It took nearly as much time to sort and edit the thousands of photos and videos of this insane 2-month trip beyond the wall, with the South African National Antarctic Program!
I’m not sure that a 2min reel of jumbled-together media does the program any justice, but that is the constraints of modern media consumption, but it may well capture the chaos, serenity and extremes one experiences there as a result. Unsure of a suitable music genre for this, I settled for a rather appropriate track by Modest Mouse off of their album “The Moon & Antarctica”, called “What People Are Made Of”, which is more poignant than it may seem.
One of 70 permanent research bases on the Antarctic Continent, SANAE IV sits proudly atop a nunatak (google it) in Vesleskarvet, Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.
Maintained and supported by the South African Dept of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment the base is permanently staffed by a small 10-person team performing research as well as maintenance on the Base.
In the summer months a weather window allows for a summer expeditionary voyage aboard SA Agullas II, comprising DFFE logistics teams, the hand-over team as well as a host of scientific research teams.
I was fortunate enough to join the UCT GEODESY and Seismology team on The Fumbil Ice Shelf. Other teams included SA National Space Agency, University of Johannesburg Geology, Stellenbosch Oceanography, SA Weather Service.
As part of South Africa’s commitment to the Polar stations, the program also provides medical evacuation cover with a dedicated medical evac. helicopter and a well-equipped hospital suite along with expedition doctor aboard when the SA Agullas II is in Theatre. This partnership includes the Islands of Tristan da Cunha, Marion and Inaccessible and is a vital cog in Southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Conservation & research teams on these islands as well as, obviously, Antarctica operate in extremely inhospitable terrain and harsh conditions, a long way from help! Their contribution to the scientific world as well as the conservation world is immense, as is the DFFE’s continued support of the program.
Driven by science & conservation; powered by coffee & will
Throwback (and repost) to one of my more productive seasons in the Alpine Playground.
Originally shot on 960x720 (that seems to have been vogue in 1800!), insta really didn’t like the format (hence the repost)
Time marches on but these are great memories from the days when 9min videos were cool - of mates doing epic sh1t (the proximity flying is NOT me), and putting up with me in the hills.
Also good to have a reminder of those friends no longer with us, we sure to miss ‘em.
An epic trip with Alard and Voytek back in the day. Scrambling and soloing in the cool of the day, flying back to camp and lazying about until the next session - simple ideals, excellent company and perfect weather. Voyti, we miss you man.
Climb & Fly Apco Hybrid prototype wings
In a time when travelling to Rum via Kiev and then Tel Aviv is probably not a first option, it’s good to remember times when things were calmer, safer.
One from the archives of 2019 when we travelled to Rum to climb desert rock and fly new hybrid mini-wings for a week.
Definitely & thoroughly enjoyed the tour of Eldo with @benmarkhartguiding & Bruce. I’d just arrived, jet-lagged, having done no route research, but lost no time in getting into the guts of the climbing.
A few years back, I had a similar experience with @trystanfirman & @vertigo_adventures , showing up in South Africa on a family vacation and 1 day to climb. Had an amazing day on Table Mtn watching the Pacific & Indian Oceans collide.
Both experiences underscored the value of having a skilled guide introduce me to new terrain and to maximize my enjoyment on a tight timeline.
#climbing #rockclimbing #voiceofthemountains #amga1979
July was a bit of a bluuuuurrrr
▶️ Wrapped up my second French OWP project with TravOcean
▶️ Popped to Paris for a Louvre, Eiffel and Notrè Dame visit
▶️ Visited The Land of Rocks
▶️ Cragged in the Sun at Howick Falls, Umgeni and Monteseel
▶️ Ice climbed in the shade at Sani Pass
▶️ Day hiked to Gxalingenwa Waterfall
▶️ Safari’d in Kruger
▶️ ✈️ Certificate refresh in Amsterdam
▶️ ✈️ to Seoul to join Boskalis Ndurance
▶️ 🚢 to Taiwan and in the process tried to use a Sextant for navigation (3 days later we still plotting our position 😂)
It’s said that you only die once, so make use of your time alive (I’d add to that by suggesting one shouldn’t kill oneself trying to live too much 😂)
Not quite #ThrowbackThursday, but we’re still reminiscing about the Vertigo Renegade trip (at the end of 2024). Bouldering at 2500m above sea level in the remote tarns of Sehlabathebe with our psyched staff and ambassadors.
A note : while this may look inspiring, it is certainly not a winter destination - so hold off on back that gear…for now 😉
More beta at ntabaproject.co.za/topos
Ice Climbing skills course for the South African climber at Sani Pass. Suitable for new or experienced ice climbers!
Two Certified Mountain Training Standard Instructors will present this course to facilitate two different experience level skills courses.
A course for beginner ice climbers wanting to learn the basics and a course for climbers with ice climbing experience that wish to learn more advanced techniques. If you don’t have gear, you can rent from Vertigo Gear in town.
Link in the bio or visit vertigogear.co.za
For more than a decade I’d been talking about a winter trip to Patagonia. I tried to entice others to the idea by promising more stable weather with less wind than the region is famed for and the adventure of wild, unknown objectives.
I fooled no one into joining for the ride - but the idea nagged enough to pay the school fees on my own, to see what there was to see.
The weather was, indeed, stable - consistently windy 😂 the wind is not a migratory swallow it would seem. The school fees revealed hidden gems, calm valleys and great snow - from Bariloche to Chalten to Ushuaia - exceedingly hospitable people…and, of course, great steaks (and Patagonian Gin)
Uncrowned resorts juxtaposed with wild touring where you definitely earn your turns!
Thank you to those I met along the way for the beta and encouragement and welcoming conversation @jimmychaltenguide@manuecanova and @caronorthofficial and @roninskis for support from afar
April was a bit of a blur, but we made hay and the sun shone - may have chased the sun from Du Toits Kloof to ‘Boven to Cathedral Peak to Bushmansnek and back to Table Mountain, but it sure worked out just fine!
