Getting onto Antarctic is a challenge.
Its either by boat or by aeroplane.
The flights are done basically by one commercial operation that flies from Punta Arenas in southern Chile.
The flight is on a large Russian Ilyushin cargo aircraft to a base called Patriot Hills close to Mount Vinson. Most private individuals go there to climb Mount Vinson as it is the highest peak on that continent.
From there its onto a small Twin Otter aeroplane to the last degree (S 89 degrees)before the South Pole where we get dropped off with sleds, skis, tents and cross country ski to the pole. It is estimated to take about 6 to 8 days to ski to the pole depending on the weather.
To get back from the South Pole the same little aircraft comes and picks us up (whenever it can) and flies us back to Patriot hills.
There are 4 of us skiing to the Pole. A Japanese woman who we will meet up with later, James from Spain and Paul from Canada and myself. More about them later.Flying there in aeroplanes sound all nice and cosy but in reality nothing ever is. The weather on Antarctic is extreme both in temperature and winds. So flying happens when mother nature permits and that's whats going on at the moment. We are sitting in Punta Arenas with the Ilyushin aircraft fully loaded, ready and waiting for the weather to clear at Patriot hills which could take several days or more. We are on standby and contacted every 4 hours to let us know whether we are flying or not.
We are dressed in normal warm clothes but if they give us the go ahead we have to get dressed into the extreme clothing and get to the airport ready to take off in an hour.
And so I sit in the hotel room making up stuff to write on this blog.
Its a symbiotic arrangement, its for the entertainment of both of us. Now don't go sending comments that I am not doing good enough and must try harder.
Ciao
Ricky
