Expeditions of the forthcoming Antarctic season

Published on 03.10.2007 - General Info

To date, there are thirteen expeditions on the table for the coming southern summer in Antarctica. Two projects have not been confirmed yet and one venture has just been cancelled.

Building of the Belgian Princess Elisabeth base, the Antarctic's first "zero-emission" research station. On 10th November, Alain Hubert and a team of 40 will depart from Brussels, heading for the Antarctic and the Sor Rondane mountains. They will spend 4 months on site to build the Princess Elisabeth base. Progress on their adventure will be followed not only here, on the pages of antarctica.org, but also on the International Polar Foundation website, IPF, as well as on the base's own site, antarcticstation.
ANI South Pole Quest 2007/08. After the Everest and the North Pole (last spring, see our ongoing reports), Dubai resident Adrian Hayes sets off on a short crossing of Antarctica (Hercules Inlet-South Pole) without being resupplied. This time he will be accompanied by Max Chaya (a Lebanese friend who has climbed the Everest), Hans Foss (a cross-country skier) and Devon McDiarmead, a professional guide who will lead the expedition. Details on this project are scheduled to be published over the next few days on the expedition's website.
Expedition Antarctica. The Swiss mountaineer Evelyne Binsack left Switzerland on 1st September 2006 to reach the South Pole by bicycle and sledge, on foot and skis. She hopes to complete this journey of 28000 km in 16 months, by crossing Mexico and the Andes. Evelyne reached Punta Arenas a few weeks ago on 16th September. We'll be monitoring her progress as soon as she sets foot in Antarctica. Evelyne's website in German and French.
South. Young explorer Ben Saunders was planning on making a round trip from Berkner Island to the South Pole â a trek of 1800 miles without taking on any fresh supplies. But a few weeks ago, Ben let us know that his proposed venture had been postponed to next year (October 2008) and that in the meantime, he was preparing a speed record to the North Pole, a challenge he plans to attempt next spring. More about this at a later stage. Ben's website.
VisionSouthPole. The young British optometrist Cameron Hudson is attempting the classic trek from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole with the aim of raising £250 000 for the International Glaucoma Association and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Cameron's website.
Respectons la Terre. Saint-Gervais-based Charles Hedrich (a former headhunter turned extreme adventurer) is attempting a speed record from Berkner to the South Pole, solo and completely unassisted. Charles's website.
Beyond Endurance, phase 2. Last season, adventurer and guide Pat Falvey brought a group of Irishmen into the mountains of South Georgia. This time, he will set off on the route from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. "This expedition will capture the imagination and hearts of the Irish, as well as many other people round the world" so claims the expedition's website!
Fuchs Foundation Antarctic Expedition 2007 (FFAE 2007). In memory of Sir Vivian Fuchs (best known for having led the first motorised trans-Antarctic expedition in 1957-58), this foundation is sending 4 teachers (accompanied by two professionals) to the Antarctic to carry out a number of unusual projects that they intend to convert into attention-grabbing lessons for their pupils. An exciting venture. Their website.
Larsen Ice Shelf Expedition. Yet another original idea from Will Steger, whose aim is to draw the attention of as many people as possible to the mechanics of climate change. His previous fascinating expedition to Baffin Island is still fresh in our memory. This time, he will focus on the Larsen Ice Shelf which broke up amid great media attention in 2002, and that he wants to study more closely. W. Steger's website.
Norwegian-US Scientific Traverse of East Antarctica. Scientific exploration of the eastern part of the Antarctic, conducted over two successive seasons by Norwegian and American scientists belonging either to the Norwegian Polar Institute or to the famous National Science Foundation (NSF). The expedition website.
Two unconfirmed expeditions: one by the Russian Artur Chilingarov (the man who 'raised' the Russian flag at a depth of 4000 metres in the Arctic Ocean a few weeks ago) who aims to reach the South Pole, another by the American Wave Vidmar who would like to try the route connecting McMurdo to the South Pole. Wave's website is still not saying anything about when he plans to attempt this objective.