Expeditions
Union Glacier to the South Pole
December 24th -We were able to fly out of Union Glacier today and make it to our South Pole ski starting spot. Flying took a good part of the day so once we arrived we skied a very short distance just to get going. December 25th – Today I was up at 6:45am to start water…
Read MoreArrival at Union Glacier
The team arrived at Union Glacier in Antarctica a couple of days ago. We are now waiting for our flight to our drop off location at 89degrees south. The weather is poor with low visibility for flying so we are stuck at Union Glacier for a few days. We hope to fly in a day…
Read MoreHi from Union Glacier
After being delayed in Punta Arenas for several days we got the sudden call to be ready to fly in 2 hours. We hurriedly packed and made it to the office by 6:45pm. We went through security and boarded the plane and were wheels up by 8pm. After a smooth 4 hour flight we landed…
Read MoreHow do you get to Antarctica?
From where I live in the Toronto, Canada area getting to Antarctica is quite a long journey. The first leg of the flight is to from to Santiago Chile. This flight is almost 11 hours from Toronto. In Santiago I will go through customs and immigration where I will need to get a Chilean Visa…
Read MoreWhat Do You Eat on an Antarctic Expedition?
Food is fuel for our bodies. No food no go. The quality of the calories is also important. On a South Pole ski expedition, a mountaineering expedition or any extreme and cold weather expedition your body is using huge amounts of calories each day to keep running. A climber or polar skier could burn 6000+…
Read MoreWhat type of Equipment is Required for an Antarctic Expedition? Part 3
This is a continuation of the clothing and gear requirements for an Antarctic expedition. Once we have arrived at the South Pole we will be picked up by plane and flown over to Mount Vinson which is approximately 1000km away. Here we will switch out our South pole ski gear for our mountaineering gear. Some…
Read MoreWhat type of Equipment is Required for an Antarctic Expedition? Part 2
This is a continuation of the clothing and gear requirements for an Antarctic expedition. Skiing: For skiing I have covered the boot system. Now you need skis, skins and poles. Once again there are endless options for skis. We will use a traditional cross-country ski. Few people use a wax ski these days. A backcountry style…
Read MoreGetting Ready to Fly to Antarctica
Dec 17 Getting Ready to Fly to Antarctica I have been in Punta Arenas a few days now. My time has been spent getting last minute food and gear and meeting with our logistics provider to get all the details worked out. Both Saray and Christina are now here and we have gone through all…
Read MoreWhat type of Equipment is Required for an Antarctic Expedition? Part 1
Taking the right clothing and equipment with you to Antarctica is critical for safety and success. There are no stores in Antarctica in which to purchase forgotten, broken or lost gear and clothing so you must plan in advance. There is a lot of info here so I will split this blog into a few…
Read MoreWho Owns Antarctica?
No country owns Antarctica. Antarctica is the only continent without a native population. In the International Geophysical Year 1957-58, 12 counties were active in Antarctica and created the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) that went onto force in 1961. For the purposes of this treaty, Antarctica is defined as all lands and ice shelves south of…
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