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Heli-Skiing Expedition to Antarctica

Chronicle of Attempted Expedition

(2.03.2005) The first in world history Heli-Skiing Expedition and BASE-jumps in Antarctica Helicopter skiing and heli snowboarding in the Antarctic zone (Antarctic peninsula). Nobody in the world has done that for today! The most professional heli-skiing join guide team from Russia, New Zealand and Argentina takes part in this expedition. And breath-taking parachute jumps and wingsuit flights along Antarctica at midget altitudes. Organizers: -Patagonia South Adventure, Argentina -Russian Heli Project, Russia. With assistance: -Russian Extreme Project, Russia -DAP AIRVIAS Airlines, Chile. Technical Sponsors: "Salomon", "Bonfire", "Canon", "Electric".

On March, 5 we had the last staging post at Port Williams before gaining the sea. Weather improved, it became warmer and not so windy.

As the weather forecast in Drake Strait was still unfavorable everybody prepared for strong sea rolling: somebody takes tablets, the others laughed for future use, but I just drank. The captain told that an expected storm would be approximately 7 points on the scale.

On March, 6 at 20.30 our ship passed Cape Horn, gained the sea and headed Drake Strait. Everyone was excited by the event, we sang songs, and were going to pierce an ear after our returning by old sea tradition. This day the weather, despite of forecast, was rather tolerable, a wind was not strong, and fall of the waves was not very high :-).

On March, 7 at 21.00 we reached the coast of Antarctica. If to be more precise, it was the coast of King George Island that geographically belongs to Antarctica. The first impression fully complied with our expectations: severe, cold and inhospitable land, naked rocks and huge glaciers slipping directly into the ocean. There were a lot of fur-seals squattering around the ship, and crowds of penguins were walking on the coast :-)

We were remaining off the harbour near the King George Island opposite to the Russian Belinzgauzen station and had to solve all the problems with our helicopter that was stationed at the territory of the Chilean Antarctic base located in the neighborhood with ours. We hoped that everything would be ÎÊ and the next day we would start the practical part of our expedition, as the weather forecast was favoring to us for a while. To tell the truth King George appeared not quite suitable for skiing, therefore after sorting out all the questions we were going to the next Livingston Island (four hours away from here).

On March, 8 in the evening we arrived to Livingston Island. But, as it usually happens, man proposes but God disposes. A gale began at night. Next day in the morning it became too dangerous to remain off the harbour there because of the amplified wind and the surge of the sea. This part of the island has no closed bay where our ship could hide from the amplified storm. We had to unmoor and go back to the King George Island on the storm sea about 5-6 points on the scale as the forecast for the nearest 2 days was unfavorable.

On March, 10 the weather was still non-flying - a strong wind and low overcast. The temperature was down up to negative 12C. Since the morning we skied on a main deck for want of something better to do. We expected weather improvement by the evening and hoped to leave the ship, foot on the coast and at last take photographs with penguins, a great variety of which we could observe.

At last On March, 11 we footed in Antarctica at the North-West extremity of King George Island, where Russian Antarctic Bellinzgauzen station is located. Despite of all forecasts the bad weather held (low overcast and a wind), and we decided to leave the ship and finally in-move on the coast. We did not want to hang between islands any more hiding our heads out from the storm.

Russian polar explorers were gracious to us. Our mood was improved with the good supper and the real Russian bath. Hip-Hip-Hurrah to the Russian polar explorers!

Unfortunately, On March, 11 and 12 the weather did not improve and our hopes to ski on King George were completely deceived. The Chilean pilots seemed not to be consumed with desire to help us. In the result we just walked on the island, took a lot of photos with fur seals and penguins and visited a local orthodox church (the most southern church in the world!).

On March, 13, we had to go back home. The weather was still bad. Although we hoped very much, we did not succeed to ski and BASE-jump in Antarctica.

Good-bye till we meet again!