| Erasmus Expedition (South African woman Correnè Erasmus-Coetzer, 47, on Hercules Inlet to the SP together with Denise Martin & Beth Cheesebourgh) |
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The end of their expedition
January 16th 2007
Since a couple of days, Correnè Erasmus-Coetzer is suffering from the cold and from the conditions that become gradually worse on the antarctic plateau - 30 cm snow on the ice, cold wind blowing right into their faces, lower temperatures, poor visibility, etc.
Here are some excerpts from her diary :
" " The weather has become even more miserable. The air temperature has lowered to around -22 deg C and the wind remains between 16 and 20 knots but has shifted to the east. They did not see much sun today.
The team managed to cover 13.4 nautical miles but it wasn’t without some drama. During one of their stops, Correne picked up some snow in her gloves without noticing it and the snow then froze and with it her fingers as well. When she realized this, she warmed up her hands immediately but some of her fingers remain sensitive while the rest are without any feeling whatsoever.
At one stage, Denise fell behind, which is a rare occurrence. When she reached them again, her feet were frozen so badly that she had to warm them up against Corrine’s stomach. When that was done, her hands were very cold and she had to warm them up against Beth’s stomach.
It was not too difficult to keep their bodies warm but their hands and feet are very vulnerable under these extreme conditions. They have to remain vigilant and even then it does not guarantee their safety.
The weather forecast for the Amundsen-Scott Pole Station is not good. The prediction is that current conditions will last for another 3 days before the wind will hopefully relent somewhat.
The team plans to wait for better weather tomorrow but the problem is that they cannot wait for long. They only have enough food to last them for 6 more days and under these poor visibility conditions a plane will not be able to land. They therefore have no choice but to keep moving whenever possible, with the possibility of serious frost bite a constant risk.
With no sun to heat the tents up, the inside of the tents remain cold. Correne spends most of the time inside the tent inside her sleeping bag with all her clothes on. She doesn’t know how much weight she lost lately because she hasn’t taken her clothes off recently but the loss is most likely significant. ... "
Their position on January 13th : 89° 094 S / 81° 128 W
January 7th 2007
Nothing special to report coming from this all female expedition. Besides the fact that the wind is back (they had no wind for more than a week) ; the temperatures are therefore going down : minus 43°C with the windchill. The three women are progressing as regularly as before.
Their position on January 7th : 88° 134 S / 81° 068 W
December 29th 2006
Correnè and her
friends have reached safely the Thiel Mountains and found easily the supply depot dropped there by ALE logistic. They have taken advantage of a doctor on board of the plain to ask him to check Beth's shoulders and chilblains. "
I made use of the opportunity to let the doctor do some acupuncture on my right leg and shoulders", writes Corennè on December 24th.
They stayed three days at Thiel Mountains before going back on the ice and proceed with their trek.
Their position on December 28th : 86° 071 S / 86° 843 W.
December 21st 2006
The team is progressing wel. Erasmus-Coetzer, Martin and Cheesebourgh are now moving more towards west in order to reach their next resupply point which has been dropped at the foot of the Thiel Mountains by the ALE Twin Otter a few weeks ago. This new move forces the three ladies to cut the satrugis lines more often (about every 100 m) and to negociate them on an oblique direction.
They are very much longing to reach this point and to get their second resupply not only because this will provide them with fresh food (Denise and Beth have been ill after having eaten rotten cheese) but also because it will bring amongst other things new batteries ; Denise hopes to be able to go back to the writing herself the daily udpdates, just like she did after the start of their trek. Team look to reach the resupply on friday, tomorrow, and have decided to take a day rest after.
Their position on December 21 st : 84.61975 S / 085.86439 W, (altitude = 1562 m).
December 16th 2008
Few information coming on the net - this All Female Expedition still facing transmission problems.
Wynand, Correnè's husband, who is now taking care of the website, informs us that the conditions of the progression are still very difficult - white out days, blizzard, head winds and dangerous sastrugis fields being on their way.
On décember 15th, they have hit the resupply point.
Their position on December 16th :83° 410 S / 83° 717 W
December 12th 2006
Since a couple of days, we do not receive anymore the datas of the progression : it means that the communication problems the three ladies have to face still persist. We only know that on December 9th, they had covered 250 km, or in other words, more than 20% of the total distance. Now they are approaching their resupply point wich is located around the degree 83.
December 4th 2006
Of all the teams who are attemting the small traverse, the trio of the All Female Expedition
is progressing the slowest. One must say that since the start, these three courageous ladies have to endure quite a lot of minor problems and also a bit of physical stresses.
Denise for instance has blister under her foot. They all have skin rash on their lower legs. Correnè has small frostnip on her chin, but it is not serious. Her feet get sore during the day. Beth's face mask freezes hard were it is sewn onto the goggles and then the frozen parts touches her skin.In addition, the communication problems are not over yet :
the iPAQ only seems to charge on the one of the 2 solar panels while
finally, the phone battery has decided to charge. "
Thank God, writes Corennè. It is charging in my sleeping bag next to a hot water bottle. One has to keep an eye on the plug that goes into the solar panel's. It goes out easily..."
Their position on December 4th :
81.39277S,082.02032W
December 4th 2006
Ce sont les trois femmes de l'expédition All Female Expedition qui avancent le moins vite. Faut dire que depuis le départ, elles doivent faire face à tout un tas de petits ennuis : leurs muscles du cou et des épaules font mal, Denise a des boursouflures à la plante des pieds, toutes trois souffrent d'irritations dans le bas des jambes, Correnè a déjà des petites gelures au menton, Beth voit son masque de marche se coler à ses lunettes et la glace toucher la peau de son visage, et plus spécialement celle de ses joues, ce qui lui fait mal... Plus les problèmes de communication qui semblent toutefois se résoudre peu à peu - pour l'iPaq mais pas encore pour le téléphone satellite.
Leur position le 4 décembre : 81.39277S, 082.02032W
December 1st 2006
Three female adventurers Correnè Erasmus-Coetzer, Denise Martin and Beth Cheesebourgh have started their journey in Patriot Hills instead of Hercules Inlet. Before the start, they have done a three days training - Hanna MgKeand did the same - in order to check all the material. So on November 28 they took off. Next day we had an update of Erasmus-Coetzer 's husband who informed us that the iPaq of the expedition
(with which she is sending the updates directly to the Web site) is discharged and does not want to charge from the sun panel. So for a while, he says,
visitors will have to settle for him (Wynand, her husband at home) as an intermediary.
Having said that, the three women have done respectively 7 and 11 nautical miles on the two first days on their trek.
November 26th 2006
Together with the other remaining expeditions, the three women of this south-african expedition have arrived at Patriot Hills on November 24th. 4 1/2 hours easy flight. Weather was warm and sunny, -9°C outside and +15°C in the tent. Now all expeditioners need to check their equipment and food and be ready for a flight to the start line tomorrow or Sunday.
November 16th 2006
The three ladies Correnè Erasmus-Coetzer, Denise Martin and Beth Cheesebourgh got together in Punta on November 15th. They prepare the materiel, food and itinerary and give close looks at the antarctic map. One thing is certain they say :
"The 3 of us have the intention to enjoy our yourney to the South Pole. We know that there will be hard times but we are going to handle them..."
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© From left ot right : Beth Cheesebourgh, Denise
Martin & Correnè Erasmus-Coetzer / Photo
cCourtesy by the expedition/Thornewill |
November 13th 2006
Correné wrote :
"Stellenbosch
"It‘s my last night at home. This is now so real. After all these years of dreaming and planning it is no dream any more and nothing to "plan. One big difference to my previous ski expedition on Antarctica is the technology. In 2001 I only had my camera. This time a satellite phone, camera, video camera even a mini computer. It is adapters and connectors and chargers and batteries… It will keep me busy on "the ice.
"At least my experience and knowledge about the ice came a longer way than my technology. For this I have to thank some wonderful polar "people. Mike Thornewill of Polar Challenge International was my mentor for the Great Slave Lake solo and for this expedition. Mike shared "a world of knowledge and enthusiasm with me.
"Also to my previous polar guides from whom I gained a lot of experience, Doug Stoup, Devon McDairmid and Borge Ousland; my previous "polar team mates; Pen Hadow for the beginning and all the other polar people in my life."
November 8th 2006
South Africa
Goeiemore/Good morning /
I hope you had a healthy breakfast this morning. Polar explorers like high calorie high fat breakfast. My kick-start before I pull the tyre: some olive oil on my muesli... If you focus on your goal, it tastes nice.
