Engines’ Appearance on Stage

Published on 17.01.2011 - General Info

Motor vehicles of every hue on Antarctica

If only one image of this closing Antarctic season had to be retained, it would without doubt be the appearance on the 6th Continent’s stage of motor vehicles of every hue.

This Antarctic expedition season will not leave indelible memories in peoples’ minds. In spite of the courage of Chris Foot, who will have definitively tried his utmost to be able to arrive on time at the Pole and to return to the Union Glacier camp alone and without external assistance, in spite of the beautiful feat Horst/McKeand pair, who successfully completed the trek Hercules Inlet - South Pole trek, it should be duly recognised that no polar shivers were to be enjoyed during this 2010-2011 season. Few expeditions on the calendar (the majority undoubtedly reserving itself for the 2012 centenary), few major challenges, and very little suspense. In short, a minor key season.

Not everyone however will share this opinion. Because there is one reason for which this 2010-2011 season will nevertheless remain in peoples’ memories: this is the quasi mass arrival (and for the first time in such great numbers, in any case) on the Antarctic icecap of motorised monsters which, at maximum possible speeds, were charging about on the Antarctic ice in search of new feats and new speed records.

In this sort of idea, the fact that the Moon/Regan expedition had twice succeeded in crossing the continent almost entirely (Union Glacier base camp - South Pole - Ross Ice Shelf and back) can undoubtedly be regarded as a great adventure. But we are among those who persist in believing that driving a vehicle on the ice or being a passenger in one and spending ones time on ones backside eating sandwiches while waiting for the staging point while does not really constitute a feat - within the polar meaning of the term.

Others will think that the successful completion of the Novolazarevskaia - South Pole itinerary in just a few days in a specially converted Japanese 4x4 will enter the 6th Continent’s annals. Perhaps as the evolution of a certain means of transport on the polar icecap. But in no way as a human adventure that requires above all exceeding personal limits, a prize fight with the environment and the elements, and a sense of effort and forbearance.

So there you have it : for once, Explorapoles has expressed an opinion. This does not mean that we will no longer follow motorised expeditions on this website, nor that we do not respect the various objectives and opinions.

Simply that, it is our opinion that, on the one hand, the 6th Continent will never be the same again, and that on the other, the risks of its terrain being polluted are now frankly on the increase.