Day 5 08.12.22 - getting to know the team!

December 8, 2022

So, for now there’s been a lot of travelling, a lot of food and chatting.

Yesterday night we were told about our groups. Kenton and Rob with their guide; Saray with her guide; and the remaining party of 5, Steve and I, Rowena, Jason and Sonia, guided by JB and Celine. JB is a Nepalese Sherpa, Celine is Swiss but she lives in Canada on Baffin Island (close to the North Pole). She holds the record for circumnavigating Baffin on skis and with the help of a kite …… 2000 km in 45 days…… something like that.... really!!!!!

This morning we had our gear check with JB. Plan for the afternoon: food packing, lunch (more food) and then we shall go on an acclimatization walk to test the gear, the sleds and equipment.

Lovely walk up a gentle hill next to the camp. 3 groups, the 3 boys with JB; Sonya, Rowena and Celine; Rob, Kenton and Don. Perfect weather, sunny with minimal wind. Contrary to other regions and expeditions, the weather in Antarctica tends to warm up in the afternoon. Climbing is mostly in the afternoons and evenings otherwise it’s too cold. The further we climbed, the warmer it got. Beautiful sun and stunning scenery. Lots of opportunities for pictures. Everyone posed in front of Vinson. Kenton and Rob went for a higher col for a better view of camp and the mountains.

Back to camp, there was a chance for tea and then we started packing our personal food. 6 snacks a day for a 7 day trip. 42 snacks. Plus 7 breakfasts, 3 frozen meals and 4 dehydrated packs - disgusting!!! As usual we packed more food than we shall probably need and half will come back. But, better safe than sorry!!

Guess what, by the time we finished packing food it was time to eat again-dinner!!

One thing is certain: in terms of calories intake vs calories spent, we are getting fat!!

Sitting in camp and through the meals in the common kitchen, you start to know your fellow mountaineers. Lovely chat with Saray. Incredible life story. And guess what? Closed the evening chatting to Kenton. Whatever you do as a profession and independent from whom you are, talks are all the same: family, kids, job, past time and the love for the mountains.

In bed at 10, a movie until 12, a bit of my book and tried to sleep; but guess what it was very hot in the -40c bag. With the heat, the light (at midnight, the sun was at 3pm) and a late night party in our neighbouring camp, meant I did not really sleep until 4am.