seriously remote
The Journey
Brief Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Puenta Arenas Chile
Day 2 Packing personal equipment for the plane flight
Day 3 Attend ALE orientation lecture
Day 4 Fly in (with luck) begin trip - Dec 10th 2008
Day 5-29 complete expedition on ground in Antarctica
Day 30 depart Antarctica - Jan 4th 2009
Trip ends once back in Chile.
Movie last years trip, similar to this one...
.Movie
MAP of the route (birds eye view)
Vinson-summit-pan35mm SLR 360 degree no routes marked
Route marked in summit Pan from Vinson
The Antarctica ice camp 3000km wide -
click for larger view....
Highlights
Exploratory expedition to Antarctica climbing and skiing
A once in a life time chance
Climb the highest peak in Antarctica by new route Mt Vinson
Enjoy a remote wilderness experience like no other
Experience a (short!) sled haul journey of 80km
Attempt to climb some of the other highest 3 peaks in Antarctica at the same time...
The Attractions
An exploratory traverse of the Ellsworth Mountain range from the Rutford Ice Stream over the summit of Antarctica's highest peak to the base camp and fly out.
There will be no other parties on the majority of the route. Only one other party has traversed this route, some 10-15 years ago.
The chance to do something new, remote and immerse yourself in the most amazing wilderness environment on the planet.
The nearest town is 2,800km away, it's on another continent too!
Exclusive opportunity to have a real adventure.
Where is the Ellsworth Range and Patriot Hills Base
Directly south from Argentina/Chile both countries claim sovereignty so no visa is required as it is considered part of the "their" country!
THE FLIGHT TO PATRIOT HILLS: It takes about 6 hours to fly from Punta Arenas to Patriot Hills, depending on winds encountered along the way. As we take off from the Presidente Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport and turn south, we see to the left of us Estrecho de Magallanes, better known as the Straits of Magellan. Although Patagonia has been occupied by native tribes for thousands of years, the first recorded passage of the seaway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was by three ships under the command of the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan in 1520.
In the first hour of the flight we are over a maze of islands representing the western extension of Tierra del Fuego. Then we head out over the Drake Passage, named after the English navigator Francis Drake, who rounded Cape Horn in 1578. These waters are much feared by sailing ships for their rough weather. Now is the time for a snooze because it may be another three hours before we make landfall off Alexander Island. When we do, you may see, far away to your left, the Antarctic Peninsula plateau.
The Antarctic Peninsula consists of an 1800 kilometer long chain of ice-covered mountains, part of the mainland of Antarctica. Its northernmost extremity was first seen by Russian, American and British navigators as recently as 1820, and it was subsequently explored by British, French, Belgian and American expeditions. Alexander Island was first seen in 1821 by a Russian expedition led by Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen of the Imperial Russian Navy, who named it for Tzar Alexander I, but it was not until 1936 that anyone set foot on the island. Many of the peaks you see along the backbone of Alexander Island in the distance are even now unclimbed and unnamed.
After a narrow stretch of sea mostly hidden by drifting pack ice we come to Ellsworth Land. Ellsworth Land and the Ellsworth Mountains were discovered by Lincoln Ellsworth, an American entrepreneur who made the first flight across Antarctica in 1935; it remained untouched until the mid-1960s. Half an hour before reaching Patriot Hills we fly along the east face of the Sentinel Range, the destination of our climbing passengers. In fine weather this is one of the most spectacular views in all of Antarctica. The highest peaks in the range are Vinson Massif (4898m) and Mount Tyree (4852m) but there are several others over 4000m.
The Nimitz Glacier, a long south-east flowing ice stream, separates the Sentinel Range from the Heritage Range. Crossing it, we begin our descent towards Patriot Hills. Although 99% of the Antarctic ice sheet’s total surface area of 30 million square kilometers consists of snow and requires ski landing gear on aircraft, the Patriot Hills icefield is made of bare blue ice as hard as any skating rink. Here we can land on wheels; which is just as well because the Hercules has no skis.
The icefield was discovered in 1975 by the crew of a Twin Otter aircraft of the British Antarctic Survey. However, it was not until 1986 that the late Captain Giles Kershaw, one of the founding fathers of Adventure Network International, landed a Twin Otter here on wheels. Charles Swithinbank, a renowned glaciologist, and Mike Maxwell, his assistant, spent five days surveying the area to consider the feasibility of using it for transport aircraft. On the basis of their work, the following season ANI arranged for a DC-4 aircraft to prove the concept. Taking off from Punta Arenas on 21 November 1987 under the command of Captain Jim Smith, the DC-4 (N-42185) landed at Patriot Hills 11 hours and 43 minutes later. Kershaw, Swithinbank and Maxwell were on board to savor the moment.
The icefield was not an empty spot in the wilderness. Two ANI Twin Otters had flown ahead to establish a camp and were neatly lined up to welcome the DC-4. With them were two Twin Otters belonging to Fuerza Aerea de Chile; they had flown 2500 km from Teniente Rodolfo Marsh station on King George Island just to witness the landing. It was agreed by all that the concept was proven.
Our camp at Patriot Hills near the southern end of the range is like no other place on Earth; a remote place to be sure, some 670 miles from the nearest habitation - the distance from New York to Chicago - and our closest neighbors are at the South Pole! For almost 2880km (1,800 miles) in any direction there is not a city or town. The six hour flight from the southern tip of Chile will bring you to our camp in the heartland of Antarctica. This area is only accessible by air. When the aircraft leaves to return to Chile you will be struck by the awesome expanse of the area, its beauty, and your isolation from home. You have now landed on the most southerly runway in the world. It was first used by Adventure Network International in 1987 and remains unchanged and continues to be a natural phenomenon.
Mt Tyree from lower Camp 1 on std route on Vinson (2006/07 trip)
Is it right for me?
This exploratory expedition is an appropriate goal for:
Anyone who want to be a polar adventurer
People must have a extremely high level of fitness
Must be willing to endure the harshest living conditions on the planet
Those who enjoy the polar regions but do not need to have technical climbing skills
Technical skills
This expedition does not require you to have a high level of technical skills, a basic TMC in New Zealand or our Himalayan Five peaks in Nepal would suffice. The journey is more about endurance, stamina, mental strength and preperation than technical climbing skills.
However for those attempting Mt Tyree as well, you will need to be highly experienced in technical climbing, steep mixed terrain of Alpine nature on multi day bivouac routes. Not all the party will be climbing this peak if any!
Mt Shinn is a moderate climb which will test most climbers but is not in the same league as Mt Tyree. Most people with some previous experience should be able to climb Mt Shinn, the 3rd highest peak in Antarctica
Fitness
You will need to be able to haul a sled for up to 11-14 hours a day with up to 50kg of food and equipment in it. You will never be fitter in your life than by the end of this trip. Train really hard.
The Antarctic ice cap extends for 3000km into the distance behind a climber approaching the summit of Mt Vinson
Dates, Prices & Includes
What's included
Air craft access Puenta Arenas to Patriot Hills return
Mt Vinson Twin Otter flight return to Patriot Hills
All permits, fees within Antarctica
All food in Antarctica
All camping equipment and camp fees...
Western guide(s)
All meals on trek and climb
Shared mountain tents
Group climbing gear such as ropes, snow stakes, and rock and ice protection equipment
Group kitchen and dining equipment tents at Patriot Hills
Comprehensive medical kits
Iridium satellite phones (two) for emergency communications
GPS units and maps
Sleds
What's not included
International & home country domestic airfares, & excess baggage
Any visas to get to Chile
NO costs in Chile are included - all hotels, food in Puenta Arenas is to be covered by the individual
International departure taxes if applicable nationality dependent
Excess baggage (allowance: 30kg personal on flight to Antarctica + USD$125/kg excess)
Tips
Personal travel insurance (REQUIRED) e.g. www.IHI.com
Personal expenses such as gifts, phone calls, laundry...(you'd be hard pressed!) and alcoholic drinks
Meals and accommodation other than those specified, including outside the trip dates
Personal clothing and equipment for the expedition, such as skis and cold weather clothing, boots etc
Medical evacuation costs, extra accommodation or any other fees associated with early departure, change of itinerary, or breaking from the group due to illness or otherwise. The cost may need to be paid by you at the time and may be able to be claimed back from your travel insurance company
Why go with Chessell Adventures?
visit mountains never climbed before
Why go with Chessell Adventures?
Duncan Chessell has previously led the first ever sea to summit of Mt Vinson a journey of some 450km. He knows the terrain and preparation required to make the trip happen. Duncan has also guided all the seven summits with over 100 expeditions as leader under his belt he knows the way!
Chessell Adventures has an impressive a proven track record in providing safe, professional and successful mountain journeys. We pay particular attention to designing itineraries which allow the majority of participants to enjoy their adventure, and to succeed in reaching their goals. Our quality equipment, dedicated staff and attention to logistical detail means that many of our participants return for another Chessell Adventures expedition!
Our expeditions are well planned, well led, and well resourced with good quality food, transport, equipment, first aid and communications. We do such a good job that the vast majority of our clients are advocates for Chessell Adventures.
About Chessell Adventures
Chessell Adventures is a world-class specialist adventure company catering to individuals and groups. We are acknowledged in the industry as a provider of high quality, good value expeditions with an edge.
We operate personalised adventurous expeditions to international wilderness destinations. Our particular strengths are in the Himalayas of Nepal and Tibet, and on the tracks of Papua New Guinea. We also poperate great adventures to mountainous destinations worldwide including to the seven summits (Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mt Blanc in France, Mt El’brus in Russia and the extreme summit of Mt Everest to name a few). We also arrange custom expeditions worldwide.
Chessell Adventures’ team of specialist leaders is backed by superior logistics and support, and partnerships with like-minded organisations. We pride ourselves on high levels of safety and support for our participants that give genuinely small groups of participants pathways to success, fun and camaraderie in a dynamic outdoor environment. We are delighted to say that many of our clients to date are advocates for Chessell Adventures.
In charge of Chessell Adventures' Expeditions is Australian adventurer Duncan Chessell. He is a qualified climbing instructor and veteran of more than 100 expeditions and adventures worldwide. Duncan has extensive experience of leadership, expedition logistics and health, and over the years has developed teams of talented staff that are the basis of Chessell Adventures' consistently high quality expeditions.
Mountain Designs - VIP Privileges
Members of Chessell Adventures Expeditions receive a Mountain Designs VIP discount card valid from the time your deposit is received to the start of the expedition. This entitles you to a 20% discount on Mountain Designs exclusive lines and 15% on all other gear in store. Mountain Designs reserves the right to change the discount levels without notice.
Mountain Designs manufactures quality outdoor equipment and clothing suitable for your expedition. You can visit any one of Mountain Designs’ 38 outlets in Australia and New Zealand.
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