Reconnaissance climbs and paragliding
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 06:36AM It has been an action packed 24 hours and we have been doing reconnaissance climbs on both the coastal rock peaks and also on the end of the coastal glaciers. We had to cross a frozen lake that at the same time last year was open water but which held solid, and gave us good access to the bottom of the big icefall. We climbed and recce’ed the route up onto the glacier which is going to give us access to get the jetski and inflatable boat hopefully into the water, but at the moment it is still touch and go whether there will be even enough thaw to allow this(but it is melting everyday as summer progresses).
It had been pretty windy all day but in the early evening the wind completely died down and we had a chance to get the Ethanol Ventures paragliders out and for the first time ever a powered paraglider has flown above the ice in Antarctica – a great moment for us all to be part of. It felt very fitting that the most environmentally friendly, quiet, efficient, electric paramotor ever designed should be flying in the most pristine place on earth. Let’s hope this means a start of all the hundreds of thousands of fossil fuel burning paramotor pilots switching to electric. Within minutes of landing though the wind was back and it howled all night long around the tent.
Very strange feeling sleeping in broad daylight all night – but that’s Antarctica!
Bear x
Reader Comments (8)
I´m happy that your adventure is going so well and I´m looking forward for some pictures from that beautiful place.
P.s.:Bear you have realy forgotten something something in your kit-cover for the eyes.
All be well and stay alive!
good luck and keep us updated! What is day and nightime temperatures?
Congrats on the paragliders! Sounds like you're all having a great time! I hope to see some pics soon!
Families back at home, thanks for your support and effort in helping these crazy guys!
hey Bear, is there something special that has to be done to the human body in order to "shut it off" during the 24h daylight? I must be very hard to sleep. Do you guys take sleeping pills or something like that?
Can't wait to see photos of the paragliders... and hopefully the jet skis in action.
Praying for your guys' safe return.
Hi Bear & Gilo
All's well back at the ranch - the mice are having lots of fun with the cat away! How about a mention of whose paramotor you are using.
Good luck and good fun from the Parajet team
Dear all
Great to hear you have arrived and straight into action! have a great time and look after yourselves - England's cold and wet so you are not missing out on much here! Look fwd to hearing all your stories on your return, love Lucy and Steve xx
Bear, so sorry to hear of your misfortune and shoulder injury. We wish you the best and a speedy recovery. You are a treasure to all and we are looking forward to seeing you back at what you love so much.