In 1987, Adventure Network International (ANI) made history by landing a privately operated wheeled aircraft in Antarctica. On November 22, 1987, Captain Jim Smith landed a Douglas DC-4 on a blue-ice airfield at Patriot Hills in the Ellsworth Mountains. This ground-breaking achievement changed the face of aviation in Antarctica, and paved the way for direct flights [...]
ALE Ski South Pole Guide Hannah McKeand offers some final tips to get you organized as you get ready to head to the ice.
ALE’s First Flight of the Season ALE’s first Ilyushin flight of the 2012 season landed safely at Union Glacier on Oct 30. Weather conditions were ideal for the landing and the Ilyushin crew reported that the runway was in excellent condition. The flight carried core ALE staff and one expedition, Aaron Lindsau. Lindsau hopes to [...]
ALE’s advance team have arrived at Union Glacier, Antarctica. The ski aircraft arrived safely last night with our team on board, after a two-stage flight from Punta Arenas. They report that the camp caches have over-wintered well and look in good shape. The blue-ice runway has little snow coverage and the snow surface around camp [...]
Antarctica is the highest, driest and most remote of all continents yet we know remarkably little about its weather and how it fits into the global picture. A new research project aims to change that...
There is excitement in the air at ALE as we gear up for the new season, especially because of our logistic role in one of the top Antarctic science projects this year. Searching for Life in Antarctica’s Subglacial Lakes This season, after years of planning and logistic preparations, a team of British scientists and engineers [...]
Pulling together the details for a Ski South Pole expedition can be a challenge. How do you stay on track with all there is to do? ALE’s Hannah McKeand gives some advice on equipment selection, your training regime and tracking down funding. Hannah is an avid explorer and experienced polar guide. She has skied to [...]
All eyes are on London 2012 as the Olympic Games close and the Paralympic Games begin. But those in the know are preparing for an unrelated and lesser known, but no less exciting competition – The Union Glacier International Sports Extravaganza. International Competitors and Unconventional Events The competition takes place in the austral summer, deep [...]
Skiing to the South Pole is an incredible, life changing experience. But how to get started? And what’s involved? We asked ALE’s Hannah McKeand to give us some tips. Hannah is an avid explorer and experienced polar guide. She has skied to the South Pole more times than anyone else; has guided several expeditions to the [...]
“Antarctica is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind bogglingly big it is.” * And knowing exactly where you are is important for explorers and expeditions. So what do they rely on? Well, maps, of course but because Antarctica is so huge, very little of it has been mapped. Existing Topographic Maps Whole [...]