Sunday 23rd
6pm - The group are now having a well earned rest day at Camp 1. The weather is sunny, cloudy and very windy. Last night it was about -20 degrees C. Yesterday we were hauling sleds in 2 teams, 1 of 3 and 1 of 4. It is so cold that the crevasses have snow bridges which are enabling us to take a more direct route than we would otherwise have had to take.
The wind can be extremely strong and gusty, ranging from 0 to very extreme gusts in a very short time. The wind was so strong that it blew down our catering tent.
We now have five tents and they have built snow walls 4’ high all around the camp, the walls are just higher than the top of the tents.
The spin drift is about 500 metres. Just 500 metres away the wind is coming down the mountain at quite a speed. We are expecting exceptionally bad weather tonight.
It is so cold that I am keeping the following items in my sleeping bag at night:- water bottle, pee bottle, all batteries (camera, sat phone, and ipod), toothpaste, socks, inner thermals and boots!!!
Tomorrow (Mon 24th) we intend to have a 5-6 hour climb up the head wall which is at a 45 degree angle to high camp where we will stash equipment before returning to Camp 1.
I have met a friend at camp who I climbed a previous mountain with so sharing this experience with someone again is very special.
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Landing at Base Camp
We are now at Base Camp. We have had our introductions, carried out safety procedures, crevasse rescues etc. We have to be very careful with the sun as it is extremely bright. There are 5 in the group plus 2 guides – Susan and Andy.
Thursday 20th
10.15pm - We left Punta having been given 3 previous times for departure (6.30, 9.30 and 4.00).
We then flew in an Ilyushin, with 48 on board plus a container behind. The flight lasted 4 hours and we landed at 2.30 am at Patriot Hills where there was bright sunshine. After touching down, the plane continued moving for approximately another 90 seconds on blue ice. The night came to a close with food and a sleep on proper beds!!
Friday 21st
8.00am - With just over four hours sleep we had breakfast then had a 55 minute flight in a twin otter to base camp. Base camp is fairly small at present, consisting of about 15 tents.
On Saturday 22nd we plan to head up to Camp 1.
We are currently on track and keeping to the itinerary.
Thursday 20th
10.15pm - We left Punta having been given 3 previous times for departure (6.30, 9.30 and 4.00).
We then flew in an Ilyushin, with 48 on board plus a container behind. The flight lasted 4 hours and we landed at 2.30 am at Patriot Hills where there was bright sunshine. After touching down, the plane continued moving for approximately another 90 seconds on blue ice. The night came to a close with food and a sleep on proper beds!!
Friday 21st
8.00am - With just over four hours sleep we had breakfast then had a 55 minute flight in a twin otter to base camp. Base camp is fairly small at present, consisting of about 15 tents.
On Saturday 22nd we plan to head up to Camp 1.
We are currently on track and keeping to the itinerary.
Tim arrives in Punta
The flights down to Punta all went well, with only one close shave, a dash to catch the connecting flight leaving Santiago and Punta. I met several other Antarctic climbers in Madrid, it is difficult to miss us as we travel wearing our high altitude boots and outer jackets with the pockets stuffed full to endeavour to reduce the weight of the luggage we are checking in.
I arrived in Punta on Tuesday afternoon, it is now Thursday, we have been delayed due to high winds at the landing strip at Patriot Hills. This runway is one of only a few in the world that is on blue ice and has to be kept free of snow. It rarely snows in Antarctica, but it blows a bit. Last Sunday saw 100 knot winds. We can only fly down and land when the wind speeds are below 15 to 20 knots as the runway is prone to cross winds. Our plane is massive, a Russia Ilushin, it comes into land and due to ice cannot brake, so we ´skid´ for a long distance until finally coming to rest. We have been advised that great care is needed when we get off, as accidents involving broken bones have happened after climbers have slipped getting onto the ice from the plane, (that would be the end of any climbers dream of summiting Vinson. I have met a good friend who I climbed Carstensz Pyramid with last year, (CP is the highest mountain on the Australasia continent. We have also met up with another climber who we met on Denali in Alaska. Here in Punta it remains light for most of the time, it is light when we go to bed and light when we wake up. In Antarctica it will be light for 24/7. Temperatures at the moment are not too bad at minus 17 to 20 degrees C.
I arrived in Punta on Tuesday afternoon, it is now Thursday, we have been delayed due to high winds at the landing strip at Patriot Hills. This runway is one of only a few in the world that is on blue ice and has to be kept free of snow. It rarely snows in Antarctica, but it blows a bit. Last Sunday saw 100 knot winds. We can only fly down and land when the wind speeds are below 15 to 20 knots as the runway is prone to cross winds. Our plane is massive, a Russia Ilushin, it comes into land and due to ice cannot brake, so we ´skid´ for a long distance until finally coming to rest. We have been advised that great care is needed when we get off, as accidents involving broken bones have happened after climbers have slipped getting onto the ice from the plane, (that would be the end of any climbers dream of summiting Vinson. I have met a good friend who I climbed Carstensz Pyramid with last year, (CP is the highest mountain on the Australasia continent. We have also met up with another climber who we met on Denali in Alaska. Here in Punta it remains light for most of the time, it is light when we go to bed and light when we wake up. In Antarctica it will be light for 24/7. Temperatures at the moment are not too bad at minus 17 to 20 degrees C.
Friday 14 November 2008
Hi Everyone,
Well this morning was the penultimate training session.The hard physical work seems to have paid off. Arriving back this morning after dragging the tyre five miles in the best time yet, did not have me gasping for air. Thank you to all those who shouted support for me when they were stuck in the traffic along the Wetherby road, the four lads near Fishers school, who wanted to know what I was up to and the guy on the Wetherby road who stopped for a chat and to give me inspiration, (he had skied to the South Pole a few years ago, this had been my intention, had the costs not rocketed).
Most of the extensive prep for the trip is complete. The satellite phone arrived yesterday, this will enable me to keep in contact with Henshaws provided the cold is not so intense that we can't remove any of our gloves or the storms are not too loud to prevent conversation, (this has been a problem in the past, even inside the tent).
So on Sunday I will be leaving the UK and flying via Madrid and Santiago to Punta Arenas in southern Chile. Here I will meet the three Italians and an American who I will be climbing Vinson with. From this point on the weather dictates our schedual. We may have several days to wait until the weather is good enough to fly the five to six hour flight down to antarctica, it has been know for the Ilyushin 76 aircraft to have to turn back after several hours in to the flight as a consequence of rapidly developing bad weather at Patriot Hills. Once at Paitriot Hills, again we may stay for a few days in relative luxury IE beds that are actually off the ground and ad-lib food, or we could get off the Ilyushin and straight onto the Twin Otter to fly to Base Camp. Part of the excitment is the 'not knowing'.
The intention is to keep this blog active thoughout the expedition, however as said, the weather is a major contributer to achieving that objective.
Well this morning was the penultimate training session.The hard physical work seems to have paid off. Arriving back this morning after dragging the tyre five miles in the best time yet, did not have me gasping for air. Thank you to all those who shouted support for me when they were stuck in the traffic along the Wetherby road, the four lads near Fishers school, who wanted to know what I was up to and the guy on the Wetherby road who stopped for a chat and to give me inspiration, (he had skied to the South Pole a few years ago, this had been my intention, had the costs not rocketed).
Most of the extensive prep for the trip is complete. The satellite phone arrived yesterday, this will enable me to keep in contact with Henshaws provided the cold is not so intense that we can't remove any of our gloves or the storms are not too loud to prevent conversation, (this has been a problem in the past, even inside the tent).
So on Sunday I will be leaving the UK and flying via Madrid and Santiago to Punta Arenas in southern Chile. Here I will meet the three Italians and an American who I will be climbing Vinson with. From this point on the weather dictates our schedual. We may have several days to wait until the weather is good enough to fly the five to six hour flight down to antarctica, it has been know for the Ilyushin 76 aircraft to have to turn back after several hours in to the flight as a consequence of rapidly developing bad weather at Patriot Hills. Once at Paitriot Hills, again we may stay for a few days in relative luxury IE beds that are actually off the ground and ad-lib food, or we could get off the Ilyushin and straight onto the Twin Otter to fly to Base Camp. Part of the excitment is the 'not knowing'.
The intention is to keep this blog active thoughout the expedition, however as said, the weather is a major contributer to achieving that objective.
Monday 10 November 2008
Hi Everyone,
Well, this is the final week of preparation. Yesterday saw a hard training session in which I covered over five miles on skis, pulling the 'beloved' tractor tyre. This was done in record time and was followed by a session in the gym. My diet now consists of high protein ( love the opportunity to eat so much beef) and carbs, supplemented with multi vitamin tablets.
The first packing of the ruck sacs was done and with no surprise, exceeded the air carrier's weight allowance, (it is now down to exactly 23 kg). A hard choice had to be taken between a down filled air bed and a thin pneumatic one, the thinner one won, cos it weighs 800 grammes less. With performance issuing being equal, whenever there is a choice of garment or equipment, the lighter one gets in to the ruck sack, even if it's just 10 grammes less.
We are now watching the weather in the Antarctic very closely, although notoriously fickle, it helps to psychologically prepare us. Temperatures at the South Pole at the moment are around minus 38 degrees C.
With attention to detail paramount, this week will see crampons being sharpened, 3mm cordage being tied to all zips, (try operating zips with thick down gloves on without it). inputting coordinates into GPS and a multitude of other jobs. But with only 6 days to go, the excitement and anticipation is building. As with all previous expeditions, each is unique and the unexpected adds to the sense of expectation.
Well, this is the final week of preparation. Yesterday saw a hard training session in which I covered over five miles on skis, pulling the 'beloved' tractor tyre. This was done in record time and was followed by a session in the gym. My diet now consists of high protein ( love the opportunity to eat so much beef) and carbs, supplemented with multi vitamin tablets.
The first packing of the ruck sacs was done and with no surprise, exceeded the air carrier's weight allowance, (it is now down to exactly 23 kg). A hard choice had to be taken between a down filled air bed and a thin pneumatic one, the thinner one won, cos it weighs 800 grammes less. With performance issuing being equal, whenever there is a choice of garment or equipment, the lighter one gets in to the ruck sack, even if it's just 10 grammes less.
We are now watching the weather in the Antarctic very closely, although notoriously fickle, it helps to psychologically prepare us. Temperatures at the South Pole at the moment are around minus 38 degrees C.
With attention to detail paramount, this week will see crampons being sharpened, 3mm cordage being tied to all zips, (try operating zips with thick down gloves on without it). inputting coordinates into GPS and a multitude of other jobs. But with only 6 days to go, the excitement and anticipation is building. As with all previous expeditions, each is unique and the unexpected adds to the sense of expectation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
