South Georgia ski crossing 2010 successfully accomplished

An international team of six participants and two mountain guides have successfully completed their self supplied ski crossing of South Georgia following the historical footsteps of Shackleton, Crean and Worsley along the route across the glaciated interior of the remote South Georgia island from King Haakon Bay to Stromness. The ski team accomplished the traverse in 4 days, 3 nights with field camps at Murray Snowfield, Great Nunatak and Fortuna west side. The expedition hauled sledges and used skis for the entire way.

APPLY NOW FOR 2011

Exclusive South Georgia, 03 – 17 December 2011 (15 days), Port Stanley – Port Stanley, including flights from Santiago de Chile:
This is an expedition for real explorers! A group of up to 12 ski explorers and mountain guides will attempt to traverse, unsupported and self supplied, the island of South Georgia with skis hauling their own pulkas (sledges). The skiers will cover a total distance of 40 – 50 km retracing sections of the historic Shackleton route from 1916.

The voyage isPLA23 Exclusive South Georgia an exciting expedition not only for the tough adventurer. There are two adventure options available: the normal sea voyage for “sea explorers” (with zodiac excursions and hiking options) and the land expedition for “ski explorers”! The sea explorers will circumnavigate the Island in 8 days (06 – 13 December, 2011), while at the same time the ski explorers will attempt to traverse the Island on a self supplied ski trek from the South coast (King Haakon Bay) to the North coast (Stromness Bay) in minimum of 4 days (06 – 09 December, 2011).
On arrival day at King Haakon Bay, the expedition members will spend a night close to the shore preparing for their crossing. expedition will then embark on their ski trek across alpine passes and glaciers aiming for reunion with the ship at Stromness Bay. After both expeditions have rejoined, all passengers will then continue to enjoy the latter part of the South Georgia cruise itinerary (10 – 13 December, 2011).

The expedition will be back in Port Stanley on 17 December, 2011.

A group of up to 12 ski trekkers pull their own sledge (30-35 kg) with personal and shared equipment (food, stoves, fuel) in mountainous terrain. The sledge can be carried as a backpack on stretches without snow. Ski trekking involves elements of ski mountaineering, glacier travel and winter camping. In general participants must be physically conditioned and experienced in order to participate in strenuous exercise in alpine environments with sometime extreme weather. In addition, ski trekkers must be familiar with skiing and crevasse rescue techniques that can be learned in Alpine Introductory Courses.

More details about the voyage PLA23