Hurry Up and Wait

Nothing really to report today, as nothing really happened. We’re having to be always ready and contactable incase a weather window opens up, so today has consisted of lounging around, eating, reading, a little exploration and chatting, finishing with another lovely meal. Our next weather update is first thing tomorrow morning – I’ll keep you posted.
When we do get onto the ice, these blogs will become audio blogs from the satellite phone. I’m a little bit nervous about doing them, so be patient! And sorry in advance if there’s a lot of background noise, it may be windy.
Ttfn.

Meeting the Team


Sorry for the lack of post yesterday, it was a busy afternoon, and obviously in the morning I didn’t really have anything to write about by then.
After a leisurely morning at the hotel we made our way to the airport, and ended up meeting 9/10 members of our team before we arrived in Punta Arenas! Everyone seems lovely so far, a really diverse group from all over the world and all sorts of different characters. We met our guides too, a great reunion with Vern, who hasn’t changed at all, and it was brilliant to finally meet Garrett, who we’ll be with on Everest with in just over three months time.
Punta Arenas is pretty port town, with some run down areas, but colourful houses and lots of little shops with big characters. We have a beautiful sea view from our window, and a mass of birds that look like cormorants and act like them, but with white bellies – if anyone knows what they are please let me know!
After meeting and arriving at the hotel  we went out for dinner and were told about how the team would work: we’re to be split into pretty much two entirely separate teams, 5 clients with one guide, and then split into two rope teams for moving around. We’re with Garrett and the three other UAE clients, which should be a real laugh. I didn’t realise how late it had become as the evening went on, as the sun only sets at about 11.
Today we were up early for a thorough kit check and an Antarctica orientation, and the rest of the day was spent finding our way through the town looking for any book in English that I could take with me, and trying to find some specific spare batteries. I’ve ended up with “South” by Ernest Shackleton, appropriate really. Although, unless I wanted to read about the history of Patagonia there really wasn’t any choice.
We finished the day by going out to eat, where I had the most amazing meal, and have returned just now – at almost 11, which is how I can tell you exactly what time the sun sets.
 If you’ve read this far then thank you for the dedication! We are now waiting on a weather window to fly out, the bags are packed on the plane and we have to be ready any time tomorrow or maybe even the day after to be there and prepared when they say.
I hope that everyone travelling at the moment has safe trips. Ttfn.

Groundhog Day

I feel like I have experienced today twice. Once was spent on a plane from around 8am to 2am, the next started at around 11am in sunny Chile. Whilst the first of today was comfortable and I caught up on some reading, films and Lie To Me episodes, my knees were uncomfortable from so long sitting in one position and my eyes were tired. The next today looks much more promising: We’re sitting in a lovely Sheraton hotel, after a refreshing shower, about to go read in the shade by the pool and perhaps enjoy a milkshake, in 30 degrees C. Anyone jealous? 😉
Also, I can now say that I have been to FOUR continents in ONE week!! And in just two days time that will become five continents. I’m so lucky… I feel like such a jet setter. This is so incredible.
Anyway, besides finally finding and buying the little adaptor that should allow us to upload photos from the Antarctic I really dont have anything else to add for today (Edit: Or perhaps not, technical issues have already made themselves apparent). Thanks for reading the blog everyone who is, by the way!

Exploring Sydney

We had an early start again to complete the long 5 hour drive back to Sydney in time to fit in some sight seeing. We can now proudly say that we’ve been to and taken the obligatory photos on Bondi beach and by the Sydney Opera House, even wondering into the Royal Botanical Gardens – although really just for the photo opportunities. To make up for the picture of only me yesterday, and because I didn’t think this photo could get much better, today’s picture is of my dad.
After the climb yesterday I can say that now I’m a little stiff, but the only real pain it’s left me with is from sunburn! With rain forecasted all day and grey skies I didn’t even consider sun cream 🙁 oops. Even more reason for the picture not to be of me today.
Tomorrow we are flying at 8:45am, and arrive in Santiago at 11:30am the same morning. Shame its separated by a 4 hour and then an 11.5 hour flight… It’s going to be a long day. But I’m looking forward to spending a day in Chile after that! Ttfn.

Summited Kosciuszko

So, we summited Kosciuszko! Highest mountain in Australia, at 2228m, and the 5th, and by far the smallest, of our Seven Summits. Despite the horrible weather forecast, and waking up to pouring rain, by the time we set out the rain had stopped and it didnt start again until we were about 10 minutes from getting back to our room at the end of the morning. I say morning because thats quite literally how long it took us to climb it.
As decided, we didnt take the chairlift, and instead walked up the Merritts Nature Track, a walk that the guide book said would take 2-3 hours to come DOWN… Their timings were quite off, to say the least. We got to the top of the chairlift in 1.5 hours (with fairly burning thighs though from a lot of steps) having come up a tiny little trail through some really, really pretty scenery. We were both soaked from the water droplets the plants had acquired from the previous rainfall, but it was welcomed as we were both very warm.
The trail from there was on a metal grid for the majority of the time, very much catered for anyone and everyone to get to the top. The scenery was sparse but with some stunning views at times, and the nice path made this a very pleasant walk! We took lots of pictures at the top, with Huawei, Mashreq and Emirates flags too, but realised when we got down that this was the first of our summits that we didnt get one of the two of us together – I suppose it would have been difficult both climbing up onto that stone tower at the same time. So youll have to do with a picture of just me Im afraid. Sorry Mum and Kelly!
Not quite sure what to do with ourselves for the rest of the day now, we kind of expected it to take longer than 4.5 hours. Maybe well go hunt down the world biking champion, apparently hes here at the moment. Theres the biking national championships right outside our window, its brilliant! Or maybe not, the rain just restarted with a vengeance.
Hope everyones well, bye for now.

Thredbo, Australia


After two seriously long days of travelling we’re now all set up in a nice ski resort at the bottom of Kosciuszko to go climbing first thing in the morning. The timing shouldnt be a problem as our bodies are on such strange time zones – we woke up this morning at 3am as if it was time to get up and ended up setting off early as neither of us could sleep anymore, and it felt like bedtime half way through the afternoon! We had a beautiful 6 hour drive from Sydney to Canberra and then on to Thredbo, with a short stop for shopping and lunch in the capital. We’ve witnessed most of Australias famous wildlife, but unfortunately almost all on the side of the road… But the countryside is breathtaking.
We’ve bought our lunch for tomorrow and can see our route from the window, but instead of the leisurely ski lift that could take you within 13km of the summit in not much time at all, we’re taking the far more tiring option of doing the alternative 4 hour walk up to that point. I’m not quite sure why that was the joint decision, I imagine it’ll seem very stupid by the time were half way through.
I will now be attempting to stay awake until a more reasonable bed time, and will update you with hopefully a summit photo tomorrow, although the weather looks as if it’s going to be a bit of a miserable day!
Ttfn 🙂

First Blog of the Trip

My dad and I are currently sitting in Dubai airport (business class today – thank you Emirates!) with just one hour to go before setting off on our 25 day trip, starting with Australia and then going on to Antarctica. Itll be the first airport of many!

So exciting to be finally leaving and cant wait to see Australia for the first time. We resisted taking a photo for this first blog, and decided wed upload some when we arrive somewhere more interesting… Watch this space.

Ta ta for now!