Itinerary

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SHACKLETON

FULFILLING HIS DREAM

LAST 97 MILES SKIING TO THE SOUTH POLE

Your journey begins when you fly into the city of Punta Arenas which lies on the western shore of the Straits of Magellan and is the southernmost city on Earth. You arrive in Punta Arenas two days before your scheduled departure date for Antarctic. These two days are essential to prepare for the incredible journey you are about to make to ensure you are able to enjoy it to the fullest. There will be Antarctic briefings, a full check of your clothing and information about the city so you can explore it during free time.

The departure for the Antarctic will depend on the weather but once conditions are suitable you will fly to Patriot Hills Camp nestled within the heartland of Antarctic. The flight lasts approximately four and a half hours and whisks you into a wild frozen world. On landing you can walk to the camp or take transport where you will have a welcome meal. The following day there will be more meetings with advice on acclimatizing to these unique surroundings and a chance to explore and enjoy the tranquility and majesty of the Antarctic.

Pre-training is essential for this adventure, do please ensure you are well prepared to ski those symbolic 97 miles.

After two days preparing and becoming acclimatized to your sledges and tents the expedition will depart Patriot Hills on the first day that weather and logistics permit and when our guide is satisfied that the group are sufficiently prepared for the coming adventure; completing The Nimrod Expedition to

The Geographic South Pole

After exploring this historic place, taking a moment to contemplate the cruel fact of Shackleton and his men's loss. You may spend a night at the Pole or, depending on the weather conditions, fly back to Patriot Hills over the polar plateau. Once back at the camp the day will finish with a celebration dinner.

Your time at Patriot Hills Camp, set amid a glorious ice landscape, is a trip of a lifetime in itself there is so much to do and the variety of activities available is only limited by your enthusiasm and imagination.

Outline Itinerary

20 Days Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas

Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile two days before departure for Antarctic

Day 1 Fly via private aircraft to the Patriot Hills Camp and welcome dinner.

Please note that you are travelling to an expedition base camp situated in the interior of Antarctica, the most isolated and windiest continent on earth. Every effort will be made to follow the itinerary but it is subject to change at the discretion of the staff based on weather, aircraft serviceability, and local conditions.

Day 2 Breakfast, briefing and advice on the intricacies of daily life in the Antarctic followed by a tour of the camp,

Day 3 Practice with expedition tents, sledges then a short ski and camp overnight on the ice.

Note: the start of the trek will depend on the weather and logistics

Day 4 - 18 Fly to the Thiel Mountains by ski equipped twin otter aircraft, refuel and fly on to be set down at 88° 23S the same latitude reached by Shackleton before he had to turn back.

The next 14 days you will ski 97 miles to the Geographic South Pole

Day 19 Final day of the trek; ski to the most southerly point on earth - the Geographic South Pole. You will be met and taken on a guided tour of Amundsen-Scott Scientific Station. Depending again on weather conditions you may camp overnight at the Pole or fly the 6 hours over the Polar plateau back to Patriot Hills and a celebration dinner.

Day 20 Fly back to Punta Arenas.

You will be accommodated and looked after in Patriot Hills during any flight delays to Punta Arenas.

Detailed Itinerary

You will arrive in Punta Arenas two days before your scheduled departure to the Antarctic. Once

settled into your hotel get in touch with our staff who will arrange a convenient time to meet and give you information on Punta Arenas and surroundings.

Situated astride one of the world's historic trade routes, its prosperity has risen and fallen with that trade. Today Punta Arenas reflects a great mix of cultures from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors, and it remains an utterly fascinating testament to Chile's rich history. Punta Arenas is also the starting point for excursions to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world; it will be the starting point for your adventure.

Flight Preparations

The following day is busy with flight preparations. In the morning, you are invited to join us for an Antarctic presentation followed by refreshments. The presentation will include information on your flight south, the current weather situation and what to expect on your arrival in Antarctica. This will be the trip of a lifetime and we want to ensure that you are well prepared to enjoy it to the fullest. There will be time to ask any questions you may have. After the presentation we will agree a time to check your Antarctic clothing to ensure nothing has been inadvertently forgotten and then collect your checked baggage for loading on to the aircraft ready for departure the following day. It is important to ensure that your baggage complies with international air transport regulations and as with all flights no hazardous goods such as fuels may be packed in your checked bags and no sharp objects may be carried on board in your hand luggage or on your person.

Please also note that in exceptional circumstances, if logistics permit and weather is exceptional, we may depart the evening PRIOR to our scheduled departure date.

No two Antarctic adventures are exactly the same. This is part of the magic and excitement of Antarctic travel. The itinerary below is intended to outline general program objectives and highlight typical activities and experiences. Exact timeline, activities, and program details will vary from trip to trip.

Day 1

Departure for Antarctica

In the morning, we will call you at your hotel to advise you of current conditions in Antarctica. If the weather is suitable for our flight to Patriot Hills, you will be given just under an hour to prepare before being picked up at your hotel. At the airport we will pass through security, including x-ray of all hand luggage, we then complete immigration formalities and proceed to our aircraft, the Ilyushin-76, the hardy Soviet Plane ideal for weather conditions in Antarctica. There will be ample time for photos before climbing on board. After a safety briefing by the flight crew we will fly south.

Flight path to Patriot Hills

The flight time from Punta Arenas to Patriot Hills is approximately 4.5 hours. The initial part of our flight passes over Tierra Del Fuego, or "Land of Fire", so named by Portuguese explorer Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan), for the native Yahgan people's campfires that illuminated its shores. The ocean south of Tierra del Fuego, the Drake Passage, has been notorious throughout modern history for its wild storms, violent winds and heavy seas.

At approximately 60˚ south we reach the winter limits of frozen seas. This area of ocean is called the Antarctic Convergence and is rich in plankton and other tiny creatures that form the base of the food chain for Antarctica's rich bird and wildlife colonies. We are now entering the area governed by the Antarctic Treaty.

At 66˚ south we cross the Antarctic Circle. Along this circle the sun never sets at the austral summer solstice and never rises at the austral winter solstice. Further south Antarctic days and nights lengthen until at the South Pole the sun rises and sets only once a year. Continuing our flight south if cloud conditions co-operate below us we may see tabular icebergs and the ice shelves from which they calve.

Our first sight of the icy continent is Charcot Island close to Alexander Island, at 71˚ south. These islands lie in the Bellingshausen Sea, west of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The ice sheet continues to stretch inland until in the distance appear the spectacular Ellsworth Mountains, the highest range in Antarctica.

We fly south along the Ellsworth Mountains to their southernmost extension, the Patriot Hills where we catch our sight of the Patriot Hills Camp and then our runway comes into sight.

First sight of Patriot Hills Camp isolated in the middle of Antarctica

The runway is a blue ice strip located at the bottom of the mountains

The wheeled aircraft lands on a naturally occurring "blue-ice" runway that is approximately 2600 ft (800 m) above sea level. The blue ice remains clear of snow due to katabatic winds that funnel down from the mountains with great force. On arrival you will be warmly welcomed and directed to our camp approximately 1/2 mile (1 km) away.

Transportation is readily available, but most travellers enjoy walking up to camp as it provides an opportunity to stretch their legs and take photos. Be sure to stay away from the active loading zone at the back of the aircraft, as well as off the ice runway.

Walking to Patriot Hills Camp

Welcome to Patriot Hills Camp

Patriot Hills is the only private camp operating in the Antarctic. The camp is located near the southern end of the Ellsworth Mountains range at 80º S, 81º W, about 600 nautical miles from the South Pole - the nearest neighbors.

At the camp you will meet our friendly staff who will show you to your accommodation and settle you down to a welcoming meal in the "Dining Tent" which is the heart of the camp in Antarctica. It has a complete kitchen and dining area and serves as a regular gathering place for guests to meet staff and others and enjoy tea and coffee while discussing the day's adventures.

"On the ice" our cooks prepare wonderful delicacies from their diverse menus. Three meals a day are served and snacks and beverages are available on an ongoing basis. Food is flown in from Punta Arenas, Chile - including fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meats, a variety of beers and Chilean wines.

This is your first night in Antarctica. The camp can comfortably houses visitors in insulated tents specially designed for camp needs with insulated floors in the larger models. Heaters are available but most tents are naturally heated by the midnight sun.

Days 2/3

Patriot Hills Base Camp, Antarctica - Expeditions Preparations

The Expedition Team will meet in the morning for a group breakfast and briefing regarding the upcoming journey. Your guide will go over expedition logistics, as well as safety and environmental considerations for your time on the ice. Bring a pen, paper and any questions you may have to the meeting. The briefing will be followed by a tour of Patriot Hills camp and orientation to the intricacies of daily life in Antarctica.

Scenes from around Patriot Hills Camp

The Communications Hut The Washing Tent

Later in the day, we will start our expedition preparations. Before leaving Patriot Hills we want to ensure that everyone is familiar with the equipment that we will use. Our days at Patriot Hills also provide time to acclimatize to the unfamiliar Antarctic environment. If we have not already done so we will be moving into our expedition tents and may go for a short ski and overnight camp to practice pulling our sleds and setting up tents. These days give us a chance to try out our clothing layers and equipment; practice doing tasks in the cold and wind with gloves on and to become familiar with the daily challenge of life in Antarctica. We will divide up group gear and food, pack and wait for suitable weather to fly to 88° 23S.

Camping in Antarctic

Day 4 - 18

Expedition Days

The expedition will depart Patriot Hills on the first day that weather and logistics permit and when our guide is satisfied that we as a group are sufficiently prepared for the coming adventure. After breakfast and a final weather check, we fly to the Thiel Mountains by ski-equipped twin otter aircraft where we will refuel, then continue to 88˚ south, the latitude reached by Shackleton and his team when they had to turn back. You will be set down in the middle of the polar plateau ready to complete the symbolic 97 mile journey to the South Pole.

Throughout our journey - especially on our first day of skiing and pulling sleds - we will notice the altitude affecting our breathing and our stamina. At the poles, there is less oxygen available at any given elevation than at mid-latitudes. The elevation at which we will travel is about 9,300 ft (2800 m) but to us, it will feel more like 12,000 ft (3700 m). We will start slowly and pace ourselves so that our bodies get used to this unfamiliar environment and new form of travel.

97 miles to the South Pole

During the expedition we may encounter windblown surface conditions. This area of the plateau has sufficient wind to compact and sculpt the snow into sastrugi, the ridges of windblown snow that caused Scott and Amundsen much grief during their expeditions. On our route the sastrugi can be as high as 2 to 3 ft (0.6 to 0.9 m) and no less challenging. We will attempt to weave our way through them, without our sleds flipping over or becoming stuck in the hollows.

Sastrugi

We expect to complete our journey in 14 days, covering between 6-10 miles (10-16 km) per day. We will start off with shorter days and increase our daily distance as we acclimatise and develop our systems and travelling rhythm. Our guide will set a structured daily schedule that allows the group to cover the required distance each day. A "typical" daily schedule starts with breakfast at 8am and the team packed and skiing by 10am. We stop for 5-10 minutes every hour for a brief rest and snack break.

We plan to travel for about 8 hours each day, stopping by 7pm to set up camp and have supper. Each group will develop their own particular rhythm and actual travel time will depend on the speed and combined strengths of the team. There is time in the evening for reading, talking or other camp activity. As the sun is up for the whole 24 hours we are usually quite warm in the tents and clothing that is damp from perspiration dries easily

Day 19

As we approach the Pole we may first see the vapour trails of the Hercules aircraft that supply Amundsen-Scott Station from the US base of McMurdo. The research station itself will be visible from about 15 miles (24 km) away. Those last 15 miles can seem the longest!

Soon, we should be completing the final steps to our goal-the Geographic South Pole-and the most southerly point on earth. Here, beneath your feet, all 360 lines of longitude meet and the ice is almost 10,000ft (3000 m) thick. Feel the satisfaction of having arrived here through your own efforts and reflect on how Shackleton and his men must have felt, they had suffered so much, had come so far, only to be cheated of their dream.

On arrival, we will be met by a representative of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) and escorted inside the station. We will have a chance to use their washroom facilities and enjoy an informal talk on the science undertaken at this remote and unusual research facility. If the shop is open we may be able to purchase small souvenirs such as T-shirts, badges, etc. so make sure you bring some US$ cash. The station also has a rubber stamp that you may use for stamping postcards and other items, but please note that postal facilities are not available.

Amundsen-Scott Station

Following our station visit we return outside to the Geographic South Pole. You are part of a very select and very limited group of people who have journeyed this far south on our planet. Congratulations!

The Flag Marking the true Geographic Pole

The Ceremonial South Pole a few yards away Geodesic Dome in the background

The ceremonial South Pole is surrounded by the flags of the Antarctic Treaty Nations. You can see the dome of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in the background. Data from a GPS is used to mark the exact placement of 90 degrees south latitude. Each marker is about 12 feet long, but about two-thirds of it gets pounded into the ground. The markers are only left up for a few years before they are stored away in the South Pole Station.

Here are images of the "true" South Pole Markers going back to 1996 and a bonus bicentennial marker

1975/76 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009

At the Geographic South Pole, there will be time for photographs and for reflection. Imagine how it must have felt to stand here nearly 100 years ago with only the sound of the wind and an endless expanse of white stretching northward in all directions. The distance we have covered in 14 days took the early explorers years of planning and months of travel. They stood where we now stand contemplating their achievements and their equally arduous return to the coast.

Amundsen first man to mark the Geographic South Pole December 14, 1911

IMAGES OF THE SOUTH POLE THE MODERN BUILDINGS SET IN THE WILDERNESS

AST/RO with COBRA sun-shield

Sunset at the South Pole Flags of Antarctica Treaty Nations

The Geodesic Dome

We may leave today or camp at the South Pole for a night or until conditions permit our ski aircraft to pick us up and return to Patriot Hills. For safety reasons and to avoid impacts on their scientific research, The United States Antarctic Program has established guidelines for all South Pole visitors. We ask your cooperation in respecting these guidelines during any time we may spend at the South Pole.

Day 20

Return to Patriot Hills

The completion of this incredible journey will be the return flight to Patriot Hills of approximately 6 hours over the polar plateau.

Leaving the South Pole flying over the Geodesic Dome

Stunning view of the Plateau from the Plane

Once back at Patriot Hills camp we will enjoy a celebration dinner and toast our wonderful achievement. We have journeyed overland to the pole and in so doing, joined an elite group who have challenged the "real Antarctica" of polar explorers.

Celebration dinner at Patriot Hills Camp

At Patriot Hills camp you can rest and recover from the expedition, or you can take part in a number of activities that will be going on around camp. You can hear, first hand, the experiences of other adventure travellers and climbers as they return from their own expeditions within the white desert. The choice is entirely yours.

Patriot Hills Days

During your stay at Patriot Hills you can be as active or as relaxed as you wish, just let us know. Some outside activities are weather dependent but we are accustomed to changes in the weather and so have learnt to be flexible and weather resilient. Your guide will organize a daily program of activities, based on group interests and weather conditions. Some of the active pursuits you can enjoy include:

Snow machine assisted tours to the local mountains; excursions to view unusual ice and rock formations nearby; an ascent of the Patriot Hills with panoramic views of the Ellsworth Mountain Range; opportunities to learn and practice cross-country skiing; short walking trips across the vast polar landscape; and navigation lessons. Photographers will enjoy the unusual wind-sculpted snow features, ice pools, dramatic peaks, spectacular open skies and cloud formations, as well as the golden light cast by the midnight sun.

In camp, our experienced staff will share their knowledge of the icy continent, giving talks on diverse themes. You can join the meteorologist for weather observations; learn rope handling skills, track expeditions as they make their way southward; carve snow sculptures, play indoor games and exchange stories with some of the other adventure travellers you meet on your journey. The variety of activities available is only limited by your enthusiasm and imagination.

The glory of the Antarctic can be seen all round the Camp

Day 21

Return to Punta Arenas

Fly back to Punta Arenas. In Punta Arenas you will be met at the airport by our staff who will arrange for transfer to your hotel. We will assist wherever possible with any questions you may have.

Please note that you are travelling to an expedition base camp situated in the interior of Antarctica, the most isolated and windiest continent on earth. Every effort will be made to follow the above itinerary but it is offered subject to change at the discretion of our staff based on weather, aircraft serviceability, and local conditions. You will be accommodated and looked after in Patriot Hills during any flight delays to Punta Arenas.

Days of delay are a normal part of Antarctic travel. DO NOT plan anything important for a minimum of two weeks after your scheduled return. Give yourself time to enjoy this unique experience without the stress of pending commitments.