Opposing Nature

With over 15 polar expeditions under his belt, Italian explorer Michele Pontrandolfo is taking on the South Pole with Moncler.

- Dewey Sim

It’s no easy feat trekking close to 150km while carrying a haversack as heavy as three average-sized men by day and braving sub-zero temperatures when night falls. But explorer Michele Pontrandolfo gamely takes up the gauntlet as he embarks on a South Pole expedition this month.

The idea of being an adventurer definitely isn’t new to the Italian, who took his first step on the Alps at the age of 12. Even though the mountains are places of infinite exploration for Pontrandolfo, he sees each step he takes as challenging nature and his own boundaries. He shares with us his passion for expeditions, the experience of working with Moncler, and what it is like to combat severe climatic conditions.

What was your first extreme expedition like?

My first polar expedition was in Greenland in 2000. I started working on the project in 1998 and the organisation of the expedition was the greatest challenge. The expedition consisted of crossing the Greenland glacier from east to west for 600km, without assistance and the use of satellites. It took me 32 days, and there were significant limitations with food, which I had to ration. I never thought that exploration would become my profession, but my passion for the snow certainly contributed to me taking the unexpected route of embarking on polar explorations.

Has living near the foot of the Alps developed your curiosity in exploring the mountains?

I like to observe and in order to observe, you need to explore new routes and environments. Mountains provide an environment for infinite exploration because every day, they can draw different emotions. The most wonderful thing is exploring these emotions. When you experience this, you develop the desire to visit the things around you.

What do you get out of your expeditions?