Less than a week to go
Less than a week to go before our departure for Ushuaia and now that I’ve finished work I can start my contribution to our blog. Since New Year, work has been incredibly busy and Alan being a man of leisure for the past few weeks has been doing most of the IT stuff. I can also start worrying about all those last minute things like having enough socks and how will all the kit fit in the bags.
Our adventure begins on the 2nd February when we fly via London, Madrid and Buenos Aires to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. After a day of checking kit and briefings from the expedition leader, we sail across the Southern Ocean in the Evohe (an 82’ ketch) bound for Antarctica. The crossing should take 3 or 4 days and our first land fall is planned to be Deception Island. The Evohe will be our main base camp as we sail up and down the Antarctic Peninsula climbing “whatever looks on” to quote Guy Cotter who is leading the expedition. The plan is to achieve some first ascents on the peninsula. We’ll be climbing, ski touring and carrying out two or three day mini expeditions. Just over 3 weeks will be spent on the peninsula and then we’ll sail back to Ushuaia passing round Cape Horn. We both have a good stock of seasickness tablets as there aren’t many pharmacist shops on our route.
Many of you reading this will know both Alan and myself but there will be plenty who will know only one of us. Therefore I thought you might be interested in a few facts about each of us.
I am 43 years old, married to Fiona with three children Tom (11), Rosie (8) and Cate (5). We have lived in a small village just to the north of Glasgow for the past 6 years. I am a pilot with Thomas Cook Airlines, based at Glasgow.
Alan is 39 years old and married to Amanda with two boys, Iain (8) and Cameron (6). They live in the same village as Fiona and I and have done for about 8 years. Alan works for IBM selling large computer systems, although since 1st January he has been on sabbatical leave which lasts until January next year.
We hope to have one more chance to get into the mountains before departing and will keep you updated on that.
Finally, a big thanks to those of you who have responded already with donations and pledges for Clic Sargent. Chris
Our adventure begins on the 2nd February when we fly via London, Madrid and Buenos Aires to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. After a day of checking kit and briefings from the expedition leader, we sail across the Southern Ocean in the Evohe (an 82’ ketch) bound for Antarctica. The crossing should take 3 or 4 days and our first land fall is planned to be Deception Island. The Evohe will be our main base camp as we sail up and down the Antarctic Peninsula climbing “whatever looks on” to quote Guy Cotter who is leading the expedition. The plan is to achieve some first ascents on the peninsula. We’ll be climbing, ski touring and carrying out two or three day mini expeditions. Just over 3 weeks will be spent on the peninsula and then we’ll sail back to Ushuaia passing round Cape Horn. We both have a good stock of seasickness tablets as there aren’t many pharmacist shops on our route.
Many of you reading this will know both Alan and myself but there will be plenty who will know only one of us. Therefore I thought you might be interested in a few facts about each of us.
I am 43 years old, married to Fiona with three children Tom (11), Rosie (8) and Cate (5). We have lived in a small village just to the north of Glasgow for the past 6 years. I am a pilot with Thomas Cook Airlines, based at Glasgow.
Alan is 39 years old and married to Amanda with two boys, Iain (8) and Cameron (6). They live in the same village as Fiona and I and have done for about 8 years. Alan works for IBM selling large computer systems, although since 1st January he has been on sabbatical leave which lasts until January next year.
We hope to have one more chance to get into the mountains before departing and will keep you updated on that.
Finally, a big thanks to those of you who have responded already with donations and pledges for Clic Sargent. Chris
posted by Bigalmac at 11:15 PM
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