A terrifying storm…
Published on 18.12.2007 - Sub-Zero Antarctic Expedition
Following the departure of his companion, Todd Carmichael is now alone out on the ice, having to cope with some appalling weather.
Storms, storms and yet more storms: that's the recurring refrain from all of the expeditions that have opted to take the route between Hercules Inlet and the South Pole. The solitary Todd Carmichael is no exception. In fact, since 9th December, whenever the weather doesn't confine him to his tent, Todd has been enduring white-out conditions, as well as snow and terrible blizzards.
On 14th December, Brian Hart, the man handling Todd's website wrote, "Experienced observers claim that the storm that has rampaged across the Antarctic in recent days is one of the worst they have ever seen! And especially for this time of the year. On a continent which is the driest of all the deserts and other arid places in the world, the people running the base at Patriot Hills report that snowdrifts over 60 cm high have formed around the station! They also tell us that the current storm system extends over 7 degrees latitude, more specifically between 80 and 87 degrees south.
Despite everything, Todd is making progress whenever he has the opportunity: fifteen kilometres here, ten kilometres there. The forecasters expected this dreadful storm to abate last Sunday (16th December), but judging from the dispatches sent by the various expeditions, their problems continue even though the weather is improving.
