Antarctic Skiing
01. Ski Antarctica IMG 2844
Perfect Antarctic skiing - fresh tracks in light powder after making the first ascents of Mt Cornu and Madonna's Peaks.
02. Ski Antarctica IMG 3785
Skiing the north face of Central Peak really sums up Antarctic skiing to me, with its mind-blowing backdrops and insanely broken glaciers. It is an incredibly beautiful place to ski.
04. Ski Antarctica IMG 3685
Antarctic ascents invariably involve weaving around numerous crevasses, carefully working a line that will give a safe and enjoyable descent after reaching the summit.
05. Ski Antarctica IMG 2969
After crossing the terminal crevasse on Mt Ader a pleasant steep slope and sharp snow-ridge led to its virgin summit.
06. Ski Antarctica IMG 3098
Our team approaching Spirit Peak, as yet more unclimbed mountains peek at us from over the back...
07. Ski Antarctica IMG 3131
At 2000m on Eagle Dome the temperature plummeted; ahead lay the spine of Antarctic Peninsula, stretching forever in both directions.
08. Ski Antarctica IMG 3270
I love the crispness of early mornings in the mountains, making rapid progress up snow that has frozen solid during the night.
10. Ski Antarctica IMG 3163
Madonnas's Peaks, in all their glory. Named because I was listening to Madonna on my Pod as we approached. Honest.
11. Ski Antarctica IMG 2573
Another danger of Antarctic skiing are the crevasses... they are enormous! Everyone needs to be well-prepared and practised in glacier travel and crevasse-rescue.
12. Ski Antarctica IMG 2534
Our camp below Missing Peak on the Sikorsky Glacier. This mountain didn't even appear on the maps of the area!
13. Ski Antarctica IMG 2746
Fresh powder skiing during our descent of Mt Cornu. This is what Antarctic skiing is all about for those who ski above 1000m.
14. Ski Antarctica IMG 2861
One safe line takes us between enormous fields of seracs and crevasses to reach our camp on the Breguet Glacier.
18. Ski Antarctica IMG 2107
The summit ridge of Jabet Peak, a mountain that gives a wonderful day out and feels big, but is only bite-sized!
21. Ski Antarctica IMG 2424
Some of my favourite skiing in Antarctica is the tiny Bruce Island, which gives amazing backdrops and some pretty safe skiing.
22. Ski Antarctica IMG 2572
One of the dangers of skiing in Antarctica are the serac bands... they are everywhere, on top of cliffs, summits and other seracs! The trick is finding a way around them.
23. Ski Antarctica IMG 2235
Setting off from our camp on the Marr Ice Piedmont to ascend the SW 'Menelaus' ridge of Mt Francais.
24. Ski Antarctica IMG 2702
Great skiing down the western flank of Mt Cornu after makings its first ascent.
25. Ski Antarctica STA 3180
To reach Mt Cornu we had to cross two large crevasse fields. This is the second crevasse field, which required some interesting route-finding to cross.
26. Ski Antarctica IMG 1573
The three beauties of the Breguet Glacier - Mts Cornu, Spirit and Ader - all first ascents and descents during the Eagle Ski Club Antarctic Expedition.
27. Ski Antarctica IMG 2731
Madonna's Peaks - great climbing along the right-hand ridge, and an incredible ski down in perfect powder.
28. Ski Antarctica IMG 2853
The evening sun casts a shadow from the summits of the (then) unclimbed peaks above the Sikorsky Glacier.
29. Ski Antarctica IMG 2217
Camping on the Marr Ice Piedmont below the SW 'Menelaus' ridge of Mt Francais.
30. Ski Antarctica IMG 2925
We were unsure about the crevasse that cuts across the upper slopes of Mt Ader, but this proved to be easy to cross. Another first ascent and a fine ski descent,
31. Ski Antarctica IMG 2958
Approaching the terminal crevasse on Mt Ader, with Spirit Peak and Mt Cornu behind.
32. Ski Antarctica IMG 2847
Making fresh Antarctic tracks above Hughes Bay: the best snow is available to those who skin up!
33. Ski Antarctica IMG 2663
Afternoon clouds rolling in from the sea and over the summits above Cierva Cove.
34. Ski Antarctica IMG 2586
Immediately west of Mt Cornu lie 'Madonna's Peaks', two shapely, unnamed and unclimbed peaks whose virgnity was violated by our team.
34. Ski Antarctica IMG 2723
Skiing powder snow towards Madonna's Peaks, with Mt Parry dominating the skyline.
36. Ski Antarctica IMG 2170
The long approach across the Marr Ice Piedmont towards Mt Francais, the highest peak on Anvers Island.
37. Ski Antarctica IMG 1461
The mountains south of Mt Cornu remain unclimbed, and isolated by enormously crevassed glaciers.
38. Ski Antarctica IMG 2866
It's nearly midnight as we drop into the freezing fog that blankets the glaciers above Cierva Cove.
39. Ski Antarctica IMG 1548
One of many small, unclimbed peaks above Hughes Bay, seen here from the summit of a much higher virgin peak.
41. Ski Antarctica IMG 1455
Mt Cornu, one of the most beautiful Antarctic peaks I have skied, and another first ascent and descent.
42. Ski Antarctica IMG 2522
Crossing the junction of the Breguet and Sikorsky Glaciers to reach our playground of fantastic and unclimbed ski peaks.
44. Ski Antarctica IMG 2922
The upper reaches of the Breguet Glacier are flanked by Himalayan-scale faces as we set off to make the first ascents of Spirit Peak and Eagle Dome.
46. Ski Antarctica IMG 3291
Biting cold and clouds of vapour, we head towards the base of Central Peak.
51. Ski Antarctica PJW7383
Our yacht, Spirit of Sydney, is safely moored using ice-screws firmly attached to chunks of glacier ice embedded in sea ice.
52. Ski Antarctica IMG 3608
Icicles form every night along the gaping mouths of the crevasses that we skirt during the first ascent of Central Peak.
53. Ski Antarctica IMG 3573
An early start is required on peaks below 1500m to ensure that the snow-bridges across crevasses are solid and strong.
55. Ski Antarctica IMG 3601
The view down the north face of Central Peaks across to the mountains of the Breguet Glacier, immediately prior to our ski descent.
56. Ski Antarctica IMG 3358
It's a long way home! The endless mountains and glaciers above Hughes Bay.
57. Ski Antarctica IMG 3626
The south side of Mount Cornu. Our ascent and ski ascent took the obvious line from the left.
58. Ski Antarctica IMG 3437
Spectacular glacial scenery as we descend towards Cierva Cove. These peaks were reached from a camp that we placed high on the glacier below the peaks.
59. Ski Antarctica IMG 3651
Missing Peak... the mountain that wasn't even on the map, which we climbed and skied via the left-hand (north) ridge.
61. Ski Antarctica PJW7621
A snow-petrel soars ice-cliffs on Enterprise Island, occasionally dipping into the sea to feed on small crustacea.
63. Ski Antarctica IMG 3281
Having run out of unclimbed mountains above the Breguet Glacier, we turned our sites on the peaks above the Sikorsky Glacier. Ruthlessly and methodically, one by one, they lost their virginity.
67. Ski Antarctica IMG 2533
This mountain, which doesn'tt appear on the maps of the area, gave excellent skiing. It is most definitely a mountain and not a flat glacier, so we named it Missing Peak.
74. Ski Antarctica IMG 2727
The team splits: half return to camp for tea, while the rest can't avoid the temptation of another virgin summit and evening powder skiing.
77. Ski Antarctica IMG 2939
The very shapely Spirit Peak was unclimbed, so we made the first ascent in clear weather via the NW side while the yacht was smothered in thick cloud.
79. Ski Antarctica IMG 3492
This mountain screams to be skied, but remains frustratingly out of reach due to a crazy amount of crevassing!
