Life here on the ice has been very chilled so far.
We have been getting our equipment ready.
Tents, sleds, ski's, food, clothing and a few other gizmo's like GPS and compass etc.
Kitted out and Ready to Ski
This is all being done at a leisurely pace which is great but I am getting edgy and keen to get out there. After all the training and preparation its now time to get out and do it.
Paul, James and I went out for a trail run with the ski's and semi-loaded sleds today. All went well it seems simple and easy enough.
James and I Photographed by Paul at an abandoned Chilean base
The Chilean base looks like something out of a science fiction movie. Only the dome rooves protrude above the ice. It seems that the ice buries everything. There is even an old Dakota aircraft buried near the runway. It missed the runway in bad weather and there it stayed. Only the tail sticks out.
Dakota tail is all that shows of the intact aircraft that has been buried below the ice
Our Last Degree group consists of four of us and our guide will be David Hamilton.
- James (pronounced Gg'hiemy) from Spain.He has skied the last degree to the North Pole.
- Lei from China who now lives in the USA. She has climbed Mnt Vinson last week.
- Paul from Canada who has also skied the last degree to the North Pole and is the owner of the BAFFIN boots company. (I had an embarrassing moment when we first met. I went on one of my protracted explanations about how amazing the boots were that I was issued with and he patiently waited his turn to tell me he was the owner of the company.
- and myself. I am probably the least experienced at this but feel confident after today's little ski trip that I will manage as well.
The weather has become overcast with strong winds which we are told is only blowing a breeze.
The aeroplanes are ready to fly mountain climbers to the base camp at Mount Vinson and then we are next. They cant fly because the Vinson base camp is overcast and poor visibility.
In the meantime we sit in the dining tent over indulging in chocolates and cakes. What can i say,"We need the fat to handle the cold."
Ciao for now
Ricky
