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Latest News
16th March 2007
An Image Gallery added to the website with over 170 of the best
images from the expedition. See them here.
12th February 2007
The team are now at safe anchorage off the Isle of Picton, in the
entrance to the Beagle Channel near Cape Horn. The crossing of Drake
passage started fast with very favourable conditions, but had a sting in the
tail, namely huge seas and strong winds gusting to 68knots, a reminder of how
tough the southern oceans can be. Tomorrow the team will sail on to
Puerto Williams, where they will disembark the yacht Pelagic for the last
time and bring an end to the main part of the expedition. They will then
fly north, back to Santiago de Chile, before flying home on the 17th.
The team are safe and well and in great spirits reflecting on an
amazing experience and lots of good memories.
On returning the team will post a full expedition report and begin
adding the collection of images and video footage gained during the trip.
(CB)
6th February 2007
After 2 days climbing, Steve and Paul returned to base
camp having successfully reached the summit of Mount Harris. The
moutaineering phase of the expedition complete, the team are now back
on board the boat and are preparing for the journey back across Drake Passage
to Cape Horn. The team may spend a day or so in the Beagle Channel before
heading further north back to mainland Chile.
They will update again after the crossing, on or around the 13th
February.
(CB)
4th February 2007
The accent of the unnamed peak highlighted the difficulties in
gaining access to the plateau via the Cordell or Erskine glaciers. The
effects of global warming, man made or natural, seem to be having a significant
effect on the Antarctic Peninsula, with unusually mild conditions and rain on a
number of days.
The team have found the glaciers and access routes to be dangerous
and unstable with constant threat of avalanches and ice
falls. Therefore they have reluctantly had to abandon the original
objective and adopt their 2nd option, to move further north to the Recluse
peninsula. From there they are hoping to gain access to the
Forbidden plateau.
Base camp has now been established at the new site
amidst mind-blowing scenery and views of Brabent and Anvers Islands they
sailed passed 2 weeks earlier. Today the team will be attempting an
accent of nearby Harris peak.
The next report will be made at the end of the mountaineering phase
of the expedition when the team have returned to the boat
in around 5 day's time.
(CB)
28th January 2007
The team left safe anchorage on the morning of the 23rd sailing
south for a further two and a half days. The journey took them through
unforgettable mountain and island scenery with the coast of the Antarctic
Peninsula always in sight. Close encounters with Humpback Whales, Penguins,
Leopard Seals and Bird life were particular highlights of the trip.
They journeyed through numerous channels between the islands and
the peninsula which meant moving through literally thousands of ice bergs.
After forcing their way through the bergs and brash ice they arrived in Darvel
Bay and spent six hours looking for a place to land, most of the coastline
consisting of 50ft ice cliffs. Finally a suitable spot on a rock outcrop was
found and the team disembarked with all the necessary gear. Moving the gear up
from the beach the team found a suitable place to camp at 11:30 that night.
On the morning of the 26th the team investigated the surrounding
area. Due to crevasses, broken glaciers and the steepness of the surrounding
hills threatening avalanches, they decided to move base camp further up the
glacier.
On the 27th the planned 2am start with the aim of climbing a nearby
peak was delayed due to very warm weather and rain. In the afternoon the team
surveyed the unmarked and unnamed glacier on which they were camped and spotted
a ridgeline to another nearby peak. Back in camp an 8pm call for a weather
update predicted unsettled weather for the next 3-4 days with very high winds.
The team decided to make an immediate start to climb the highest peak. After
some difficulties with snow and ice conditions they reached the summit,
becoming the first to do so.
In good spirits, the team are now back in base camp preparing for
the next phase of the expedition. They will update again in 5 or so days
time.
(CB)
22nd January 2007
The yacht Pelagic left Herschel Island, a few miles north of Cape
Horn on the 18th. The crossing of Drakes Passage to took 4 days. Rough seas and
winds reaching 45 Knots were followed by a period of unusually calm weather for
this time of year. The boat made landfall between Brabent and Anvers Islands
just a few miles off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The team will now overnight at anchor before journeying south
inside the Antarctic Circle. At Darvel Bay they will land food and equipment
prior to setting out on foot up the Erskin Glacier. They will then find a
suitable site to establish a base camp from which they will launch a series of
attempts on peaks in the nearby mountain range.
Team moral is said to be excellent; enjoying brilliant
sunshine, flat calm seas and amazing scenery. They will update again in 5 or 6
days.
(CB)
Map of Antarctica
15th January 2007
The many months of planning and preparation are over and the team
have sailed from Puerto Williams. The first leg of the journey will take them
through the Beagle Channel to the island archipelago around Cape Horn.
There the team will look for a safe anchorage and await the passing
of a severe weather front that is predicted to blow through over 36 hours with
wind speeds as high as 60 knots and gusts over 80 knots.
The aim will be to begin the journey across drakes passage catching
the tail of the weather front and ahead of the next. The team sends their best
wishes to friends and family back home.
(SB)
13th January 2007
The team are now in Puerto Williams in Chile, the worlds most
southerly town. Our journey south took us via Madrid, Santiago de Chile and
Punta Arenas on the straights of Magellan. Although disappointed that night
obscured any views of the Amazon rainforest, once daylight returned we were
rewarded with some spectacular views of the Andes mountains. The final
leg was by small plane whch provided some exciting moments flying low over
the mountains of Tierra del Fuego.
On arrival we were kept busy sorting and repacking our equipment
that was shipped down via the Falkland Islands back in August. It is now
stowed securly abourd our 56ft sailing yacht Pelagic. We now have one
last night to rest and prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead.
(SB)
12th January 2007
The team have arrived in Chile and are travelling down to
Tierra del Fuego from where they will make the crossing to the
Antarctic Peninsula. They will
now communicate their progress via sattelite phone, updates will
be posted on this page.
(CB)
Route map of journey south
December 2006
The team have been focusing on their fitness levels since the Alps
trip in June. The majority of the team found time to meet up in North Wales for
some rock climbing in October and then again in Scotland in December where we
experienced some very mixed conditions.
Climbing in Scotland
We were also pleased to hear that we had received official
recognition for the true exploratory nature for our expedition from the Mount
Everest Foundation.
The equipment arrived safely in Port Stanley in the Falkland
Islands and has now been collected by Pelagic and awaits our arrival in Puerto
Williams, Chile on the 13th.
It should take us a couple of days to sort and re-stow the gear in
time to sail for the Peninsula on the 15th. We will sail first to Deception
Island to recover from the crossing and more importantly rig the ship for
shallow and ice laden waters.
From there the team will sail south headed for Crystal Sound where
we will get our first glimpses of our climbing objectives. Sea ice conditions
allowing, we will disembark almost immediately in Darbel Bay with sufficient
food and equipment for 15 days and begin the journey up the glaciers to
establish a base camp close enough to give us the best chance of success on a
range of peaks.
(SB)
August 2006
It is with great sadness that we found out that James, a member of
the expedition and close friend went missing whilst climbing in the Alps in
July. Further details and a dedication to James can be found
here.
We have had a busy few months sorting out equipment for the
expedition. We have been helped a great deal by several very good equipment and
clothing suppliers, for which we are very grateful. Links to their sites can be
found on our home page.
We also welcomed Mark, a friend of ours to join the team. Mark is
an experienced Mountaineer, and will be a valuable addition to the expedition.
(SB)
Alps Weekend 10th – 13th June 2006
The team met up in the Alps for a weekend in June for some training
and planning. We based ourselves at La Fouly in Switzerland , and walked up to
the Orny hut in lovely hot weather on the Sunday. The afternoon was spent rock
climbing on the crags above the hut, and also practising some rescue
techniques.
Terje abseiling from the crags above the Orny Hut
We had a very enjoyable and peaceful evening in the hut, which we had completely
to ourselves. The weather looked settled when the alarm went off at 3.45am, so
we prepared for a long day with a quick breakfast followed by gearing up ready
for the climb. We proposed to take a walk up the Orny Glacier to the Trient
Plateau and work our way up this to do a traverse of the Aiguille du Tour. This
is one of the classics of the Mont Blanc range, not too difficult, but great
for a bit of fitness and team training for the expedition.
The Trient Plateau and the Aiguille Du Tour
We made good time in great conditions up the Trient Plateau, and our effort was
rewarded with the interesting mixed ridge to the summit at 3542m. After a
careful descent of the North ridge, we made our way back down the Trient
Glacier in blistering heat, to make the long descent back down to the valley.
After an 11 hour day we reached the car and everyone was keen to get down to
the hotel for a few beers. This turned out to be a couple of beers then a
couple of hours sleep before dinner!
It was a great weekend with good conditions and weather and it proved a good
opportunity for everyone to get together in the mountains and also to do some
valuable planning for the Antarctica expedition.
(SB)
On the summit of the Aiguille du Tour
Equipment Packing August 2006
The 23rd of August saw the team meet up at Steve’s house to pack the vast
majority of equipment and food for the expedition. The plan is to ship the bulk
of the expedition equipment by sea freight down to the Falkland Islands where
our boat Pelagic will pick it up on its way down to Porto Williams in October.
As we have very limited baggage allowances on our flight down to Porto Williams
we have had to ship nearly everything we need for the trip. This amounts to a
lot of gear with an estimated value of £20,000, we hope it will all fit on
board Pelagic!
Apart from being busy organising gear, everyone is working hard to get fit for
the trip, and we have more climbing and training weekends planned for later in
the year. John is off the the Himalayas in September to make an attempt on
‘Nikurch Rama’ 6320m which is one of the highest unclimbed peaks left in India.
The team also plan to explore the unexplored Rama Glacier.
(SB)
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