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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:55 pm
by The Chief
Hmmm, a bit of inaccuracy in the story above.

I believe that may be the first WOMAN unassisted crossing....

Feinnes & Stroud completed the first UNASSISTED/UNSUPPORTED CROSSING OF THE ANTARCTIC CONTINENT in Feb of 1993.

Fiennes book on his and Stroud's incredible adventure, is an awesome read and one of my favorites...
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:06 pm
by The Chief
Lolli wrote:"Previous crossings have used wind power to ski-sail across the earth’s southernmost continent. By using only their own human power, the pair have written a new chapter in Antarctic history."


Fiennes and Stroud used no such devices... skis and walking only.

Read the book and yu'll be amazed at what they both endured.

Like I posted, someone is disseminating some bum info.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:29 pm
by Damien Gildea
Welcome to Antarctica, Kingdom of Liars and Bullshitters.

The continent of Antarctica includes the ice shelves. If you don´t cross them you don´t cross the continent.

This is why purists traditionally started their trips from the outside of Berkner Island, as that is on the outside of the Ronne shelf. The idea is to finish at McMurdo (Ross Island) at the outside of the Ross Ice Shelf.

This is why Borge Ousland started and finished at these points, and others have tried to. To start on one outside and finish inside is not a crossing. It is an attempt. Fiennes and Stroud attempted and failed - in fact they made a big deal about the need to start outside Berkner and finish at McMurdo, to cross both shelves. Arnesen and Bancroft tried and failed. Both made claims to have ´crossed´Antarctica and were derided within the polar community for it, a failure they even acknowledged themselves, in ´small print´but ignored in bigger publicity.

Hubert and Dansercoeur, Bae (Cecilie´s deceased husband) and Sonneland, Gjeldnes, Ousland and others have all crossed the Ross to finish.

Do kites constiute 'support' or 'assistance'? Maybe. But plodding along dragging a glorified bucket, not using kites because someone told you it's more pure, or better 'style' is bullshit. I know because I have done it. I guided a client 700 miles to the Pole in 2000-01.

Kites are an artificial motor to forward motion, whereas skis for example still require human leg power to work. But if you can kite, should, it's smarter, faster and cleaner.

Hyping this manufactured distinction derogates the achievements of truly great polar travellers like Borge Ousland and Rjune Gjeldnes. Their crossings have been milestones in human adventure. Given that Ousland has always been widely credited with the first unsupported crossing of Antarctica (and solo at that), Skog and Waters, and Explorersweb are effectively calling Borge Ousland a liar. That is a fucking disgrace.

Fiennes and Stroud did take, and briefly use, a kite, but they were so bad at it - having not trained using it - that they derived little benefit from it. But they used one.

Explorersweb have a vested interest in ignoring the ice shelves because the 'achievments' of the owners rest on recognizing 'inside' starts at Hercules Inlet, like they did, and now most do - it's logistically, financially and physically easier to start at Hercules than Berkner. If true 'outside' starts became 'official' their claims would disappear. As would mine, the difference being I don't give a shit if it does ...

D

PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:28 pm
by MoapaPk
Damien Gildea wrote:The continent of Antarctica includes the ice shelves.


Maybe it is best to leave "continent" out of the definition of Antarctica. Usually, ice shelves are not included in the definition of a continent. The criteria for the definition are vague and depend on an historical vs. geological context.