Thread: My New Years Eve (pics)

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Do companies run tours down there. I chatted to a fellow on a course I was doing who runs expeditions to the poles, he was saying that they were like $20k+ type thing, but it would just be an adventure of a lifetime!

There are plenty of tours that run to the Peninsula from South America, from about US$8k I think. The one I would really like to do goes to the Ross Sea from Hobart and ends up in NZ, visiting some of the old explorer's huts, Mt Erebus etc and some proper icebreaking too. That is about US$25k.

Originally Posted by Frenchie

There are plenty of tours that run to the Peninsula from South America, from about US$8k I think. The one I would really like to do goes to the Ross Sea from Hobart and ends up in NZ, visiting some of the old explorer's huts, Mt Erebus etc and some proper icebreaking too. That is about US$25k.

Thanks for that Frenchie, it just looks like such an interesting place to visit.

One day!

Do yo find it difficult from an internal clock perspective with 24hr days?

Fantastic pics. Are you allowed to use a flash? I was just thinking a very very small amout of flash would put catch lights in their eyes and really make them stand out. Dial the flash right back, I'd imagine the birds are pretty reflective. Of course flashing them might be frowned upon. Might send them into crazed killing frenzys or something...

I know they run varous photograpic trips down there from time to time. The "best" (i.e. $$$$) hire a small ship and have 60 or so paying customers. Some of them leave from Argentina I think. The cost of getting there must be added.

The Luminous Landscape (The Luminous Landscape) did a tour in Dec 2005. Bit of a write up can be found here - Antarctic Archive

The 2009 trip looks like it's on now. This is how to do it in style..

Antarctic Expedition 2009

I'd love to do one of these one day.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Do companies run tours down there. I chatted to a fellow on a course I was doing who runs expeditions to the poles, he was saying that they were like $20k+ type thing, but it would just be an adventure of a lifetime!

That wasn't Eric Philips was it? He is here at the moment, he runs expeditions to the poles, costs about $25k to the north pole (flying to 88N and walking the last bit, but you have to get yourself to Spitzbergen) and about $40k to the south pole. US dollars of course!

Originally Posted by Frenchie

That wasn't Eric Philips was it? He is here at the moment, he runs expeditions to the poles, costs about $25k to the north pole (flying to 88N and walking the last bit, but you have to get yourself to Spitzbergen) and about $40k to the south pole. US dollars of course!

I'm almost certain thats the man! Jeez its such a small world. We did a Wilderness 1st aid course together a few years ago at Mt Victoria in the Blue mountains. Say hi to him from Murph, Scott and Simon from The Kings School. He is absolutely fascinating to listen to and a nice fellow also. I was just so envious of his expeditions (although it sounded like there are no guarantees!) and ever since then have really wanted to get down there and hike to the pole. Seeing all your pictures and reading of your experiences just makes me soooooo green with envy, although I'd prefer to do it at a challenge and journey to enjoy the place and the sites.

I still recall vividly him telling us about when they were trekking and a US sub broke through the ice just near them - they've wondered over and the ice cracked between themselves and their equipment. Likewise another time they were doing some filming where they set the camera down on the ice to film themselves walking towards it, and it wasn't until they were watching it later that they realised the whole surface was rippling as they walked on it! He was also saying that some of it is very fluid, and the GPS ref that you go to sleep at isn't necessarily where you wake up!

Amazing pictures...

Be serious though, the penguin in the 3rd pic (1st post) looks like it's straight out of Happy Feet

Looking at those pics Tony I turned my aircon down to 18 deg to get in the mood from the sweltering 35 something outside....
Take care and enjoy the rest of your trip.......need a pic of a Leopard Seal..up close

Great pics mate, thanks.