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ANTARCTICA EXPEDITIONS 2006/07
South Pole and back unsupported trips 2006/07
Kiwis on Ice– 2260 km
EXPEDITION ONGOING
In November 2006 Kiwis Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald will depart from Hercules Inlet hoping to ski to the South Pole and kite back, without resupplies. This would be the first time such a trip is done without airdrops - the 2005 Kites on Ice expedition completed the same 2200km long itinerary, but had a resupply at the Pole.
Kevin (37) and Jamie (26) have not done any polar trip before. But they are used to working as a team – not as polar skiers, but as ocean rowers: In 2003 they won the Trans-Atlantic rowing race.
Expedition’s website: www.kiwisonice.org.nz
Extreme South – 1700 km
EXPEDITION POSTPONED
Lack of funds has forced the team to postpone the expedition until 2009.
The British Extreme South team comprises Robert Conway and Toby Williams, two students from St George's Hospital in south west London. They hope to retrace part of Dr. Edward Wilson’s route from the Beardmore Glacier to the geographic South Pole. They will then return to Hercules Inlet using kites.
Dr. Edward Wilson was one of Scott's team who reached the pole 100 years ago. Wilson was also a former medical student from St George's, University of London.
Expedition's website: www.extremesouth.org
South Pole solo unsupported trips 2006/07
Hannah McKeand: Solo, unsupported for Geographic South Pole (1130 km) + sailing to Magnetic South Pole
EXPEDITION ONGOING
After reaching the South Pole in 2004/05 season as member in a supported team, British Hannah McKeand is back to Antarctica – by sea and ice.
The plan is simple: Ski the 730 miles to the South Pole, solo and unsupported in a record time of 40 days.
Hannah plans to land at Patriot Hills early November and practice for two weeks; skiing to Hercules Inlet and back - before going for the Pole.
After the SP ski trip Hannah will board the Blizzard sailboat off the southern coast of Tasmania for a trip to the Magnetic South Pole.
Hannah's website: www.adventurehannah.com
Mark Evison South Pole solo - 1130 km
EXPEDITION POSTPONED
British Mark Evison (24) hoped to become the youngest SP solo, unsupported skier this season. Reportedly financial issues have reportedly forced him to postpone the attempt until 2008.
Mark's website: www.southpolesolo.co.uk
John Wilton-Davies: Don't just dream - 1130 km
EXPEDITION ONGOING
In November 2006, John Wilton-Davies, a 44 year-old father of two from Exeter with no previous polar experience, will attempt to walk from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole solo, unsupported.
John's website: www.dontjustdream.co.uk
South Pole unsupported trips 2006/07
Southern Reach - 1130 km
EXPEDITION ONGOING
Southern Reach, a team of 7 British Royal Air Force men, will attempt to reach the Geographic South Pole unsupported. The team hopes to complete the 700-mile trek in 50 days: If everything goes according to plans, they will depart from Hercules Inlet on November 8 and will reach the Pole by December 27, just in time for a Polar New Year’s Eve.
Southern Reach team leader is Warrant Officer Al Sylvester; deputy leader is Iain Kirk; other members are Flying Lt. Kevin Scully, Squadron Leader Kev Eaton, Corporal Phil Mainprize, Sgt. Ian Stewart and Corporal Mike Beveridge. Some of them serve in rescue corps; and all are keen outdoorsmen.
Expedition’s website: www.southernreach.co.uk
South Pole supported trips 2006/07
Denise back to Antarctica: All Women expedition - 1130 km
EXPEDITION ONGOING
Canadian female polar guide Denise Martin will lead South African Correne Erasmus-Coetzer and British Beth Cheesebrough from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. Correne also hopes to become the first African woman to ski to the SP.
The girls hope to reach Antarctica by November 20.They will get three airdrops on the way to the Pole.
Correne’s website: www.correne.co.za
Beth’s website: www.skiantarctica.com
Ray and Jenny Jardine's NFT (Next Fun Trip) - 1130 km
EXPEDITION ONGOING
Arizona-based couple Ray and Jenny Jardine are skiing to the pole with a resupply. The active couple makes outdoor gear, and Ray has also patented his version of the climbing device known as "friend." The two first skied to the coast (Hercules inlet), then turned around and set off for the Pole.
Jardines' blog: www.rayjardine.com/nft
South Pole of Inaccessibility trips 2006/07
Team n2i for the South Pole of Inaccessibility - 1640 km
EXPEDITION ONGOING
Paul Landry is guiding this expedition to the South Pole of Inaccessibility. Team n2i also comprises Henry Cookson, Rory Sweet and Rupert Longsden. The explorers will fly to Novo Base on November 13, 2006. From that point they will head southwards to the Pole of Inaccessibility, hoping to complete the trip in 52 days.
The team will use kites and receive one resupply on the way (once they reach the Antarctic plateau).
Expedition’s website: www.teamn2i.com
Partial South Pole trips 2006/07
Polar Quest - South Pole – 2260 km
EXPEDITION ONGOING
Polar Quest team reportedly hopes to become the first British Navy group to ski to the South Pole since Captain Scott's expedition in 1912
Starting in November 2006 the team is currently on a 2,800 km, 65-day, return ski to the geographical South Pole. The team plans on reaching the SP unsupported. However, they didn't start by the coastline at Hercules Inlet, but started from Patriot Hills base, further inland. They plan to reach the Pole, get a resupply once there, and then kite all the way back .
Members have been selected among the most experienced ranks of the British Naval service. The Polar Quest South Pole expedition members are Sean Chapple (leader), Craig Hunter, Paul Martin, and Andrew Brown.
Earlier this year, Captain Chapple led four Royal Navy novices to the Magnetic North Pole. The team arrived on April 30 after a 26 day, 240 km trip.
Expedition’s website: polarquest.co.uk
Indian Navy Everest summiteers for the South Pole– 200 km
In 2004 Commander Satyabrata Dam led an Indian Navy team on Everest. In December this year, he will lead 10 sailors to the South Pole. The team plans to complete a 200km, partial trip. The skiers expect the trip to take about 15 to 20 days, planning on 10 to 12 hour daily marches.
Expedition’s website: www.nausenaadventures.com
Other Antarctica expeditions 2006/07
Measuring Antarctica: Damien Gildea back for more
EXPEDITION ONGOING
In August, the USGS Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (ACAN) approved 48 new names for features on and around the Vinson Massif in the Sentinel Range including 4 mountains and 14 peaks. Nine of the peak names were proposed by Damien Gildea. Now the Aussie climber and skier is returning to Antarctica for the 8th time; to again measure the mountains he climbs.
Leading a four-member expedition, this time Damien will spend 60 days on the ice plateau to measure the highest unclimbed peaks in the Sentinel Range. The team will be climbing three different areas. Goals are Mt. Rutford (the highest unclimbed Peak in the range), peaks around Embree Glacier, and Mts. Anderson, Giovinetto and Ryan.
The team also comprises Chilean Camilo Rada (26), Damien's climbing partner in previous Antarctic expeditions; Maria Paz ‘Pachi’ Ibarra (28), who became the first Chilean lady climber to summit Lhotse earlier this year; and American Jed Brown (23), an Alaskan ski racer, climber and mathematician, currently working at UAF developing a mathematic model of the Antarctic ice sheet.
Ivar Tolefsen expedition
EXPEDITION COMPLETED
On November Robert Caspersen, Stein-Ivar Gravdal, Trond Hilde and leader Ivar Tollefsen reached the summit of Ulvetanna – a peak located in Fimbulheimen, Dronning Maud Land (Queen Maud Land). The team invested 16 days to climb the 1000 meter-tall north face of the peak.
Ivar is pretty familiar with Queen Maud’s land, where he has accomplished a number of expeditions and some first ascends on peaks in the area.
Expedition’s website (Norwegian): www.ulvetanna.no
Queen Maud Land - Finnish mountaineering expedition
EXPEDITION ONGOING
Finnish climbers Pekka Holma (39) and Patrick Degerman (38) are flying to Antarctica, hoping to do some first ascents on unclimbed peaks in Queen Maud Land.
“At this point we don't have any specific route or mountain planned," reported Patrick prior to departure. "However, we’re not focusing on big walls, but rather alpine ascents on ice, snow and mixed terrain.”
The climbers have previously done expeditions in Greenland, Himalaya and Spitzbergen (where they achieved 8 first ascents). Moreover, this is Patrick’s second time in Antarctica after an expedition to Ellsworth mountains in 1997/98.
Expedition’s website (Finnish): www.mountfinland.fi
Irish Beyond Endurance Antarctic expedition
2006 EXPEDITION COMPLETED
Pat Falvey is leading an Irish team to Antarctica both this season and also next year. In 2006 his rather large crew will sail from Ushuaia, Argentina across the Drake Passage to South Georgia (Antarctic Peninsula). The expedition objective is to follow Ernest Shackleton’s footprints across the island, from Haakon King Bay across Crane glacier, Trident tower and Fortuna, until Stromness at the island’s northern coast - where the boat will be waiting. Then the team will sail to Elephant Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.
In 2007 the Irish team will ski to the South Pole - at least. “We are definitely going for the South Pole,” Falvey told ExplorersWeb. “But we are also considering attempting a complete crossing.
The Beyond Endurance expedition hopes to remember Shackleton and many other unsung Irishmen who took part in Scott's and Shackleton's Antarctic expeditions.
Expedition’s website: beyondendurance.ie
Centacare Antarctic Challenge - from sea level to Vinson summit
EXPEDITION ONGOING
Centacare Antarctic Challenge team hopes to reach the summit of Vinson, starting the climb at sea level.
New Zealander Duncan Chessell will lead Australians Robert North, Peter Weeks, and Robert Jackson from Hercules Inlet and ski 320 km to the base of Vinson. After setting BC at 800m, they'll climb to the summit at 4897m.
Expedition’s website: www.centacareantarcticchallenge.com
Scientific Antarctic expeditions 2006/07 - reporting live
NDSU Antarctic Research team
EXPEDITION ONGOING
The Antarctic expedition team from NDSU (North Dakota State University) comprises Dr. Allan Ashworth, and NDSU students Kelly Gorz and Andrew Podoll.
The field team will be studying the glacial geology of the western Olympus Range and the western Taylor Valley sectors of the Dry Valleys. The Dry Valleys is an area of high mountains and deep valleys between the Polar Plateau and the coastal glaciers in the central part of Antarctica.
Expedition’s live dispatches: www.humanedgetech.com/expedition/ant2006
ANSMET 2006/07: The Meteorite Hunters + NASA
EXPEDITION ONGOING
Each Antarctic summer season, a 6-people ANSMET team heads for McMurdo station, and from there they work self-sufficiently, scouting surrounding areas for 5-7 weeks. The goal is to recover an unbiased and uncontaminated sample of meteorites.
ANSMET program was founded by the Office of Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation in 1976. Since then, a series of field teams have retrieved over 10,000 specimens from meteorite stranding surfaces along the Transantarctic Mountains.
This season, NASA is joining forces with ANSMET's meteorite hunters. Astronaut Don Pettit, who was a crew member aboard the International Space Station during Expedition 6 from Nov 2002 to May 2003, is joining the team.
Expedition’s live dispatches: www.humanedgetech.com/expedition/ansmet2
Expedition’s website: geology.cwru.edu/~ansmet
Don Pettit's "Space Chronicles on Ice": www.humanedgetech.com/expedition/nasa
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