AAaLot
Mar 3, 03, 10:41 am
DFW-SLC-PUQ-geographic South Pole Amundsen Scott Base, Antarctica
There is a lot more to this story, but I decided to at least write some of it now before I start to forget it. Please let me know if there are questions of clarifications.
Antarctica is the last place on earth that humans can not control. I learned this with numerous weather delays that would not be a problem anywhere else.
I received a ‘special’ to travel to the geographic South Pole that I could not pass up. I ended being the 485th tourist that has paid to go to the geographic South Pole through the only tour operator www.adventure-network.com (http://www.adventure-network.com)
DFW-SCL
AA #945 First Class - 10 hours
The international flagship lounge at DFW was great. I had never been in it before. Food selection was limited. Liquor selection was good.
Flight was uneventful. Food was good, but uninspiring. I miss the days of caviar.
SLC-PUQ
Lan Chile Coach – 5 hours
Our flight was not scheduled to leave until 2 pm. However, we cleared customs / immigration very quickly and were able to take the 11:00 am flight (scheduled arrival for AA#945 was 9:53am, so this connection was very quick)
The flight stopped in Puerto Montt for a 20 minutes. This area of Chile looked very nice and seemed worthwhile visiting again. The flight was uneventful and I thought that the two meal services were relatively good.
Punta Arenas
Hotel Jose Nogiuera, Punta Arenas, Chile. Good hotel. I would recommend it again.
Not much to do in Punta Arenas. I liked the ‘Los Ganaderos’ Restaurant. I also liked my visit to the penguin colony.
After much waiting for the weather to clear in Antarctica, we finally got the call.
PUQ-Patriot Hills
Ilyushin-76 sub-coach 4.5 hours
We were advised to leave all of our sharp objects in the bus before going through Punta Arenas airplane security. We then boarded the same bus where they gave us all of our sharp objects back before boarding this old Russian military that is apparently bigger than a C130 and only smaller than a C5. Nevertheless it was very big and basic. The crew consisted of 12 Russian gentlemen.
The landing at Patriot Hills was on an ice runway where it took a long-time to come to a stop. I did not like not having any windows to look out of during our landing.
We were stuck at Patriot Hills due to weather a lot longer than expected 16 days versus 5 budgeted. The tents were basic, but relatively comfortable. I was bored at the beginning, but very content at the end of my journey. Spent most of the day reading, puzzles, etc. Average temperature -15C with of course 100% daylight.
After a lot of waiting because of bad weather it was our turn to head to the Amundsen Scott Base at the geographic South Pole
Patriot Hills-Thiel Mts-Amundsen Scott Base geographic south pole
Single Otter – sub-sub coach
673 miles 6 hours
We boarded our 1960 single otter airplane for our journey to the South Pole.
After a brief refueling stop at the Thiel mountains [it takes 4 barrels of fuel to take 1 barrel there], we continued to the South Pole. Antarctica is mostly a flat white desert with very few mountains.
Amundsen Scott Base www.spole.gov (http://www.spole.gov)
It was not as cold as I expected. Only about -30C.
It was surreal to find so many people here since they are building a new station. I was also surreal to go shopping for t-shirts after so many days without a shower.
After spending 3 hours there it was time to head back….
There is a lot more to this story, but I decided to at least write some of it now before I start to forget it. Please let me know if there are questions of clarifications.
Antarctica is the last place on earth that humans can not control. I learned this with numerous weather delays that would not be a problem anywhere else.
I received a ‘special’ to travel to the geographic South Pole that I could not pass up. I ended being the 485th tourist that has paid to go to the geographic South Pole through the only tour operator www.adventure-network.com (http://www.adventure-network.com)
DFW-SCL
AA #945 First Class - 10 hours
The international flagship lounge at DFW was great. I had never been in it before. Food selection was limited. Liquor selection was good.
Flight was uneventful. Food was good, but uninspiring. I miss the days of caviar.
SLC-PUQ
Lan Chile Coach – 5 hours
Our flight was not scheduled to leave until 2 pm. However, we cleared customs / immigration very quickly and were able to take the 11:00 am flight (scheduled arrival for AA#945 was 9:53am, so this connection was very quick)
The flight stopped in Puerto Montt for a 20 minutes. This area of Chile looked very nice and seemed worthwhile visiting again. The flight was uneventful and I thought that the two meal services were relatively good.
Punta Arenas
Hotel Jose Nogiuera, Punta Arenas, Chile. Good hotel. I would recommend it again.
Not much to do in Punta Arenas. I liked the ‘Los Ganaderos’ Restaurant. I also liked my visit to the penguin colony.
After much waiting for the weather to clear in Antarctica, we finally got the call.
PUQ-Patriot Hills
Ilyushin-76 sub-coach 4.5 hours
We were advised to leave all of our sharp objects in the bus before going through Punta Arenas airplane security. We then boarded the same bus where they gave us all of our sharp objects back before boarding this old Russian military that is apparently bigger than a C130 and only smaller than a C5. Nevertheless it was very big and basic. The crew consisted of 12 Russian gentlemen.
The landing at Patriot Hills was on an ice runway where it took a long-time to come to a stop. I did not like not having any windows to look out of during our landing.
We were stuck at Patriot Hills due to weather a lot longer than expected 16 days versus 5 budgeted. The tents were basic, but relatively comfortable. I was bored at the beginning, but very content at the end of my journey. Spent most of the day reading, puzzles, etc. Average temperature -15C with of course 100% daylight.
After a lot of waiting because of bad weather it was our turn to head to the Amundsen Scott Base at the geographic South Pole
Patriot Hills-Thiel Mts-Amundsen Scott Base geographic south pole
Single Otter – sub-sub coach
673 miles 6 hours
We boarded our 1960 single otter airplane for our journey to the South Pole.
After a brief refueling stop at the Thiel mountains [it takes 4 barrels of fuel to take 1 barrel there], we continued to the South Pole. Antarctica is mostly a flat white desert with very few mountains.
Amundsen Scott Base www.spole.gov (http://www.spole.gov)
It was not as cold as I expected. Only about -30C.
It was surreal to find so many people here since they are building a new station. I was also surreal to go shopping for t-shirts after so many days without a shower.
After spending 3 hours there it was time to head back….