Teachers' Trek.

Talk about motivated teachers! Ann Bancroft, a former elementary school teacher in Minneapolis, Minn., and Liv Arnesen, who taught high school in Oslo, Norway, hope to become the first women ever to cross Antarctica on skis.

The two teachers plan to ski 10 to 12 hours a day in their 3,863 kilometer (2,400 mile)-trek over the frozen continent. The historic expedition kicked off last month in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica, and is scheduled to end on the Ross Ice Shelf in February. "This has always been my dreams," says Bancroft.

The pair's biggest obstacle: savage Antarctic weather conditions. On an average day, temperatures plunge to -34 [degrees] C (-29 [degrees] F) and winds whip up to 160 km (100 mi). When winds do gust in a favorable direction, the skiers will make use of sails to race them across the ice at speeds up to 40 km per hour (25 mph).

Although Antarctica is more than 97 percent ice, its air is as arid as the Sahara Desert. To avoid dehydration (extreme water loss), Bancroft and Arnesen need to down 5 pints (2.4 liters) of hot liquids daily. And to maintain rigorous energy needs, they must consume at least 5,000 calories a day--the average teenage girl requires about 1,800 calories. A typical breakfast for the pair: potatoes whipped up with gobs of butter and oil. The nutrient-packed meal will fuel their bodies with slow-burning energy in the form of fats and complex carbohydrates (chemical energy source).

Besides cinching a new record, the two hope their extraordinary journey will inspire kids and adults alike to pursue their dreams. Millions around the world will follow their journey on the Internet at www.your expedition.com, where the teachers will send and receive e-mail. Bancroft and Arnesen aren't novice skiers, by the way: They're seasoned explorers who've led previous expeditions to the South Pole. Says Bancroft: "My motivation comes from students and others who follow our adventure."