March 2013

As of 0600 GMT today the Ice Team was still at their overnight position. It’s only -10C outside but the wind is still gusting up around 40knots. Thankfully the visibility has much improved and they’re hoping to dig out today and make progress over the tricky section of blue ice three kilometres away. Once they have crossed the blue ice they will depot the Belgian Lehmann sledge plus all t…

Richmond and Mary make pancakes for the team After a second day snowed in about 3km from the blue ice and with the weather not greatly improving, Mary Mouse and l decided to make the most of our “snow day” by watching a few movies, including Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Young Frankenstein and The Italian Job. Now I know what you are all thinking, Richmond is such a big child; but they wer…

Stuck at their overnight camp for the second night in a row thanks to whiteout condition, Ian Prickett has been putting his time to good use. In this video he kills two birds with one stone by a) taking out the rubbish, and b) videoing himself carrying out said task so that we are able to get an inside view of what it means to carry our domestic duties in the midst of an Antarctic winter.

The Ice Team is stuck in the middle of a blizzard at S71 22′ 22.4″,  E023 36′ 27.8″ with near-zero visibility and gusts over 50 knots. In conditions like these it is impractical and too dangerous to carry on and so the team have to make do huddled up in the living caboose together. The conditions also hamper communications, but we will provide more updates as soon as we have news from t…

Rob Lambert heading back to the living caboose during a quick refuel before getting back on the road. Currently at S71 22′ 22.4″, E023 36′ 27.8″ and 734m above sea level having travelled 37km south from the overnight camp in just under 14 hours. The gradual height gain is slowing vehicle speed, as are colder conditions which have changed the snow structure and are creating greater friction. T…

Ian Prickett provides a glimpse of working life as the team prepare to close the Ice Train down for the night. The wind plays havoc with the sound at times but hey, it’s windy!

By Spencer Smirl. For the first six months of my involvement with this expedition, I was terrified. This was to be the biggest commitment of my life and it would come with the greatest risk. I have done a lot of crazy things in my life but this one tops them all. I had to overcome those fears to allow myself to accept such an awesome opportunity and be part of something like this. Antarctica is…

A couple of images from the ic…

Making good progress today. After covering 30kms yesterday we have already got 16km in the bag this morning. Currently maintaining about 4.2km/hr and should keep it at that until we start gaining a bit more height in a day or two’s time. Cloud has broken to give an essentially sunny day, but there is a brisk 25kts breeze which is rising slightly. The ground is alive with drifting snow.

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