Expedition Dispatches
Valentine's Day Turns
Thursday, February 17, 2000
Editor's Note: Team members attempted to file these e-mail dispatches on Valentine's Day, February 14, but due to electrical storms in the area, were not able to transmit them until today, February 17.
Kristoffer Erickson
Days of waiting as we tossed back and forth aboard our vessel led us
today to one of the world's greatest lands for our first turns on King
George Island. We all slid down the relatively short 1200ft patch of
glacier above the Emerald Admiralty Bay, carving a stunning setting
for the first turns of the trip.
One of the most popular islands for
wintering scientific stations, eight exist and our stop brought us
closest to the Brazilian station. The Brazilians kindly offered to
trade some of their beer for the fresher veggies we had on board which
didn't take much convincing. With everyone back on board we raised
anchor and started south for the Gerlach Strait in hopes of finding
bigger and better mountains awaiting first tracks to be laid down in
ways only turns in such a land should be made
Rick Armstrong
Oh yeah, our first turns on Antarctica! For years now I have tried to
get to this place and finally my dream is a reality. What makes me
want to come to distant places, one might ask, to ski? To that I answer
Just so I know what's here. Also I want to be able to pull out my
photos and videos when I'm an old man, show the grandkids what I was
doing when I was young, and hopefully motivate them to strive for
adventure and set and achieve their wildest goals. Enough of that, how
was the skiing? Two runs (probably first descents)of hard frozen corn
snow, very carveable, very stable, closed crevasses, strong snow
bridges, basically a great day of skiing. Now I am sitting in our
floating hotel listening to the reggae sounds of Lee Scratch
Perry, playing chess and waiting anxiously to see what tomorrow
brings. It has truly been a Happy Valentine's Day, one I will never
forget.
Hans Saari
Hello from Antarctica. First turns in this frozen paradise were a welcome break from the
chess and relaxation of the ship, although I am again embroiled in a
chess game. This was just a warm thought. We have been assured by paddy
the bartender that there are greater things to come. Higher peaks with
steeps and better snow. If only Helen were here to ski and wine and
dine on the Akademik. Happy Valentine's all.
Dave Hahn
Howdy Zone folk,
I just couldn't resist watching Hans wailing away at the old laptop, I
got computer envy. Mine got stolen back in the Buenos Aires airport on
the trip down. Hope that person is having a swell Valentine's Day. All
my love.
My gang (nine climbers and four guides) got out on some glacier, for
which we don't have a name, which is perfectly fine. In low, overcast
conditions, we did a little climbing school review and went for a tour
of our own private glacier. It was falling off in great chunks into
the bay below us, prompting us to keep moving upward.
During our
ascent, we saw the guys ripping up the ski and snowboard terrain
across the way. Out on the bay, our comfy floating home for wayward
climbers and snowsliders, the Akademik Shuylekin (with half the letters
turned backwards) swung on its anchor between curious Humpback
whales. What could be better than this?
Douglas Stoup
Hey Mountain Zone, what an incredible trip.
My team ripped its first turns today on some great corn snow for 1200vert, which
the team appropriately named Honey Bowl. The team is great. We got some
great footage as well as Kris got some awesome pics. Everyone is very
strong and anticipating some bigger and better terrain.
Antarctica is
truly a special place. We will try to send some more photos. The
Eversat transmission has been down due to some electrical storms in
the area. Signing off from the Akademik Shuleykin.
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