Skiing above Ushuaia, Argentina.
Alright folks, this is the day I have been looking forward to for the past few months. It is the day our ship sets off across the Drake Passage, towards some of the most insane ski terrain in the world with IceAxe Expeditions.
Traveling across the Drake Passage should be very interesting and I have starting loading up on seaside meds to help me keep my shit together. Though I have heard that the meds themselves can make one very dehydrated and blur your vision pretty severely, so I’m not really looking forward to that aspect of it at all. Interestingly enough (and like many things these days) there is a website called PassageWeather.com, which is dedicated to forecasting weather on marine passages around the world and currently it looks as though we will be cruising in right behind a low pressure system and in front of high pressure. What does this mean? Well, it’s anyone’s guess really, but my prediction is that the seas will be moderate. Not huge swells…but not like glass either.
The voyage across the Drake Passage will take about 20 hours and we will reach the South Shetland Islands first. Here, we will make a quick stop to stretch the legs on Deception Island on the afternoon of the 7th, and then push on to our southernmost point of the trip, where we will put in or first ski day on the 8th. And believe me…I am super fired up to ski on Antarctica and I am paired with some strong skiers and equally cool and friendly people.
The dynamics of those who have signed up for this trip are very diverse and range from railroad and oil field workers in Alaska, to hot-shot Fortune 500 types. Take a guess who I can relate more to! It’s pretty wild really, and I look forward to meeting everyone over the course of the next two weeks.
Doug Stoup, of IceAxe Expeditions, prays for a smooth trip across the Drake Passage.
Anyway, I will do my best to update TetonAT.com with posts from the trip, but I can only imagine the satellite internet connection on the ship will be pretty bogged down with many others trying to do the same thing…so bear with me and hang in there. I’m missing RandoKitty a lot already and for those not in “the know”, RandoKitty is my girlfriend…NOT my pet cat. Something I’ve learned that a few people haven’t quite grasped quite yet. So…ciao for now…but stay tuned for updates from the bottom of the world!
Follow along with updates on IceAxe.TV and Skiing Magazine too!!
And to see where we are via Spot Locator, check out StraightChuter.com.
Nice, been enjoyin followin this for a while now. Stoked to see Ush again. A buncha Colorado boys and myself took our splitboards down there in 2006. Such a beautiful place and good people. I can almost smell the air through your pics. One of the local guys in the hostel was showing us his pics from Antartica when he would go there for research trips. Place looks nothin short of incredible. Another planet! Crazy to see how its blowin up with ski trips now-not sayin its become overcrowded at all. Just crazy considerin what it takes to get there. Lookin forward to that update.
Oh and I think we skied many of the same lines above Glacier Marshall…like most who venture down there. Never saw any 4wheelers but did enjoy that little bar/shack at the bottom. Dam good memories!
I would agree KP and it will be interesting to see all the media (photos, videos, magazine articles) from Ushuaia and Antarctica next season. Of course…it will be old news by then…since it will have already been on the pages of TetonAT. Just kidding, but I hope I can help add to the stoke, and get everyone fired up to see more from the area.
Driving to a restaurant out of town and towards the park last night really opened my eyes to how much potential there is down here…and how much terrain there is. Well worth a trip to Ushuaia by itself…and I feel I must come back now. Maybe someday with RandoKitty.
Thanks for following along. I have been battling poor internet connections, weird anomalies with comments being turned off and missing text. Doesn’t help with my grey hair situation. 🙂
Hey Steve,
About sea sickness. Try to get to a place on the ship where you can see the horizon, this will help. Eat saltine crackers if you have any, this will help too. Try not to just sit in your bunk in your stateroom, get up and walk around and exercise if possible. If there is an observation deck get out there and walk around. Fresh air will help. Sea sickness is somewhat a mental thing, So think positive that you won’t get it. Hope this helps. I have gone to sea for over thirty years.
Enjoy the trip!!
Steve
thanks steve! i just place the patch behind my ear…but everyone i’ve talked to said it really messes with you vision and makes you dehydrated. not looking forward to that! and i’m kinda mental as it is…so i’ll probably get it bad. 2 hours til we board the ship. SO anxious!
Steve,
Try to immagine yourself skiing. Maybe that would help.
Steve,
I am following your lead next trip.Hurt back or not, I’m not missing a trip like this anymore. Life’s too short. Great pics and story board, it’s like we are all there. Great job.
Will