Sherpa Climbs Seven Summits In 42 Days

Way back last March of last year I posted a story on Ang Chhiring Sherpa, who at the time was attempting to set a speed record for climbing the Seven Summits. Fast forward a year, and he has accomplished his goal and in highly impressive times.

According to this story, which is in French, (use Google Translate), A.C., as he has known, managed to knock off each of the seven summits in just 42 days of accumulated climbing. That's the amount of time he actually spent on the mountains itself, and not his his total time from start to finish of all of the mountains. The individual times for each of the peaks looks like this: Mount McKinley- 12 days; Kilimanjaro - 16 hours, 37 minutes round trip!); Elbrus - 8 hours, 14 minutes; Kosciusko - 2 hours, 32 minutes; Aconcagua - 7 days; Vinson - 4 days;  and Everest - 19 days.

A.C. actually finished off his quest last may when he completed his climb of Everest, but I hadn't seen confirmation of his final time until this story was send my way by Louis-Philippe Lonke earlier today. While the news might be old, it is still a very impressive time and accomplishment that deserves a salute.

It should also be noted that A.C. wasn't making the climb just to achieve a record. He was also raising funds and awareness for the Himalayan Women & Children Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping to educate women and provide basic health care and other services for those living in the Himalayan mountains.

A worthy cause to say the least.

Antarctica 2010: Explorers Finally Heading Home!

As I mentioned yesterday, a number of climbers and South Pole skiers have been stuck in the Union Glacier Base Camp in Antarctica for the past week while they awaited a break in the weather so they could be picked up from the ice. As the day wore on, they received both good news and bad news, but it looks like their extended stay in the Antarctic is nearly finished at last.

Mountaineer Caroline George posted an update to the Born Out There Blog, which is the official home of the First Ascent Team. She reports that the skies finally cleared yesterday, making it much easier for ALE's big Ilyushin aircraft to land on the ice runway and collect everyone who has been waiting ever so patiently. In fact, the first flights were able to get in and out, so the process of evacuating the explorers and their gear has begun. But, there has been one more hiccup that has once again caused a delay to that process. It seems that the airport in Punta Arenas, Chile has run out of fuel.

Punta Arenas serves as the launching point for ALE's flights to the Antarctica, and many climbers and skiers go there to begin their journey to the South Pole, Mt. Vinson, or one of a number of other locations on the frozen continent. But, civil unrest hit that city last week when the Chilean government announced a 17% increase in the price of fuel. There were protests and demonstrations in the street, road blocks were set -up all over the region, and many restaurants and shops were closed. While all of that has mostly calmed down now, it hasn't helped in resupplying the city with some of the things it needs, including fuel.

Caroline says that it isn't all bad however. She and the rest of the First Ascent Team have used their time in Union Glacier to bag a few unclimbed peaks and have some fun on a continent that few ever get to visit. While waiting has been a challenge for some, they've made the best of when they could. It looks like they'll finally get to go home soon, and the curtain will finally drop on another Antarctic season. One that has been plagued with odd weather, but plenty of great stories as well.

Antarctica 2010: Still Waiting At Union Glacier

A week ago I posted what I thought would be my final Antarctica update for the season that has just passed. After all, the skiers had all reached the South Pole and the climbers were off of Vinson and the other peaks, and were waiting for a lift back to Punta Arenas. At the time, bad weather, not to mention civl unrest in Chile, were preventing the explorers from heading home, but it seemed like all of that would be resolved shortly. Turns out, a week later, their still stranded and Union Glacier and waiting for a lift back to civilization.

Jake Norton posted an update to the Born Out There Blog today updating us on the progress, or lack there of, for the First Ascent Team. It seems that since we last checked in with them they've simply continued to hang out at the Union Glacier base with nothing much else to do. The bad weather in Antarctica has prevented ALE's big Ilyushin aircraft from coming to pick them up, so has Jake says:

"So, we sit. We wait. We play cards, we laugh, we go out for a climb, a ski, something to pass the time and keep our minds off loved ones and family far, far away. It could be worse, much worse, so there are no complaints."

Similarly, Willem ter Horst and Hannah McKeand are all still at Union Glacier and hoping to get a lift out soon. Willem posted an update a few days back saying that ALE was scrambling to get different aircraft into place to get the evacuation process underway, but a seat on those aircraft cost $14,500! Despite the high cost however, the two flights sold out quickly, proving just how badly some people want to get out of Antarctica at the moment.

It seems that patience is a virtue on the frozen continent at the moment. Some of these adventurers have now been stranded at Union Glacier for nearly two weeks, and with fresh snow falling today, it could easily be a few more days before they get back to Punta, let alone home. After all this time, I'm sure they miss their friends and family deeply. Lets keep our fingers crossed that they can come home soon.

Teen Ager Sets Eyes On Everest, Youngest Seven Summits Mark

16-year old Brit George Atkinson is preparing to go to Everest this spring where a successful summit will earn him a spot in the record books. George is hoping to become the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits, and the 8850 meter (29,029 ft) Everest is all that stand between him and that goal.

According to this story from the BBC, Atkinson just finished up his climb of Vinson in Antarctica, and if he conquers Everest before the 29th of May, a likely scenario if he does reach the summit at all, he'll be the first person to complete the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, before the age of 17.

Of course, this all brings into focus, once again, the debate about the age of climbers on Everest. Last year, after Jordan Romero climbed the mountain at the age of 13, both China and Nepal instituted age limitations for taking on the tallest peak in the world. The Chinese set the limit at 18, but said they would consider going as low as 16 if circumstances dictated. In Nepal, the age limit was set at 16 as well, which means George has his choice of which side he'd like to climb from, although Nepal's South Side seems the most likely location.

Atkinson turns 17 on May 29th, so he'll likely be just shy of his birthday when he goes to the top. His record will probably relatively short lived however, as Romero is scheduled to go to Antarctica in November, where he'll probably finish off his Seven Summits by topping out on Vinson. He'll be 15 at that time.

Thanks to my friend Alan Curr for sending this story my way.

First Ascent Antarctic Expedition: Team Summits Vinson!

The all-star team of climbers sponsored by First Ascent have sent back word of a successful summit of Mt. Vinson yesterday. The team consisting of  Peter Whittaker, Ed Viesturs, Seth Waterfall, Caroline George, Jake Norton, and Kent Harvey have been on the frozen continent since New Year's Day and thanks to good weather, not to mention plenty of climbing experience and talent, were able to make a relatively quick

ascent of the mountain.

Below you'll find the audio dispatch, sent back by Whittaker, with some details on the final climb to the top of the 16,050 foot tall mountain, which is the tallest in Antarctica. The team completed the climb at 5PM local time yesterday amidst -30ºF temperatures and howling winds in the neighborhood of 20 knots. But aside from that, the sky was clear and the sun was shining bright.

As noted on the Born Out There Blog, the official blog of FA Gear, it took this crew just nine days to summit the mountain after they departed from the U.S. Pretty amazing feat really, but the great weather contributed to that success for sure.

More info on the climb will be posted soon.

First Ascent Antarctic Expedition: The Team Is In Base Camp

The First Ascent sponsored climbing team of Ed Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, Seth Waterfall, Caroline George, Jake Norton, and Kent Harvey have arrived in Base Camp on Mt. Vinson after catching a lift on one of ALE's big Ilyushin aircraft. In a dispatch from Antarctica yesterday, Norton says that it was a long but exciting day for the group, who have been anxious to get to the mountain.

The flight took them from Punta Arenas to ALE's Union Glacier camp on the Antarctic continent. From there, it was onto a smaller plane, a famed Twin Otter, for a flight to Vinson BC, where they'll now begin their climb in ernest. By all accounts, the weather is fantastic on the mountain at the moment, so they hope to get started with building their high camps and supply caches soon.

Last in the day, Whittaker called in with an audio dispatch which filled in more of the details. Below you'll find a YouTube video of that dispatch that includes photos of the journey so far. He also gives a preliminary outline of what they'll be doing over the next few days as well.

First Ascent Antarctic Expedition: Plenty of Pre-Climb Info

Yesterday I posted a story, complete with video of Ed Viesturs,  about a First Ascent sponsored team of climbers who are headed to Antarctica to climb Mt. Vinson this month. The team, which consists of Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, Seth Waterfall, Caroline George, and Jake Norton, along with videographer Kent Harvey, set out for Punta Arenas on New Years Day, and were expected to make the flight to the frozen continent last night.

There has been no word yet on whether or not that flight went off as planned, but in the meantime, the Born Out There Blog, the official blog of FA, has continued to post some pre-expedition updates and videos to help prep us for what is to come. Yesterday I noted that there would be plenty of content generated from this expedition, and the First Ascent team is already proving me right in that regard.

Today we have a two posts from climber and photographer Jake Norton alone. The first is Jake talking about the personal sacrifices and rewards that come form an Antarctic climb and the second is a bit of an Antarctic climbing history lesson that helps to put things in perspective when it comes to mountaineering at the bottom of the world. There is also a post from FA guide Seth Waterfall on preparing his food and gear for the trip, which is no small task considering he is taking 12 pieces of luggage himself. Finally, we have a fourth post, this time from Caroline George, who discusses her own prep work. Check out the video below for more from Caroline.

This is probably just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to coverage for this expedition. As I mentioned yesterday, the First Ascent crew is top notch at giving us an inside look at their past expeditions, and I expect the same this time out. Should be fun to follow along.

The First Ascent Guides Are Headed To Vinson

On New Years Day, a team of climbers sponsored by First Ascent, set out for Antarctica to take on the 4892 meter (16,050 ft) tall Mt. Vinson, the highest peak on the frozen continent. Over the next few weeks, we'll be able to follow along with their progress via the Born Out There blog as they make the climb to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the American Antarctica Mountaineering Expedition.

The team consists of First Ascent guides  Peter Whittaker, Ed Viesturs, Seth Waterfall, Caroline George, and Jake Norton, who will be joined by videographer Kent Harvey who has been given the task of chronicling this adventure. From what I understand, the climbers have all gathered in Punta Arenas, Chile and are now waiting a flight out to Antarctic, where they'll begin their climb. That flight is expected to happen tonight, weather permitting.

It'll take a few days before they arrive at Vinson and begin their climb in earnest, but expect to hear a lot about this expedition throughout January. If previous First Ascent coverage is any indication, we will probably get one of the best looks at climbing the mountain ever, including stories from the mountaineers, video updates, and lots of great photos as well. Considering the remote nature of Vinson, it is probably the least well known of all the Seven Summits, so this should be a fantastic look at what it takes to climb at the bottom of the world.

Stay tuned for more updates. Meanwhile, check out the video below of Ed Viesturs getting ready for Antarctica.

Antarctica 2010: Conditions Great At The Bottom Of The World

A number of teams are reporting in that the weather conditions in Antarctica have been fantastic over the past few days, with clear skies, calm winds, and moderate temperatures. As a result, everyone is making good time, but wondering how long their good fortune will last.

Willem ter Horst and Hannah McKeand have crossed the 85ºS point, which puts them halfway to the Pole and the end of their journey. It wasn't easy getting to that point however, as the pair were working up hill for most of the day yesterday before they reached the top of the Antarctic Plateau and spotted the Thiel Mountains for the first time. After 8 hours on their skies, they felt fresh enough to press on, claim the 85th degree, and make their day today much easier. The plan is to ski 12 nautical miles today before they take their second planned rest day tomorrow.

Chris Foot has also crossed the 85ºS mark, but that only puts him a quarter of the way towards completing his expedition. While it is true that he is also now halfway to the Pole, that is not the finish line for his journey. Once there, he intends to turn around and ski back to Union Glacier where he started, marking the first solo and unsupported trip along that route. Foot says that conditions remain fantastic, and he continues to make great time. He is also in great spirits because he has been communicating with his mates back home in the U.K. as the holidays loom. At the moment, it seems like it should be a relatively easy trip to 90ºS for Chris. Lets hope his spirits and stamina remain high as he makes the turn back towards the coast in a few weeks time.

The Fuchs Foundation Team hurriedly departed Antarctica on Sunday, hopping a flight back to Punta Arenas courtesy of ALE. The weather conditions were so good that they hadn't expected to leave so son, but they threw their gear together and were off before they really had time to reflect. It seems that the group of educators enjoyed their stay in the Antarctic, where they had the opportunity to conduct research and experiments. Presumably they are in safely back in Chile now, and preparing for the flight home, mission accomplished.

A new skier has just set out, late in the season for the South Pole, as Norwegian Christian Eide just got underway yesterday. Christian is no stranger to the Antarctic however, as ExWeb reports that he has already topped out on Vinson this season and has completed a Last Degree journey to the Pole was well. Hopefully he is quick on the ice, as he has a long way to go. Perhaps he'll cross paths with Chris Foot making his return trek. Good luck Christian!

The Moon-Regan Transantarctic Expedition officially came to an end on Sunday when the team arrived back at the Union Glacier camp. They were extremely happy to enter the mess tent and grab a hot coffee, but most of all they were happy to get a Coca-Cola. No word yet if they've departed for Chile as well, but they should be off the ice and headed back to civilization soon too. They've also managed to accomplish their goals, which included setting a new speed record for traversing the continent.

Meanwhile, over on Vinson, more teams have been topping out, with a slew of climbers claiming one of their goals in reaching the Seven Summits. With the good weather in place, I imagine plenty of climbers have had the opportunity in the past few days.

Speaking of Vinson, Alan Arnette is back in Colorado, recovering nicely form his Antarctic adventure while preparing for Aconcagua in a few weeks. Alan has shared his thoughts on his climb of Vinson in a recent blog post. This is, of course, the first of his Seven Summits for Alzheimer's climbs, so expect to hear much more from Alan in the days ahead. Congrats Alan!

That's all for now! More in a few days.

Antarctica 2010: 84ºS For Chris, Fuchs Team Back At Union Glacier

It has been a few days since I posted an update on the events taking place in the Antarctic, and while we're all busy preparing for the holidays ahead, the explorers are still concentrating on the task at hand, which is namely heading staying on course and heading south.

Chris Foot has been doing a very good job of that so far, as he continues to make good progress towards the Pole. He is now 21 days into his march, and is topping 16 nautical miles per day. As a result, yesterday he went over the 84ºS mark, which was another milestone on the journey. In his latest audio dispatch, Chris says the weather has been good the past few days, although temperatures are on the cool side, but he is happy with the way things are going for the most part. You'll recall that Foot is hoping to complete the first trip to the Pole and then back again to Hercules Inlet, completely solo and unsupported.

Willem ter Horst and guide Hannah McKeand are also picking up speed as they head south. They knocked off more than 15nm yesterday in their best day so far. The two took turns leading the expedition after Willem's ski bindings started to give him trouble. Turns out, they weren't damaged however, and he was able to continue on skis on a nearly perfect day in Antarctica. With the weather cooperating, the duo hopes to keep making solid progress towards the Pole, although right now they're more focused on their next supply drop and rest day, which is still about another 90 miles away.

The group of teachers that are part of the Fuchs Foundation who have been in the Antarctic for the past few weeks conducting research and experiments are now back at the Union Glacier base, where they'll soon be making their way back to Punta Arenas, and eventually home. They kept themselves busy by manning a checkpoint for the Antarctic Ice Marathon, which is currently underway at the bottom of the world. It seems that this team has really been enjoying their time in the Antarctic.

The Moon-Regan Transantarctic Expedition may have completed their crossing of the continent, but the team is still making its way back to Union Glacier, where they'll be picked up by ALE and given a lift back to Argentina. Reading their blog, it seems that the boys will be happy to be back in civilization, and get a break from one another, as three-weeks out on the ice has started to take its toll, as evidenced by a recent spat between two of the drivers of the support vehicles over which direction to go. It seems like tempers are a bit short after spending many, many hours huddled inside their trucks the past few weeks.

Finally, Alan Arnette is back in Colorado, and will no doubt be sharing insights from his Vinson climb soon. He posted this thoughtful piece to his blog a few days back, remarking on how much he enjoyed his stay in Antarctica, where he completed the first of his Seven Summits climbs by topping otu on Mt. Vinson. He also shared the YouTube video below, which does a great job of showing us all what the Union Glacier base is really like.

Antarctica 2010: Weather Woes Continue

It was another challenging weekend in the Antarctic with teams facing long marches in bad weather once again. The weather was so bad in fact that it delayed the dropping of resupply caches for a couple of teams, who were reduced to emergency rations for a time.

One of those teams was the pairing of Willem ter Horst and Hannah McKeand, who picked up their third degree South today. Willem reports that the weather has improved ever so slightly, and that today wasn't a total whiteout, but blowing snow and high winds still made for a challenging day. Late in the day on Friday, the pair were down to their emergency rations, but on Saturday the skies cleared just long enough for a food and fuel drop that gave them the much needed relief that they hoped for. They're now well passed 83ºS and picking up speed, knocking off about 14 nautical miles per day.

While the Indian Army Team continues to avoid posting updates to their site, ExWeb is reporting that they were waiting at 82ºS for their first supply drop as well. This runs counter to their original plan, which was to go unassisted, but it looks like they received new goodies over the weekend as well.

Chris Foot also reported tough whiteout conditions over the weekend, only to find a sunny day with blue skies overhead yesterday. He is picking up speed as well, having crossed over the 15nm per day barrier, and today he plans to drop another 10kg cache for his return trip from the South Pole. That will lessen the weight on his sledge considerably, and should help him pick up speed too. He does report that the terrain is changing for the worse however, and thinks things could be more challenging in the days ahead. He also notes that while he continues to lose weight, his 6000+ calories per day is helping to slow that process.

Finally, a couple of expeditions are over, and the teams are on their way home. For instance, the Moon-Regan Transantarctic Expedition completed their crossing of the continent last week, and are now preparing to head back home, mission accomplished. Alan Arnette is also done on Vinson and according to his most recent blog post, he is waiting to get picked up and begin the long journey home as well. That journey includes hopping a flight back to Union Glacier aboard a Twin Otters aircraft. From there, he'll wait for the big Illusyin to shuttle him back to Punta Arenas with all of his gear, then finally the long flight home to the States. All of that is contingent, like all things in Antarctica, on the weather, which has been unpredictable to say the least.

There will be more climbers headed to Vinson over the next few weeks as another round of expeditions commence. Plenty of climbers will take the opportunity to nab the highest peak on the continent while the seasonal window is open, so I'm sure we'll hear about a rash of summits leading into January.

The big expedition to watch continues to be Chris Foot's. His attempt to go to the Pole and back again is still a major challenge, with weather, powdery snow, and supplies all impacting his final outcome. Should definitely be interesting to watch in the weeks ahead.

Antarctica 2010: More Vinson Summits

Yesterday I posted a note on Alan Arnette's successful summit of Mt. Vinson in Antarctica. Alan reported great weather and fantastic conditions on the mountain, which allowed him, and plenty of other climbers, to make their summit bids. Today, ExWeb has a full report on the other teams climbing in Antarctica.

According to the post, the winds died down enough for teams to head to the summit, but it was extremely cold up there. ExWeb says temperatures were around -30ºF when the climbers approached the top. Amongst the teams that stood on the highest point on the continent were Latitude Expeditions, who were the first to top out, International Mountain Guides, the 7 Summits Club,  Adventure Consultants, and Alpine Ascents.

While Vinson doesn't ever get as crowded as say, Everest, that is still a healthy stream of climbers going up at the same time. It sounds like everyone had plenty of company at the summit, and despite the cold, they all report great weather for their climbs.

With this first round of summits out of the way, things will calm down a bit, but expect a steady stream of climbs on the mountain, and surrounding peaks as well, over the next few weeks. Vinson is not a very technical mountain to climb, but the logistics are a challenge, and the weather can be awful. Still, it is one of the Seven Summits, so it is a much coveted peak to have on the resume.

Antarctic 2010: Alan Summits Vinson!

As predicted, the weather window in Antarctica was good enough to allow climbers access to the summit of Mt. Vinson today, with Alan Arnette being one of them. A short time ago, Alan sent an audio dispatch back to his blog, saying he was coming to us "From the top of the World, at the bottom of the World."

In his dispatch, Alan says that the climb was a very good one, and that he captured plenty of great photos along the way. Conditions were perfect, with crystal clear skies, and no winds, which made for cold conditions, but otherwise a spectacular ascent with few problems.

This is, of course, the first of Alan's Seven Summits for Alzheimer's climbs, which will see him attempting to knock off all the highest peaks on the seven continents in less than one year. His ultimate goal is to raise $1 million to for Alzheimer's research. It is mission accomplished on phase one of the project. Congratulations Alan!

The weather conditions in Antarctica haven't been great for everyone however. Chris Foot sent back an audio dispatch of his own saying that he battled high winds all day, which made for challenging conditions throughout his day on the skis. He described it as a "very, very tough day" in winds of 45+ knots (50+ mph). Despite that, he still made decent progress.

Willem ter Horst reports similar conditions today as well, although it didn't effect him, and his guide Hannah McKeand, much, as it was a designated rest day today. Reports say that clouds and snow will move in over the next few days, but conditions should improve on the weekend. The duo were expecting a supply drop today as well, although they are well supplied should they need to continue for a few more days yet.

The Fuchs Foundation team are also being tormented by the wind, especially in the evenings when they try to sleep. They have been camped in the same spot for several days now, and while the skies are clear and bright, the wind has made it impossible to move during the day, and hard to sleep at night. They intend to move on to their next destination once the wind allows them to stand up-right and move with their sledges.

Details are a bit on the sketchy side at the moment, but it seems that the Moon-Regan Transantractic Expedition has achieved their goal and successfully crossed the entire continent of Antarctica. Their latest blog post talks about poor weather and other conditions, but doesn't mention the crossing yet, although their front page has declared the expedition complete. This is the team that was making the journey in vehicles, including a snow buggy powered by bio-fuels. They faced a number of challenges along the way, including mechanical breakdowns, but they have completed their final destination.

Congrats to the entire team for their accomplishment as well!

More from the frozen continent soon!

Antarctica 2010: Alan Begins Summit Bid On Vinson

The weather has improved dramatically on Mt. Vinson, and that means it is time for the climbers gathered there to being their summit bids, including Alan Arnette, who is attempting the first of his Seven Summits for Alzheimer's climbs.

In an audio dispatch to his blog today, Alan reports in from Base Camp with the news on the much improved weather that includes clear skies and calm winds. When he made the dispatch, the team was packing up their gear and preparing to start up the mountain, with a planned stop at high camp for a brief rest. Alan estimates that they would spend 12-hours or so in High Camp before proceed up to the summit. If all goes according to schedule, he and the other members of his team should be on top sometime tomorrow morning.

At 16,050 feet, Vinson is the tallest mountain in Antarctica. While that altitude doesn't sound all that intimidating when compared to some of the other Seven Summits, the very low barometric pressure near the Poles makes it feel like the altitude is much higher. Throw in some of the most inhospitable weather, not to mention frigid temperatures, found anywhere on the planet, and you'll understand why this can be a very challenging climb indeed.

With any luck, I'll post a full Antarctic update tomorrow that will include word of Alan's success on the first of his Seven Summits. He hopes to complete all of them in less than a year's time, while raising $1 million for Alzheimer's research in the process.

Good luck Alan!

Antarctica 2010: It's Always About The Weather

It was another busy weekend for the Antarctic explorers heading to the South Pole and beyond. For their first week out on the ice, the weather remained clear and cold, but that seems to be changing, as more challenging conditions set in.

Chris Foot continued making good progress in spite of those conditions. He reported walk in a whiteout for over seven hours, but told his home team that it was "mildly challenging." Foot has now covered more than 125 nautical miles on his planned expedition both to and from the South Pole. He also dropped a much needed supply cache for his return trip to Union Glacier, which not only lightens the load on his sled now, but will also give him the supplies he needs when he is nearing the end of his expedition.

Willem ter Horst and guide Hannah McKeand are also continuing to make great progress, notching up 15+nm per day. Their competitive spirit is helping them some in that area, as they have been playing cat and mouse with another expedition, which has led to a little friendly rivalry that has both teams working to see who can go the farthest and fastest on a given day. That competition has seemed to payed off, as Willem and Hannah edged ahead of Team Zig-Zag, at least for now. They expect to nab their second degree tomorrow as the march continues to the Pole.

The Moon-Regan Transantarctic Expedition left the South Pole yesterday morning as they continue their journey by motorized vehicle across the entire continent. They are reportedly in good spirits once again thanks to a few days stay at the South Pole station, and while it was nice to have a break, they were all eager to get started once again. Reportedly progress has been slow in the new region they've moved into, thanks to soft, fluffy snow that is in abundance there. Scientists have named that area "the Swamp" as it is difficult to move through, either on foot or on a vehicle. They've also experienced some very cold and snowy conditions, which isn't very helpful when you're trying to repair an engine.

While we still haven't heard a word out of the Indian Army Team, the Fuchs Foundation continues to send back daily updates of their progress. This is the team of educators from the U.K. who are in the Antarctic to conduct experiments and develop lesson plans for their class rooms back home. The group has been very active since their arrival in the Antarctic, as they travel to and from various locations in the mountains to take samples and readings. This team may not be headed to the South Pole, but they're on just as big of an adventure, and they seem to having a lot of fun at the same time.

Finally, Alan Arnette is on Vinson, where he is attempting the first of his Seven Summits. He is currently at Base Camp on that mountain while he waits for a weather window to begin the actual ascent to the summit. The weather was terrific upon Alan's arrival, and for a few days of shuttling supplies, but it has since turned bad, with snow and extreme cold. So for now, the climbers are sitting and waiting for a window to open. That window could come as early as tomorrow, but at the moment, it is not safe to go up the mountain.

Antarctica 2010: The Grind Begins

It has now been more than a week since the first few Antarctic expeditions hit the ice, and while there was a rush of excitement and adrenaline when the teams started arriving at Union Glacier, the reality of travel in Antarctica has begun to settle in, as the daily grind of skiing to the South Pole starts to take its toll.

Probably the person who is feeling that grind the most is Willem ter Horst, who is making the journey to the Pole with guide Hannah McKeand. A few days back it was reported that Willem was dealing with terrible blisters on his feet, but Hannah wouldn't allow him to use that as an excuse to not keep going. In his latest dispatch today however, Willem reports that things are not getting much better, as both of his ankles and a tendon in his right foot have begun to give him problems. It was so bad at one point that he actually got off the skis and hiked for awhile instead, but that drained his energy very quickly and brought its own set of issues. With three more weeks to go on the expedition he's either going to have to suffer for a long time yet or toughen up and get use to the daily demands on his body. My guess is he'll be just fine in a few days.

Other expeditions have offered scant updates or none at all over the past few days. Chris Foot continues to make good progress, and as expected, he crossed his first degree on Wednesday but hasn't sent a dispatch back since. Similarly, the Indian Army Team is out on the ice as well, but have yet to send back any kind of report. Hopefully they are making good progress and we'll here from them soon, but for now, they've gone radio silent.

One team that is making good progress is the Moon-Regan Transantarctic Expedition, which is crossing the continent in vehicles, including a specially designed snow-buggy that runs on biofuels. The team reached a major milestone yesterday by arriving at the South Pole, where they now intend to stay for a few days and check in with reporters, friends, and family back home. They crew is looking forward to getting a break from their cramped vehicles, but will continue their journey early next week.

Finally, as is typical with these reports this past week, I'll end with update on the progress of Alan Arnette on Mt. Vinson, the first climb of his Seven Summits for Alzheimer's project. Yesterday was a rest day for Alan and the rest of his team, who have been working hard since arriving at Vinson last Saturday. On Wednesday, they made their first climb up to High Camp to shuttle supplies into place for when they make their summit bid, and while High Camp is at just 13,000 feet, Alan explains that the altitude actually feels higher, as the barometric pressure is very low near both Poles. As a result, Vinson is a much more challenging climb than the altitude of 16,050 feet would indicate. Throw on top of that the extreme cold, and you start to see the challenges that climbers have there. Alan says that when the sun drops behind mountain, temperatures drop to -30ºF very quickly. Today, the team begins to move their entire camp, including all gear, to High Camp, where they'll launch a summit bid once they've rested there. That summit bid will be dictated by the weather, which has been excellent so far, but is likely to change in the days ahead.

That's all for now. More updates from the Deep South next week!

Antarctica 2010: Good Weather Puts Explorers On The Move

After suffering through 2+ weeks of weather delays in Punta Arenas, it seems that things have finally taken a turn for the better. Reports out of Antarctica indicate that the weather is excellent and that progress has been good for just about everyone. I think it is safe to say that the season is officially on, although it remains to be seen if the delays will have an effect on any of the explorers.

Chris Foot has been sending dispatches back from the ice, including an audio file yesterday that updated us on his progress. From the sounds of things, he is in good spirits after six days out on the ice and is actually surprised with his progress so far. He is making good time, notching up 13.3 nautical miles yesterday in just eight hours of work. He expects to cross his first degree today, which is always a good milestone for anyone heading to the Pole. If anyone is likely to be effected by the delays out of Chile, it's Foot, which is why it's great to hear that progress is going better than expected. The adventurous Brit hopes to become the first person to travel from Hercules Inlet to the Pole, and back again, solo and unsupported on skis. He has a long way to go yet of course, but so far it is going well.

Things haven't been quite a rosy for Willem ter Horst, who is making the trek to the South Pole with his guide Hannah McKeand. While Willem and Hannah have enjoyed the great weather so far as well, Willem has experienced some rather painful blisters on his feet. He found little sympathy from Hannah however, as he was informed that he would need to suck it up and continue on. Hannah has made this journey before, and knows how to keep an expedition on track. In his latest dispatch, Willem notes that the sastrugi are already tough to deal with, and probably will continue to be a challenge for some time to come. Sastrugi are hard, rolling ridges in the snow that are formed by the wind, and are often the bane of any Antarctic explorers existence.

The Moon-Regan Transantarctic Expedition is making good progress, despite having a few continued mechanical issues with their vehicles. They managed to reach their first fuel cache and enjoyed a good nights rest in their tents, followed by a hearty breakfast, before getting back on the "road." Up until now, they've mostly been sleeping in their support vehicles, which are cramped and crowded. The team has crossed over the 84ºS mark already and are just 800km from the Pole, but of course that's just half-way home for this squad, who will cross the continent testing a specially built snow vehicle that runs on biofuels. They are also taking a series of scientific readings on the environment and the effects of climate change while they go as well.

The Fuchs Foundation Expedition has reached Union Glacier and has been exploring that region as well. This team is made up of teachers from the U.K. who are in Antarctica to conduct research and exploration on their own while inspiring others back home. They've been sending back updates on a daily basis, with their list of the Top 10 Things To Be Aware of on an Antarctic Expedition being especially entertaining. An example of the wisdom contained there in: "Always bring your fleece salopettes with you when going up a mountain. It may get very cold indeed. You will look extra sheepish when you need to borrow your guides spare pair."

Finally, Alan Arnette has been sending regular dispatches back from Mt. Vinson already. He also reports great weather, although it is quite cold, and progress has been steady even in these first few days. Today he reports that the team is carrying gear and supplies up to High Camp on the mountain as they begin the process of acclimatization. Vinson is, of course, the first peak on Alan's 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer's, during which he hopes to raise $1 million for research to cure that awful disease while climbing the highest peaks on each of the seven continents over the next year.

Antartica 2010: Updates From The Ice

While I was away enjoying the long holiday weekend here in the States, the Antarctic season finally got underway with ALE resuming regular flights to Union Glacier and the polar explorers and mountaineers getting underway at last. After the weather played havoc with the start of the season, many were forced to wait for their opportunity to get started with their expeditions, with some already nearly two weeks behind schedule before they ever stepped foot on Antarctica itself.

Perhaps the most ambitious expedition of the season is Chris Foot's attempt to ski from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back again. He'll go completely solo and unsupported, covering 1390+ miles in the process, as he hopes to complete a journey that has never been done before. Chris is now three days into that journey and while the details of his progress remain a bit light at the moment, he is reportedly doing well. Chris hopes to have his tracking system up and running in the next few days and will also be providing more audio dispatches in the days ahead.

Similarly, Willem ter Horst also got underway a couple of days back and has been acclimating to life in Antarctica as well. He's making his way to the South Pole on skis too, and yesterday he, along with his guide Hannah McKeand, reached Foxy Pass located at 80ºS. Still a long way to go before he reaches the bottom of the world, but Willem and Hannah are already ticking off the miles, having racked up 12 nautical miles yesterday alone. That means they're off to a good start, and making great progress.

The Moon-Regan Expedition is also off and running, although they are experiencing a few difficulties so far. This is the team that is making a traverse of the Antarctic continent aboard a high-tech snow vehicle powered by biofuels, which seems to be working well so far, but the expedition's support vehicles are the ones experiencing problems. They have suffered with engine problems almost from the get go, and while the support team has worked hard to over come those issues, they are now facing a different problem, namely the lack of fuel. The heavy snow and slow travel has caused them to burn through fuel at a faster rate than they had expected, which now puts them in danger of not reaching their fuel cache with all the vehicles in working order.

Finally, our friend Alan Arnette set out for Antarctica last Wednesday and arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile on Thanksgiving Day after 30 hours of travel. After a brief stay in Punta, he found himself packed and ready to go, and unlike the previous explorers, he was off to Union Glacier on schedule. Alan has already begun posting updates to his blog and had reported in from the ice base, which he promptly left for Mt. Vinson, the first challenge on his Seven Summits for Alzheimer's Expedition. Over the course of the next year, Alan hopes to raise more than $1 million for Alzheimer's research, and we'll get to follow along as he takes on the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Expect regular and insightful dispatches from Vinson soon, as Alan as a knack for sharing the details of his adventures and giving us a great snapshot of what is happening on the mountain.

After plenty of false starts, the Antarctic season is underway. More to come soon.

Antarctica 2010: Is Today The Day The Season Begins?

For the past week I've been writing updates about the 2010 Antarctic season, but mostly they've been reports on the weather and how the expeditions are spending their time in Punta Arenas, waiting for their chance to hit the ice. There have been a number of starts and stops, with forecasts calling for weather windows that didn't appear, but it seems that after nearly two weeks of delays, the Union Glacier base may finally be open for business.

Both Chris Foot and Willem ter Horst posted updates late yesterday that indicated that they had promising calls from ALE that indicated that they should be ready to fly at 6AM local time today. Neither of them has posted a follow-up, which leads me to believe that they caught the first flight out of Chile and may now be en route to Antarctica itself.

Apparently, the weather has improved at Union Glacier and the advance team has cleared the blue ice runway that will allow the big Ilyushin cargo planes to begin landing, and delivering the polar explorers and climbers to the frozen continent. This is good news for everyone who has been waiting for their chance to get underway, and I know that our friend Alan Arnette will be happy to hear that news, as he departs for Punta Arenas tomorrow to begin the first leg of his Seven Summits Climb for Alzheimer's. First on Alan's hit list will be the 4892 meter (16,050 ft) Mt. Vinson, the tallest peak on the Antarctic continent.

Expect more updates on the conditions in Antarctica soon. If the teams do begin to get shuttled to Hercules Inlet today, they'll likely spend a day or two there before setting out. Chris Foot will probably be the first person out of Union Glacier, as he has a long journey ahead and has already lost precious time waiting for his flight. More to come soon I'm sure!

The Gear of Mt. Vinson

A few days ago Alan Arnette posted an entry to his blog that I thought was quite interesting. In the article, Alan talks about all the gear he is taking to Mt. Vinson when he sets out next week to begin his quest to climb the Seven Summits in an effort to raise $1 million for Alzheimer's Research.

The one thing that struck me in Alan's blog post is that he will be taking nearly all the same items to climb Vinson as he did on his previous trips to Everest. Considering that Vinson clocks in at 4892 meters (16,050 ft) and Everest is 8848 meters (29,029 ft), and yet you still need most of the same gear, should give you an idea of what the conditions will be like on the mountain. In short, they'll be cold, windy, and challenging. Did I also mention they'll be cold?

Alan goes on to discuss the various layers of clothing he'll be wearing to keep warm while on the expedition, offering insights on how to effectively use a layering system to stay warm. While he doesn't endorse any brands, he does tell us his preferences for of those layers. He also discusses his "extreme protection" gear which will be critically important when dealing with the notoriously fickle weather conditions on Vinson, and gives us a run down of the variety of other gear items, such as crampons, ice axes, and so on, that he'll be taking with him.

Vinson is the tallest mountain in Antarctica, and a challenging climb to begin the Seven Summits on from a logistical standpoint alone. But Alan has plenty of experience in that department, and weather permitting, should get his expedition off to a grand start. Dispatches will begin next week when he arrives in Punta Arenas, and I look forward to reading all about his adventures.

Good luck and Climb On Alan!