ANTARCTICA EXPEDITION 2002/2003
Wednesday 8th of January 2003:
The mountaineers are back in Santiago, after traveling 400 kilometers in 53 days
After arriving in Santiago, on Monday 6th of January at 23:30 hours, in perfect health conditions, the mountaineers prepare their second task; the educational project. For this purpose they will start the production of a documental with the producer agency of Cristián Galaz, a CD Rom for schools and a book in English and Spanish relating the experiences of the team members. On top of that, they will start press conferences and expositions, with media support, in the whole country, to expose the journey through the Sentinel & Heritage ranges in Antarctica.
Besides, those who want more details of the expedition can visit the website www.antarcticaexpedition.cl, where they will find permanent information about the journey in Antarctica, the personal experiences of each one of the team members and photographies.
Monday 6 th of January 2003:
Rodrigo Jordan and the rest of the team will arrive on Monday the 6th of January to Santiago, concluding the Antarctic expedition
After their successful arrival to Patriot Hills, on Thursday the 2nd of January 2003, the mountaineers traveled to Punta Arenas on Saturday the 4th at 16:00 hours approximately. They arrived to Punta Arenas at 21:50 approximately and were transferred to the Magallanes Clinic of Empresas Consalud, for a general health check. At first sight, the medical check was satisfactory (in Santiago they will undergo more extensive health checks, for each one of the team).
They rested and slept on the Clinic. Afterwards, on Sunday the 5th, they were transferred to the Finisterrae Hotel where a press conference was held, announcing the arrival of the expedition. During the afternoon, the mountaineers packed their equipment and sent it to Santiago using freight services.
Today, 6th January 2003, at 19:00 hours they will travel to Santiago leaving behind 60 days of walking through 400 kilometers at the Sentinel and Heritage mountain ranges in Antarctica.
The arrival to Santiago is programmed at 23:25 hours.
Friday 3th of January 2003:
Rodrigo Jordan and his team arrive to Patriot Hills, a successful end to the Ellsworth Mountain expedition
With great recognition and emotion, the mountaineers were received yesterday at Patriot Hills. That's the way it was, in Rodrigo Jordan's own words to a television channel that was transmitting in direct. Rodrigo Jordan was the leader of an Antarctic expedition who traveled integrally the Sentinel and the Heritage range in 53 days. The arrival to Patriot Hills happened at 20:30 hours of Thursday the 2nd of January after covering the last 18 kilometers. The mountaineers traveled 62,5 kilometers between the 30th of December and the 2nd of January surpassing strong winds and cold temperatures that characterized this last section of the journey. The adverse conditions were no impediment for the mountaineers to reach their targeted final kilometers. If the weather conditions are good on Patriot Hills, the return flight to Punta Arenas for Rodrigo Jordan, Ernesto Olivares, Pablo Gutiérrez and Eugenio Guzmán together with Marcelo Grifferos and the two kids who won the contest "Antarctica: XXI century expedition", is expected on Saturday 4th of January.
Monday 30th:
The expedition is on the Union glacier
Yesterday’s afternoon the expedition established its camp number 40, over the Union glacier, at 79° 52' 56" S, 83° 18' 57" W.
At approximately 64 kilometers from Patriot Hills, the expedition team is in perfect conditions despite the low temperatures and the strong winds of the last few days. They traveled 41,4 kilometers between Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
It is important to mention that on Saturday the second radio-amateurs party took place. On this opportunity it was possible to establish more than 200 contacts throughout the world, with people from the United States, Germany, Australia, Canada, Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, others. The most recurrent conversation topics were about how the mountaineers have deal with nutrition, the cold and rest –sleep-. The participants showed great interest about the way that the expedition have carried out their way across the Ellsworth mountains. A new encounter is scheduled for the 2nd January 2003. Until now they have traveled for 304 kilometers.
Friday 27th:
The mountaineers have traveled 262,6 kilometers
Including yesterday’s kilometers, the expedition have completed a total of 262,6 kilometers. Yesterday, they traveled 19,4 kilometers over 1300 meters of altitude, with temperatures fluctuating between 15?C & 8?C below. According to the mountaineers own estimate, there are still 104 kilometers to go. If good weather, good physical and good health condition continues, they shall complete their journey in one week time.
Position: 79° 31' 54" S, 84° 00' 30" W
Thursday 26th:
The expedition team goes into the Heritage range and they are in the Schneider glacier
During the last two days, the expedition advance 33,8 kilometers, which is a great achievement for the team. Still they have to cover approximately 120 kilometers to arrive to Patriot Hills.
On Tuesday 24th (on Christmas eve) the mountaineers received greetings from many persons that, using the email, expressed warm and affectionate words, wishing them success. The team members’ are thankful with all those testimonies cheering them to achieve the final objective.
The mountaineers expressed to Marcelo Grifferos that "they were emotive moments, full of affection and concern from all of those who closely follow the expedition". Marcelo Grifferos read more than a hundred email messages, from Punta Arenas.
The expedition came into the Heritage range and they are already in the opening section of the Schneider glacier, leading to Patriot Hills: their final destination.
Position: 79° 22' 14" S, 84° 21' 15" W
Tuesday 24th:
The mountaineers build their camp in the heart of the Minnesota glacier
After traveling for13,8 kilometers, the Antarctic expedition built their camp in the heart of the Minnesota glacier. According to their previous conversation the mountaineers intend –today- to go into the Heritage range with their new objectives in mind.
The weather conditions were very appealing. The health state of the team members is good.
The geographical position where the camp was built is: 79° 04' 39" S, 83° 56' 26" W
Monday 23th:
The mountaineers head to the Heritage range adding more difficulties to the journey
The expedition team lead by Rodrigo Jordan traveled, during the last three days (Friday till Sunday), a total of 37,9 kilometers. During yesterday’s contact, Rodrigo explained the decision of adding more difficulty to the original plan. After an intense evaluation, considering the most relevant elements, and not satisfy enough with their journey through the Sentinel range, the mountaineers have decided to enter again the mountains and travel through the Heritage range. If they achieved this, a higher objective will be attained, to travel through the entire Ellsworth massif.
Position: 78° 57' 24" S, 83° 47' 17" W
Friday 20th:
The expedition makes the biggest advance so far
The hardest day is over, with 25 hours of intense work, the mountaineers made the biggest one day advance. Rodrigo Jordan outlined that yesterday’s 11,2 kilometers, traveled in one day, was their record so far. According to the satellite telephone conversation, probably by tomorrow they shall cover the Thomas glacier route, and reach the plain terrain. The spirit and the health condition are excellent.
Position: 78° 40' 05" S, 84° 28' 52" W
Wednesday 19th:
Ernesto Olivares reports, through the satellite phone, passing through fissures of 10 to 15 meters
In yesterday's report, Ernesto Olivares narrated the difficulties they had to overcome to reach the lowest section of the Thomas glacier. They achieved this after 25 hours of intense work while passing fissures of 3 to 4 meters and of 10 to 15 meters deep. However, every one was secured against falls, which didn’t surpass the two meters. They are tired but in good health condition. The spirit is intact.
Wednesday 18th:
Yesterday the expedition had to face the biggest obstacle so far, while surpassing an extensive and difficult fissures field, which, by Rodrigo Jordan, was largely superior to the feared Khumbu glacier, at the feet of Mountain Everest.
It was 25 long hours, exhausting and intense hours of labor. At 21:00 hours yesterday, and thanks to the satellite phone proportioned by Telefónica Móvil, the expedition chief narrated how difficult would be the day ahead. It was not possible to mount the base camp like they had done every night. An improvised camp was built instead with all the things they needed for food and hydration. They idea was to use the good weather condition with good visibility to continue the difficult journey.
On the report, Rodrigo was telling the need to keep moving despite the tiredness and some physical problems of Ernesto Olivares and himself, due to some falls into smaller fissures.
Fortunately, there was no harm or impediment to continue. Today at 9:30 they could surpass the difficult terrain. The expedition team decided to take one day off due to the intense and difficult crossing of the glacier.
Position: 78º 35' 15" S, 84º 47' 11" W
Tuesday 17th:
Rodrigo Jordan and his team reach the Thomas glacier
The expedition team is on the Thomas glacier after descending almost 500 meters through the Hough glacier. After traveling for 3,1 kilometers they were able to cross a relatively easy arcade, which they have named "Fortunes pass", and finally reaching the Thomas glacier. They hope to continue with relative easiness despite the fissures on view. The health condition is good and there are no problems.
Position: 78º 32' 58" S, 84º 54' 39" W
Monday 16th:
The expedition team descends on to the Hough glacier after a bad weather circumstance
After being stopped for two days in the arcade between the Dater and the Hough glaciers they were able to move on and descend to the Hough glacier. The reason of the delay was the bad weather that even reached the Patriot Hills base. Over this problem now they want to continue the journey, through the Hough glacier, on to the Thomas glacier on the next few days. The team evaluates an eventual rationing of the food as a precaution until the end of the journey.
The health condition is good and they don’t have physical problems. They feel very happy and optimistic for what they have achieved so far.
Position: 78° 31' 21" S, 85° 55' 28" W
Friday 13th:
The expedition forwards 6 kilometers and ascends almost 400 meters through the Dater glacier. They decide to pass to the Thomas glacier through the Hough glacier, a longer choice but safer. The health condition is good and they don’t present any physical problems.
Position: 78°30'38" S, 85°04'33" W
Thursday 12th:
The mountaineers approach the arcade between the Dater & the Thomas glaciers
Yesterday the expedition advanced approximately 5 kilometers going up almost 400 meters through the Dater glacier. Today they approach the arcade between the Dater & the Thomas glaciers. The last section of the Dater glacier looks better than the former one, full of fissures, which difficulties the walking. The sportsmen are in good health condition.
Position: 78°28'00" S, 85°10'41" W
Wednesday 11th:
The expedition team faces numerous fissures at the Dater glacier
Yesterday the expedition carried on further with great difficulty over the Dater glacier, due to the presence of numerous fissures (on a transversal way), hindering a normal journey. "The most difficult thing is to overcome the incertitude about the fissures, one of them can be covered with snow and our weight & the sledges could well break them", in the words of the expedition chief of his daily report. He added that they could walk for 7,8 kilometers and that for today they plan to surpass the south side of the glacier. To pursue this objective they need to surpass a gradient of approximately 800 meters. The first signs of accumulative tiredness begin to show, however the health condition is excellent. With the completion of yesterdays work the second half of this great adventure starts, having completed 30 days since the beginning of the expedition.
Position: 78°25'40" S, 85°06'27" W
Tuesday 10th:
The mountaineers surpass the arcade between the Crosswell and the Dater glaciers
Yesterday the expedition team surpasses the arcade between the Crosswell & the Dater glaciers, after 14 hours of intense work (5:00 am – 19:00 pm). For today they want to initiate the journey through the Dater glacier, which has a good number of fissures. They will need great precaution since there are low clouds too.
Position: 78°26'36" S, 85°19'23" W
Monday 9th:
The mountaineers will try to reach the Datter glacier
Today the expedition team shall move from the Crosswell glacier to the Datter glacier through a difficult and vertical arcade. After the successful ascension to the Segers Mountain (2626 meters) the team had to wait –almost for two days- in the highest section of the arcade due to bad visibility caused by low clouds. The health condition is very good and there are no major problems reported.
Friday 6th:
The mountaineers reach the summit of the Segers Mountain
Today at 16:30 Chilean continental time, the expedition team led by Rodrigo Jordan succeeded in the first total ascension to the Segers Mountain 2626 meters. After a demanding climb they reach the summit through a rock side and an ice wall of two rope lengths. They have initiated the corresponding altitude measurements with their high precision G.P.S. to inform the pertinent authorities of the results. They shall stay for 30 minutes at the summit.
Yesterday the expedition team covered 8,2 kilometers completing a total of 105 kilometers. The mountaineers enjoy an excellent health condition and they could travel without difficulties the last section. Today they shall attempt the Segers Mountain of more or less 2500 meters, and seemingly not climbed yet.
The temperature was particularly good reaching a maximum of -2°C. "The summer has arrived", were the words of Ernesto Olivares while he chatted through the satellite telephone with Marcelo Grifferos in Santiago. There are no reports of physical problems and they have great optimism indeed.
Position: 78°25'40" S, 85°25'33" W
Thursday 5th:
The mountaineers reach the Croswell glacier
Yesterday the expedition team travels 4,2 kilometers completing a total of 96,7 kilometers so far. They have reached the Crosswell glacier through a spectacular pass that has been named "the angels pass". It has been much easier to attain than the other passes during the expedition, that’s the reason of the name. From this position they can see the east side of the Vinson Massif and the beautiful Tyrhe Mountain. The health condition is good.
Position: 78°22'46" S, 85°38'35" W
Wednesday 4th:
The mountaineers have cover 92,5 kilometers to date
After being stopped at the Patton glacier, due to low visibility (from 5 to 10 meters), the expedition team continued to travel having cover yesterday 8,4 kilometers. In this way, they completed 92,5 kilometers since they started the journey. Rodrigo Jordan commented that it was one of the days with a higher walking rate despite the strong gradient.
Today they want to complete the first 100 kilometers, if the weather continues stable. The temperatures stay within -18°C and in the last days some unusual rain has fallen. The health condition is optimal and they keep a good spirit.
Position: 78°22'19" S, 85°45'27" W
Monday 2nd:
The expeditionaries reached Patton Glacier
The 1st of December they achieved 3,7 kilometers completing a total of 84 kilometers. They left behind the Giovinetto Mountain, that couldn’t be climbed due to the strong winds and freezing temperatures. After 17 hours of intense work to reach the summit (Friday 29th), the mountaineers decided to return to the base camp to avoid freezing. On Saturday 30th they were able to pass the arcade between the Ellen and the Patton glaciers. This was done with relative difficulty due the gradient and the unevenness of the landscape.
Today they are waiting for better weather conditions at the beginning of the Patton glacier. The weather has not been good the last days. This situation makes the visibility difficult, which is important for a safe journey through the glacier.
The health condition of the sportsmen is good and they have excellent equipment.
The spirit is excellent too.
Position: 78°17'55" S, 85°43'46"
Voir aussi le suivi de l'expédition sur leur site web
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