Unexpected (or expected ?) encounter on the ice
Published on 12.12.2011 - South Pole Solo
Mark Geroge seemed to be well surprised to meet someone else on the ice. But with so many expeditions on air this season ...
In fact this kind of encounter should be rather normal this season with all these expeditions on the ice (about 35).
We just have reported (see our coverage) that the Twin Otter that has been on the ice to pick up Asle T. Johansen from the ice had flew over the heads of the four Norwegians expeditoners sent by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) in the Antarctic.
This time it's the solo Mark George who sees a speck far on the ice. Rather curious he who wants to discover what happens on the horizon. Approchaing he realizes that there is a car there stucked in the ice.
That was the 'Thompson Reuters Eikon South Pole Expedition' : on their way back from putting fuel depots in place (between Hercules Inlet and the South Pole), the trio had a small accident with their specially equiped car. And there they were, coming back from Union Glacier to fix it before returning to ALE Base camp in order to start their record attempt.
Mark George on 12 December : " ... They were shocked to see me as I was to see them and I said good day, do you have a bit of trouble? They informed me it was as I had guessed, their brake callipers were broken. (funny I did not even know cars had brake callipers!). They did tell me that in a few days time the ice would get better for me as they were on their way back to Union Glacier – they were trying to break the world speed record of getting to the pole – 79 hours. I told them not to run me over on their way back and also to race me !..."
