We’ve received several questions regarding what “camp” is like, such as “Are there cabins?” and “Is it warm; is there heat?” The answers to these questions are an emphatic “No!” and “No!” Antarctica is a frozen wasteland – there are no hotels, no gift shops, no plant life, and, except for climbers, explorers and researchers, [...]
Audio files of Joe’s satellite phone calls from Antarctica are now available; please click on the “AUDIO – MT. VINSON” link at the right!
Sunday night wrapped up a long day of climbing to Camp One to cache gear and supplies before the team headed back to Base Camp for the night. The climb should have taken around eight hours, but took several hours longer than planned. Joe called it a very a rough day, having sustained calf cramps [...]
Around 7:30 pm (Indianapolis-time) on Friday, six of the ten in Joe’s group (which consists of eight climbers and two guides) departed Patriot Hills for Base Camp, which is at 7,000 feet. Joe remained at Patriot Hills as part of group two while the first group made the short flight in the twin engine Otter [...]
The flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, to Patriot Hills, Antarctica, was about five to six hours long and crossed over the most notorious section of ocean in the world, the Drake Passage off of Cape Horn. Approximately two to three percent of Antarctica is exposed blue ice, and Patriot Hills boasts a unique blue ice [...]
A satellite phone call at 1:00 a.m. (Indianapolis-time) confirmed that Joe and his teammates have arrived safely at Patriot Hills, Antarctica! “It’s so beautiful here,” Joe said. “It’s the clearest I’ve ever seen… Amazing!” The team had work to do, and it was late, so the call was quick. Please stayed tuned for more updates!
Early Thursday morning, the team was still stuck in Punta Arenas – day four of weather delays. Mark, one of the two guides for Joe’s team, informed them that the latest call from Patriot Hills cited winds still over 21 knots – the weather trend needs to be winds under 18 knots (about 21 mph) [...]
We’re fortunate that, although the team is stuck in Chile, Joe is currently able to have limited internet access as well as the use of the satellite phone to keep us posted of their present situation. Although updates while climbing will not be as frequent, as the climbers wait in Chile they are “playing the [...]
The team spent Monday and Tuesday waiting in Chile, as high winds continue to prevent the flight to Antarctica. With updates every two hours, they are all eager to get this started, although these kind of delays were expected and are not unusual. The down time did allow the chance for a group run this [...]
Yesterday, Joe and his teammates had a lengthy briefing and slide show presentation with Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE), the company that operates the transport plane and provides a majority of the infrastructure at Patriot Hills, Antarctica. “The mood is serious and focused,” Joe said. “Our gear is packed and we are ready to get [...]