Almost done with Axel Heiberg

Published on 03.12.2011 - The Amundsen Memorial Expedition

The group led by C. Eide is almost on the plateau after 6 days climbing the Axel Heiberg glacier

The group of well trained tourists who is retracing a part of Roald Amundsen's itinerary (Amundsen Memorial Expedition initiated by Børge Ousland and Christian Eide) is almost done with climbing the Axel Heiberg glacier.

With some delays due to a ALE/Basler incident near Mount Vinson, the group of tourists (Silje, Rory, Trond, Ottar, Linn, Gørild and Teo) led by Christian Eide was finally on site at the bottom of the Axel Heiberg Glacier.

That was 18 days after schedule if we have to consider the fact that the program foresaw an arrival at the South Pole on 14 December. This very first day of the triip, the group managed to march a solid 23.5 km towards the glacier !

The second day, they add 25 km to their counter and reached the altitude of 1.000 m. On the four day, thay had to negociate a lot of deep crevasses fields, and severe ice walls.

A splendid view (perhaps the very first one we publish) of the Axel Heiberg glacier

Day 4, excerpts of the official diary published on Børge website : "... Yesterday was a stunner of a day. They moved 8,4 km into an icefall that took their breath away. Enormous crevasses decorated the area as they were happy to take a big bite out of this wild area.

Not only did they negotiate lots and very big crevasses, they moved from about 1000m up to 1560m! Jacob, Ottar and Trond did a superhuman effort in deepening and heavy snow as they took turn in breaking a trail.

Rory and Teo are the entertainers in the group. Teo, the youngest, is teaching Rory the eldest how to count in Norwegian. For this favour Rory has to carry Toe’s trash and do the cooking! – Somehow we feel we have not heard the last from those two… ..."

Day 4, excerpts of the one of them, Rory's diary, published on his own website : "... Yesterday was a stunner of a day. The team moved 8.4 km into an icefall that took our breath away. Jacob, Ottar and Trond did a superhuman effort in deepening and heavy snow as they took turn in breaking a trail, negotiatiing very big crevasses. We climbed from 1000m to 1560m. ..."

On 2 December, they have through the 'Valley of Science' that marks the end of the Axel Heiberg glacier. Having climbed the famous glacier in five days was not only a great victory for these wealthy tourist but also a proof that Ousland and team had chosen the right people to be on that adventure.