It's been a busy and exciting season at Patriot Hills camp. Twelve expeditions skied successfully from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole, including several solo unsupported expeditions. Todd Carmichael set a speed record from Hercules Inlet to the pole in 39 days, 7 hours and 49 minutes - walking most of the way after his ski bindings broke early in the expedition. This speed record was broken in January when the i2p South Pole Quest team of Richard Weber, Ray Zahab, and Kevin Vallely, raced to the pole in just 33 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes.
Our ANI Ski South Pole groups successfully completed their expeditions in 53 days from Hercules Inlet and 42 days from the Messner start. One team member from each group opted to kite-ski back to Patriot Hills. Cancer survivor Tom Davenport and ANI guide Sarah McNair-Landry completed their return journey in 12 days. While Jeremy Rogers and ANI guide Ronny Finsas covered the distance in just 10 days.
The Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition released the following statement on arrival at the Pole, "After 100 years, five descendants of Shackleton's Nimrod expedition have stood at the Pole, and in so doing, completed 'unfinished family business'." The Ice Team followed Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition route, from the Ross Sea, up the Beardmore Glacier, and across the plateau to the pole in 66 days. A second team began their expedition 97 miles from the pole, where Shackleton was forced to turn back 100 years ago.
More records were broken during the 4th Antarctic Ice Marathon race. Clear, sunny skies and firm snow underfoot provided ideal conditions for the race. Miles Cudmore (UK) led the pack to win the Men's marathon and set a new event record, 4.36.53 hrs. Kirsi Montonen (FIN) led the women's race, also setting a new event record, 05.03.48
Marc de Keyser (BEL) and Pushpa Chandra (CAN) took top honors in the Men's and Women's 100km Ultra-marathon, setting a new Men's event record 12.49.51 hrs; and Women's event record 18.33.08 hrs.
ALE was pleased to continue our support for government science and logistic projects.
We were honoured by a visit from Prince Albert II of Monaco as part of a major expedition to more than 20 research centres in Antarctica to learn about the impact of climate change and to celebrate Monaco's accession to the Antarctic Treaty in 2008. The Prince is the only Head of State to have travelled to both North and South poles in a quest to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection.
A group of scientists from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, part of the Brazilian Antarctic Program, were flown to Mt. St Johns where they drilled a 75 m ice core that will complete one of the gaps in the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ITASE) snow sampling net over Antarctica. A second group undertook atmospheric and geological studies in the Independence Hills.
A team from the Korean Polar Research Institute, KORDI, continued their multi-year meteorite study near the Moulton Escarpment with logistic support provided by ALE.
Researchers from the Centro de Estudios Cientificos (Center for Scientific Studies, Valdivia, Chile) conducted glacier flow rate and bedrock studies at the Union Glacier.
Field groups and flights from British Antarctic Survey called in at our camp at Patriot Hills on several occasions to refuel and enjoy a short break during their lengthy research programs.
Now the 2008 season has drawn to a close. ALE personnel have disassembled camp ready for the winter. Waste and equipment for repair have been returned to Punta Arenas, while supplies for next season have been carefully cached, ready for the advance team who will arrive in October to start the 2009 season. We'd like to thank all of our ANI guests for travelling with us, and congratulate all of the successful expeditions. We look forward to seeing you on the ice in 2009! |