Great Victory for the Basque Climbers
Published on 12.01.2012 - TransAntartika 2011
55 days to cover the distance of 3.400 kil between Novolazarevskaya and Hercules Inlet
© Expedition website
The three Basque climbers Alberto Iñurrategi, Juan Vallejo and Mikel Zabalza are the first expeditioners to arrive at Hercules Inlet on 9 January after a 3.400 kil journey. From Novolazarekskaya to HI passing through the South Pole. A brand new itinerary as well.
They have departed from Novolazarevskaya airbase on 16 November wtih their sleds weighing almost 180 kilos each. On 29 December, they reached the South Pole after a 2.230 kil journey. And on 9 Jnauary 2012 after a stay of 55 days on the ice, they made it to to Hercules Inlet, a total distance of 3.400 kilometers and an itinerary never covered so far.
Among these 55 days kite/trekking/skiing, they had to stay eight days in the tent because of the lack of wind. They had also 14 days during which they made more than 100 kil each -with a record of 180 kilometers covered on 3 January.
The only 'mistake' during this voyage has been the fact that these professional climbers could not climb one of the peak they encounter during their crossing of the Dronning Maud land.
If the three Basque climbers have to highlight the main obstacles or difficulties they encountered during the voyage, they would without hesitation mark first the sastrugis fields and then the cevasses zones.
