward edge of an ice shelf

A journey using Inner Coastal Margins must be on or very close to the grounding zone where ice transitions from grounded icecap/glacier to freely floating ice shelf

eg. Hercules Inlet, Messner Start

Any journey starting or ending mid-ice shelf is designated as using an Inner Coastline.

See also Outer Coastline

Any part of the Greenland ice sheet edge that is above sea level.

eg. Point 660, Isortoq Hut

Any journey starting above sea level but below an inner perimeter assumes the criteria of an Inner Perimeter start.

A generic term for an unmotorised polar endeavour, also referred to generically as an expedition

A Label component eg. Unsupported, Crossing, Full, Ski etc

A wind-driven device used by Snowkiters and Wind-Craft sailors

See also Snowkite

A former name for Snowkiting

A synthesis of Keywords and an abbreviated Journey Description. Most commonly used to promote a journey.

Labels are typically but not necessarily structured as follows:

• Full Unsupported Snowkite Crossing of Greenland
• North Pole Ski Expedition
• Unsupported Alternate Return Greenland Ski Expedition
• Ski Circumnavigation of Vinson Massif
• Unsupported Antarctic Snowkite Loop or Unsupported Snowkite Loop in/on Antarctica

The edge of an ice shelf that touches land. An Inner Coastline.

See also Inner Coastline and Seaward Coastline

Highly commercialised expeditions that begin from 89 degrees (Last Degree) and 88 degrees (Double Degree) and travel to the North or South Poles. Treks of less than a degree are labelled, Within the Last Degree. Treks between 88 and 89 are labelled Within the Double Degree.

A Greenland Crossing variant where a straight line connecting the start and end points is 22.5º angle or less in relation to a line of latitude

Greenland Crossing variants:

• may only use the descriptor pertaining to its variant
• are not obliged to use descriptors, all can labelled Crossing of Greenland or Greenland Crossing (so long as general Path criteria are satisfied)
• can be Full, Inland or Double

Related Greenland Crossing variants:

• Diagonal Crossing
• Longitudinal Crossing
• North-South Crossing

PECS does not automatically reclassify journeys retroactively however any journeys conducted prior to June 2020 may choose to reclassify using PECS guidelines.

Previous journeys that were widely recognised as credible but no-longer qualify under PECS rulings will carry the designation, “(pre-PECS)”.

PECS encourages, where possible, a description to indicate how a pre-PECS journey differs from its PECS equivalent.

PECS supersedes Adventure Rules (Polar).

The South Pole Overland Traverse (SPoT) road runs from McMurdo Station across the Ross Ice Shelf, up the Leverett Glacier and across the plateau to the South Pole. The road is graded at the beginning of each season and is permanently flagged. Any journey using the Leverett Glacier significantly mitigates risk and is therefore classified as Supported irrespective of whether it uses the SPoT road or not.

See also SPoT Ice Road

A Greenland Crossing variant where a straight line connecting the start and end points is 22.5º angle or less in relation to true north/south.

Greenland Crossing variants:

• may only use the descriptor pertaining to its variant
• are not obliged to use descriptors, all can labelled Crossing of Greenland or Greenland Crossing (so long as general Path criteria are satisfied)
• can be Full, Inland or Double

Related Greenland Crossing variants:

• Latitudinal Crossing
• Diagonal Crossing
• North-South Crossing

The generic term for a Path that encircles an undefined area and may be closed or open

Loops are created from an accumulation of campsite locations including start and end

Multiple journeys across a number of seasons, with no evidence of intentional continuity, may not be aggregated and claimed as a Loop, only the sequence of distinct journeys.

A Loop variant where the start and end points are different.

A Loop is measured by:

• tallying its camp to camp distances including start and end points

Related variants:

• Open Loop

A traditional term for a common Mode of Travel using human power to haul supplies and equipment on a sled, most commonly on skis.

The start and end points of a journey, typically, but not necessarily, characterised by geography.

Margins are not always obvious, particularly in Antarctica where coastlines are often buried, fluctuating or in hazardous locations. Any journeys using ill-defined coastlines are encouraged to thoroughly research start/end points that are in or as close as possible to broadly accepted grounding zones and be prepared to provide evidence of this research. Use of start/end points selected by previous journeys is not an assurance of accuracy.

Journeys using engines or motors for propulsion, for any part of the journey. Such journeys are not covered by PECS

An Arctic Ocean Margin that is more than 50km offshore

If an Arctic Ocean journey gains a Mid-Ocean Margin by sea-borne transport it may be Full if other Margins and Path criteria are metm

A Path across the Arctic Ocean that:

• starts and/or ends mid-ocean
• touches the Northern Poles Line
• travels a minimum of 1500km
• has a distance ratio between inward and outward legs of no greater than 60:40

eg. Cape Arktichevski to North Pole to 70km off Greenland

Related variants:

• Crossing
• Full Crossing
• Inland Crossing

See also Northern Poles Line

A Path on the Arctic Ocean to or from the Northern Poles Line that starts or ends mid-ocean

eg. 70km off Greenland to North Pole = Mid-Ocean North Pole Expedition

Related variants:

• Expedition
• Full Expedition
• Inland Expedition

A journey that is unauthorised or environmentally reckless

An unmotorised method of polar travel

See also Supplementary Mode

See First Route

Non-resupplied refers to a journey that did not benefit from a cache or resupply. A non-resupplied journey is not necessarily an unsupported journey as it may benefit from other forms of aid.

Non-resupplied may also refer to a sector of a supported journey between start and resupply. Thereafter a journey is supplied and supported.

'Non-resupplied' may not be used as a label descriptor eg. Non-Resupplied South Pole Ski Expedition, but may be used in a description.

Example: An unsupported journey is forced to accept an unscheduled resupply at 1000km. It is no longer unsupported but may refer to this sector as non-resupplied. This may be useful if claiming a longest non-resupplied distance.

The Geographic North Pole - 90º North. Defined as the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets the crust and, in the PECS context, extends to 90º on the ocean surface.

The North Pole is a point on the Northern Poles Line.

The North Pole is also a Margin

A Greenland Crossing variant where the start and end points are above and below latitudes 80º and 62º north respectively.

Greenland Crossing variants:

• may only use the descriptor pertaining to its variant
• are not obliged to use descriptors, all can labelled Crossing of Greenland or Greenland Crossing (so long as general Path criteria are satisfied)
• can be Full, Inland or Double

Related Greenland Crossing variants:

• Latitudinal Crossing
• Diagonal Crossing
• Longitudinal Crossing
• North-South Crossing

The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is the centre of the largest circle that can be drawn within the Arctic without encountering a coast - 85°48′N 176°9′W. Where a coast is imprecisely defined, the pole will be similarly imprecise.

The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is an end point of the Northern Poles Line.

THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION IS UNDER REVIEW AND OPEN FOR COMMENT.

The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is the centre of a circle that touches the following 3 land points:

• Cape Arktichevsky on Severnaya Zemlya, Russia - 81°16’N, 95°42’E
• Cape Richards on Ellesmere Island, Canada - 82°58’N, 80°12’W
• Cape Melville (Mel’villya) on Henrietta Island, Russia - 77°08’N, 156°35’E

This centre point lies at 85°49’N, 175°49’E, 1001km from each of these 3 land points and 465km from the Geographic North Pole.

(source, Christian de Marliave)

A direct line joining the North Pole and Northern Pole of Inaccessibility.

A Crossing of the Arctic Ocean must touch any point on the NPL.

The Northern Poles Line is also a Margin.

Off-loading is the discarding or loss of equipment, food, fuel or rubbish between the start and end points of a journey.

Off-loading that will negate Unsupported status:

• intentional caching or abandonment of equipment, food, fuel or rubbish, whether or not later collected by a third party.

Off-loading that will not negate Unsupported status:

• unintentional, unretrievable and atypical minor loss of equipment, food, fuel or rubbish eg. a wrapper, a mitten, spillage during refuelling
• leaving human waste and grey water in situ (except south of 89oS)
• discarding of human waste and grey water collected south of 89oS at a facility as directed by authorities
• burning of food, fuel or rubbish whose residue can be retrieved

NOTE: due to the sub-optimal handling of waste in Greenland all rubbish collected on Greenland journeys should be flown out

A Margin on sea or annual sea ice that is within 50km of shore

Any path that does not retrace its route, in part or in full.

An Antarctic coastal Margin fronted by sea or annual sea ice. A Seaward Coastline.

Sea or sea ice may not always be reachable. For example the seaward edges of many ice shelves are sheer cliff or heavy crevassing may prevent access in which case a journey should start/end as close as practically possible to sea or annual sea ice.

See also Inner Coastline

A Mode of Travel that uses a watercraft propelled by paddling, usually combined with an on-ice Mode of Travel.

Paddling, Paddler, Kayaking, Kayaker, Canoeing, Canoeist

A Circumnavigation variant that:

• follows the outside of a recognisable geographical feature, and..
• includes less than 90% of the feature’s expanse, or..
• does not start and end at the same point

In the absence of Partial in the label, Circumnavigation is implied

Related variants:

• Circumnavigation
• Inner Circumnavigation
• Partial Inner Circumnavigationc

An Inner Circumnavigation variant that:

• follows the inside of a recognisable geographical feature, and..
• includes less than 90% of the feature’s expanse, or..
• starts and ends at different points

In the absence of Partial in the label, Inner Circumnavigation is implied

Related variants:

• Circumnavigation
• Partial Circumnavigation
• Inner Circumnavigation

The geometry of a journey’s route between start and end

A Mode of Travel using a pedal-drive device for propulsion.

Pedal Driving, Pedal-Driver, Fat-Bike, Fat-Biking, Fat-Biker

Any geographical edge that forms a continuous and closed encirclement eg. the edge of an icecap, the shore of a continent, an island or ice shelf

A Polar Hat-Trick is the completion of the three classic unmotorised polar routes.

1. Greenland Crossing or Full Crossing

2. South Pole Expedition or Crossing of Antarctica via the South Pole

3. North Pole Expedition or Crossing of the Arctic Ocean via the North Pole

PECS Expedition and Crossing path definitions apply. The Expedition or Crossing may be Full but it may not be Inland/Mid-Ocean.

Polar Night is the period when the sun remains entirely below the horizon. Polar Night occurs only in the polar regions, its start and end dates do not correspond with any recognised definition of winter, and its length varies depending on latitude.

Every day of a Polar Night Journey, including the start and end points, must be marked as being, 'Total 24:00’ (zero twilight or light) as indicated by the solar calculator here (enter your city or coordinates in the search field). Coordinates converter.

If any part of a Polar Night journey travels outside of these applicable dates it is not a Polar Night journey. It is incumbent on the expedition to research and publish the relevant dates.

The terms 'Polar Night' and ‘Winter’ are not interchangeable however a journey can travel entirely within a polar night and winter period.

The Poles are specific locations within the Arctic and Antarctica (Polar Regions) that mark geometric, geographic and magnetic points.

Commonly referenced poles include:

The Geographic North and South Poles. North Pole and South Pole (without the descriptor), can only refer to the Geographic Poles.

The North and South Magnetic Poles.

The North and South Geomagnetic Poles. In some languages these are referenced as Arctic/Antarctic Magnetic/Geomagnetic Poles.

The Northern and Southern Poles of Inaccessibility.

Any distinctive geographic or mathematical point or feature eg. Greenland Ice Divide, Pole of Inaccessibility, 3000m contour line, Vostok Station

Unique and distinctive polar journeys are assessed by PECS via it’s claims process and are forwarded to Guinness World Records as advised by the applicant. Typical metrics that contribute to distinctiveness include region, mode of travel, team size, aid, start and end points, route, gender, age, distance and speed.

PECS does not assess claims based on race, ethnicity, nationality, occupation or disability however will provide advice on the polar component of any claim.

In accordance with GWR policy, PECS does not assess claims that are politically motivated, unjustifiably dangerous, illegal or environmentally irresponsible.

Claim Form

A form of Support where a journey benefits from an external resupply, cache or depot of food and/or equipment.

See also Start Supply and Non-Resupplied

An Expedition variant that starts and ends at the same point or along the same line, reaching a recognisable feature or location at its furthermost point.

Related variants:

• Full Return Expedition
• Inland Return Expedition
• Mid-Ocean Return Expedition

A Return Expedition may offload self-supplied caches and collect them on the return leg without losing Unsupported status.

An Expedition variant that starts at the North or South Pole or other recognisable feature or location and ends at or near a coastline.

Related variants:

• Full Reverse Expedition
• Inland Reverse Expedition
• Mid-Ocean Reverse Expedition

Any type of road, vehicle track or marked route. Unsupported journeys may not travel on roads except for short distances when crossing such tracks or when following routes into, out of or around bases, stations and camps as directed by authorities.

The most prominent ice road is the SPoT Ice Road in Antarctica however there are often very obvious tracks left by vehicles on other popular routes such as Union Glacier Camp to South Pole via Thiel Corner, much of it on the common Hercules Inlet to South Pole route, and the route from Novo to the plateau.

See also Ice Road

A line of travel described by a journey’s Path and Margins

A Secondary Mode of Travel that uses a watercraft propelled by oar-locked paddling, usually combined with an on-ice Mode of Travel.

Rowing, Rower

A sub-category of Foot travel where a runner uses footwear or snowshoes, usually accompanied by a vehicle.

Running, Runner.

See also Foot

A Mode of Travel using a watercraft propelled by wind, usually combined with an on-ice Mode of Travel.

Sailing, sailor

A period of time that falls between a solstice and equinox.

Example: winter, spring, summer, autumn

A period of three months tied to the monthly civil calendar.

Example: northern winter (December, January and February), southern winter (June, July and August)

A period of time dictated by seasonal conditions and availability of logistics services.

Examples: Antarctica ski expedition season (typically November to January), North Pole ski expedition season (typically March to May)

Any coastline fronted by sea or sea ice. An outer coastline in Antarctica

See also Landward Coastline

A journey that caches food and or equipment on route that was part of the original load, and collects those same supplies on the return journey. If all other Unsupported criteria are observed such a journey is Unsupported, unless it fails to retrieve all of its caches, in which case it receives a Misconduct designation.

A Primary Mode of Travel using skis for the majority of a journey. Use of footwear, crampons or flotation devices may be used for short portions of the journey.

Skiing, Skier

A form of Snowkiting using shorter lines with less steerability. Also referred to as parawing sails or Beringer sails.

Ski-Sailing, Ski-Sailor

A small lightweight sliding device, either on runners or having a smooth bottom surface, used for hauling supplies and equipment over snow or ice. Also referred to as a pulk/pulka (Finnish/Norwegian) or sledge but more commonly as a verb, Sledging.

Sledding.

A Mode of Travel that uses a wind traction device to propel a skier or boarder, who may manually haul during sections of a journey.

Snowkiting, Snowkiter

A sub-category of Foot travel using snowshoes as a method of locomotion.

Snowshoeing, Snowshoer

See also Foot

A journey relying exclusively on the sun’s energy for propulsion. Not yet classified under PECS.

• a single person traveling alone for the entire length of a journey
• must be breaking trail for the majority of the journey
• only transitory encounters are permitted

In the absence of Solo in a label, Team is implied.

The centre of the largest circle that can be drawn within Antarctica without encountering a coast. Where a coast is imprecisely defined, the pole will be similarly imprecise. Two Poles of Inaccessibility can be located, with and with out the ice shelves.

Without ice shelves: Soviet POI (Polyus Nedostupnosti) - 82°06′S 54°58′E

With ice shelves: Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) POI - 85°50′S 65°47′E

The Soviet POI is a corner point of the ACSA.

THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION OF SOUTH POI INCLUDING ICE SHELVES IS UNDER REVIEW AND OPEN FOR COMMENT.

The Southern Pole of Inaccessibility is the centre of a circle that touches the following 3 points:

• Duc Ernest Bay north of the Filchner Ice Shelf - 78°17’S, 36°07’W
• Prydz Bay north of Amery Ice Shelf- 69°41’S, 74°51’E
• McMurdo Strait north of Ross Ice Shelf - 78°00’S, 164°33’E

This centre point lies at 83°51’S, 65°42’E, 1590km from each of these 3 points and 683km from the Geographic South Pole.

(source, Christian de Marliave)

The Geographic South Pole - 90º South. Defined as the point in the Southern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets the Earth's crust and, in the PECS context, extends to 90º on the icecap surface.

The Geographic South Pole is a corner point of the ACSA.

The South Pole is also a Margin.

A speed record is the fastest time recorded on a route. A speed record must be:

• a faster repeat of a previous journey or an original journey that has been repeated in a slower time
• identical in path, route, start/end points and mode of travel
• same gender but can be ‘person’ if fastest overall
• be recorded using lapsed time eg. 47 days, 3 hours, 48 minutes

The original and repeated journey must be Unsupported

The South Pole Overland Traverse (SPoT) ice road runs from McMurdo Station across the Ross Ice Shelf, up the Leverett Glacier and across the plateau to the South Pole. The road is permanently flagged and graded at the start of each season.

Any similarly prepared and marked roads constructed in future will be considered Supported.

See Margins

A depot or cache that remains at or near the start point and is later used to continue the same journey (eg. a return journey). A Start Supply is considered a resupply and a form of Support.

A Start Supply is not considered a resupply if it remains in situ and is used while awaiting pickup from the same location.

See also Resupply

Any additional Mode of Travel (eg. Paddle) that is planned or sustained or repetitive. Supplementary Modes must be included in the label eg. Ski-Paddle.

The percentage or distance of travel using primary and supplementary modes should be published in a journey's description.

• receiving a resupply, cache or depot, either pre-placed or delivered on route or using a start supply to continue a journey
• off-loading or discarding anything during the journey, except for human waste and grey water collected south of 89ºS.
• entering any building, aircraft or vehicle, or tent other than own, in particular base camp-style tent (except when instructed to do so as a condition of logistics support, such as at the South Pole)
• use of any type of seasonal road, vehicle track or flagged route including travel within 2km either side of any such route
• use of the Leverett Glacier route irrespective of whether the SPoT road is used
• aid of a vehicle providing physical or psychological support
• evacuation of a team member

Use of one or more of the above methods of support is Supported

More than one person during any part of a journey.

In the absence of Solo in the label, Team is implied.

A meeting of independent teams or individuals that is unplanned, brief or infrequent (Antonyms: not planned, sustained or repetitive).

Should independent and unsupported teams be forced to camp in close proximity due to a confined camp area (eg. narrow valley, crevassed area) Encounters (including visits to tents belonging to unassociated expedition teams) should be transitory in order to maintain unsupported status.

An alternative term for a Crossing. Crossing is the preferred terminology and where Traverse is used, the Crossing definition will be applied.

A generic heading that incorporates all forms of support and assistance.

A previous label used to describe a journey that did not benefit from various forms of support such as resupplies.

If Unaided is used by a journey the definition of Unsupported will be applied.

A word used previously to describe a journey that did not use wind energy, dogs or machines for propulsion.

The word and any implied definition is not recognised or used by PECS.

A journey that does not directly use engines or motors for propulsion, for any part of the journey

A Journey that:

• does not benefit from any external resupply, cache or depot of food and/or equipment, other than self-supplied depots cached during the course of the journey
• that does not off-load or discard anything during the journey, except for human waste and grey water collected south of 89oS. Any human waste or grey water collected south of 89oS may be disposed of at the South Pole under direction of authorities.
• that does not enter any building, aircraft or vehicle, or tent other than its own/own team, in particular base camp-style tent (except when instructed to do so as a condition of logistics support, such as at the South Pole)
• that does not use any type of seasonal road, vehicle track or marked route, nor travel within 2km either side of any such route, except for short distances when crossing such tracks or following regulated and directed routes into, out of or around bases, stations and camps. Any journey using the Leverett Glacier route is not classified as Unsupported irrespective of whether it uses the SPoT road or not.
• that is not aided by a vehicle providing physical or psychological support
• that does not require any members to be evacuated

A journey must deny the use of all of the above to be classified as Unsupported.

In the absence of the term Unsupported in the Label, Supported is implied.

A Variation is any new course that does not qualify as a First/New Route

eg. ski up Shackleton Glacier, exiting via Logie Glacier and continuing to South Pole

An intermediate point or place on a route or line of travel (path), a stopping point or point at which course is changed.

A waypoint is typically recorded and displayed as a string of coordinate values.

See also Coordinates.

A Mode of Travel that uses a wind traction device to propel a crewed craft. The craft may be manually hauled during sections of a journey. The most common sub-category of Wind-Craft is Windsled.

Wind-Craft Sailing, Wind-Craft Sailor

A sub-category of Wind-Craft developed by Spaniard Ramon Larramendi and used on many successful journeys in Antarctica and Greenland

A Winter journey has two variants:

1. Is conducted entirely within Astronomical winter - starting on or after winter solstice and ending on or before vernal equinox of the relevant hemisphere

2. Spans the entire Astronomical winter from winter solstice to vernal equinox but may include periods before and/or after

As dates vary from year to year it is incumbent on the expedition to research and publish the relevant dates. Calculate winter.

The terms ‘Winter' and 'Polar Night' are not interchangeable however a journey can travel entirely within a winter and polar night period.