Bernard and Thierry used cross-country skis, for better technical performance. All their gear was stored in pulkas (fibreglass sleds) pulled by each skier. They had to be self-sufficient, given their isolation and their planned route across huge glaciers, steep slopes and high altitudes.
Each of the pulkas contained 170 kg of equipment and stores, a real technological challenge. So as not to exceed this limit, every piece of material, every food ration and every piece of clothing was carefully weighed and measured for volume. Lightness was one of the keys to success for the expedition, since the adventurers had to travel thousands of metres up and down over rough terrain in cold and stormy conditions.