We are back, safe and well!
We were originally supposed to have been picked up on Monday 4th June, but weather and mechanical problems meant that was delayed until Friday 8th. Frustrating, but ultimately understandable. The pilots did a great job getting to us.
It was a great adventure: cold, always windy, fantastic scenery and lots of sights experienced for the first time by any human.
More details, a report and loads of photos will appear on the web site in the next few weeks.
Sincere thanks goes to our families and our employers for their support and understanding. Thanks especially to Anne for decoding our occasional satellite phone ramblings and updating the blog.
Tim
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Saturday, 2 June 2007
Last Camp
A call from Tim on Friday:
They have now moved to their seventh & final camp at the pick-up point. After three weeks of generally cold & always windy weather Friday was actually a very nice day, sunny & ( comparatively ) warm. Gerwyn & Tim climbed a very large peak ( wednesday ? ) & found a cairn on the top, climbed another on Thursday morning that they knew had already been climbed & there was also a cairn on that one.
They have met up with the other group out there, nice to see some new faces.
They must have contacted the flight organisers as they are aware that the weather, 'though good where they are, is too bad at the refueling point for the plane to land. Since pick-up is not 'till Monday there is time for this to change.
They have now moved to their seventh & final camp at the pick-up point. After three weeks of generally cold & always windy weather Friday was actually a very nice day, sunny & ( comparatively ) warm. Gerwyn & Tim climbed a very large peak ( wednesday ? ) & found a cairn on the top, climbed another on Thursday morning that they knew had already been climbed & there was also a cairn on that one.
They have met up with the other group out there, nice to see some new faces.
They must have contacted the flight organisers as they are aware that the weather, 'though good where they are, is too bad at the refueling point for the plane to land. Since pick-up is not 'till Monday there is time for this to change.
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Birthday Blues
Gerwyn's birthday on Tueasday & the following from his call home:
Monday night very promising, nice weather so spent time planning what he wanted to climb on his birthday the next day. Unfortunately Tuesday brought really bad storm winds, not much spindrift but bitterly cold so they spent the entire day stuck in the tent. Not the best birthday he has ever had but certainly one he will never forget. Weather started to ease off towards evening & a better day looking likely for Wed, so plan to move camp again.
Monday night very promising, nice weather so spent time planning what he wanted to climb on his birthday the next day. Unfortunately Tuesday brought really bad storm winds, not much spindrift but bitterly cold so they spent the entire day stuck in the tent. Not the best birthday he has ever had but certainly one he will never forget. Weather started to ease off towards evening & a better day looking likely for Wed, so plan to move camp again.
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Hauling Sledges
This received on the answer phone from Tim on Sunday, a very bad line so some details lost:
Sunday
A very very long day pulling heavy sledges, 4/5 hours seemed to go on for ever but made camp now & everyone fine. Not able to do anything yesterday due to a blizzard ( not sure about the word blizzard as the line so bad at this point. Tim & Gerwyn climbed another peak ( day indecipherable). Plan to go meteorite hunting tomorrow.
A quick message from Russ on Monday evening:
Not far from the pick-up point now with still a week in hand. No-one has seen any polar bears. The satellite phone batteries are getting low now so may not be any more messages.
Sunday
A very very long day pulling heavy sledges, 4/5 hours seemed to go on for ever but made camp now & everyone fine. Not able to do anything yesterday due to a blizzard ( not sure about the word blizzard as the line so bad at this point. Tim & Gerwyn climbed another peak ( day indecipherable). Plan to go meteorite hunting tomorrow.
A quick message from Russ on Monday evening:
Not far from the pick-up point now with still a week in hand. No-one has seen any polar bears. The satellite phone batteries are getting low now so may not be any more messages.
Sunday, 27 May 2007
"Brilliant"
Sorry for the delay posting this, these details recieved from Gerwyn on Thursday 24th:
It is absolutely freezing cold, -40, & the wind-chill is very bad. Despite this they are all well & having a "brilliant" ( this particular word featured more than once ) time. They have climbed a few more mountains & seen lots of sedimentary, volcanic & metamorphic rock. At one point they could see the seabed which had been pushed up thousands of feet, millions of years ago. They are very impressed by the sheer scale of the geography, their camp looks like a tiny dot, lost in the huge expanse.
They built an igloo ( bet that was Tim's idea ) & were having supper in it on Thurday, very warm & cosy apparantly. Plan to climb some more on Friday & move on to another camp, then keep on moving North.
It is absolutely freezing cold, -40, & the wind-chill is very bad. Despite this they are all well & having a "brilliant" ( this particular word featured more than once ) time. They have climbed a few more mountains & seen lots of sedimentary, volcanic & metamorphic rock. At one point they could see the seabed which had been pushed up thousands of feet, millions of years ago. They are very impressed by the sheer scale of the geography, their camp looks like a tiny dot, lost in the huge expanse.
They built an igloo ( bet that was Tim's idea ) & were having supper in it on Thurday, very warm & cosy apparantly. Plan to climb some more on Friday & move on to another camp, then keep on moving North.
Monday, 21 May 2007
More Peaks
A quick phone call from Tim on Sunday imparted the following:
Now at the third camp, had to stop & make emergency camp ( camp 2 ) a couple of days ago as it was getting too cold to keep going. Have climbed two more peaks which they have named 'Copa Rosyn' & 'Lliwedd'. Still very cold & windy but everyone ok. Tim & Gerwyn went out today to scout out more potential peaks to climb. No sign of any meteorites, too much blown snow.
Now at the third camp, had to stop & make emergency camp ( camp 2 ) a couple of days ago as it was getting too cold to keep going. Have climbed two more peaks which they have named 'Copa Rosyn' & 'Lliwedd'. Still very cold & windy but everyone ok. Tim & Gerwyn went out today to scout out more potential peaks to climb. No sign of any meteorites, too much blown snow.
Friday, 18 May 2007
Weather Everywhere
A very quick message on Friday night gave the following:
Thursday
Very bad weather, not able to do anything.
Friday
Good weather, visibility excellent, did lots ( but no details as to what 'lots' might be).
I will add details to these two days if any are received, Tim, Russ & Gerwyn are taking it in turns to phone so sketchy messages are being passed around.
Thursday
Very bad weather, not able to do anything.
Friday
Good weather, visibility excellent, did lots ( but no details as to what 'lots' might be).
I will add details to these two days if any are received, Tim, Russ & Gerwyn are taking it in turns to phone so sketchy messages are being passed around.
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