Randosteve skis above Cierva Cove. Photo: Scott Fennell.
In my world, and any other fan of backcountry skiing, today was a day dreams are made of. After being cooped up on the Clipper Adventurer for two days crossing the Drake Passage, the clouds parted and the winds eventually mellowed to allow for an amazing day skiing above the ocean and amongst glaciers under brilliant blue skies.
On the zodiac heading away from the Clipper Adventurer.
The day started a bit on the windy side but the seas were calm, which allowed for an easy, stress free and dry commute in the zodiacs from the mother ship to the snow in Cierva Cove. One by one, skiers and riders were transported to the shore and began skinning upward. My group started upward in the same fashion and then booted up a short couloir which brought us to the top of a peak in the middle of some of the most amazing views on this planet of ours.
Thomas Laakso and Glen Poulsen skinning in Antarctica.
Though we were at the bottom of the globe, we felt like we were on top for the world and our cheeks hurt from the endless smiles and grins we had on our faces. The snow sucked, frozen and crusty, but really…it didn’t matter one bit as we carved tracks on the southern most continent and we hacked out way down the couloir.
Steve Romeo skis a chute above Cierva Cove. Photo Scott Fennell.
Continuing further, we skied an open face in front of deep blue crevasses on a distant glacier. A blue that was hard to capture on film, but quite mesmerizing non-the-less. Wanting more vertical, we cut towards the skier’s right and found a slot that brought us down to spot just a few feet above the sea. Skiing right down the ocean was a first for me, and a very memorable moment that I will cherish for a long time…if not forever.
Kellie Okonek rips in front of an Antarctic glacier.
After booting up a few hundred feet, we transitioned back to skins and continued to the highpoint of the area. Chatter on the radios noted that the tide was heading out, making it more and more difficult for the zodiac landings on shore and signaled the end of the ski day. Riding in the bow, I kicked back and absorbed a much as I could of where we just were, and though I was on cloud nine, it became ingrained in my brain.
Thomas Laakso boots above the ocean in Antarctica.
We are all now back on the ship, drinking beer and planning the next day’s ski day. We are headed to Anvers Island tomorrow, home of the US Palmer Station scientific base, and 2 hour cruise southward. Hopefully the weather will hold and we can experience bliss once again.
Follow along with updates on IceAxe.TV and Skiing Magazine too!!
And to see where we are via Spot Locator, check out StraightChuter.com.
Save Antarctica and support TetonAT by shopping GREEN at Backcountry.com.
Glad you had a good day – great photos!
Awesome Steve, make sure you take lots of video, can’t wait to see it!
That small picture of your group in front of the crevases is awesome!
So I can’t belive you’re not already inundated with questions about Thomas’s boots. Surely those must be prototypes of BD’s efficiency AT boots. In your down time on the boat you’ll have to dig for info for all us gear dorks.
The skiing looks amazing and like you said, the snow quality definitely takes a backseat in a place like that. Enjoy!
Great photos! Looks like a pretty spectacular first day. (This is Scott’s girlfriend writing — make sure you give him a big fat kiss from me) I hope the rest of your days down there follow suit after this one. Happy travels!
Don’t forget about the skis! Weight, construction, etc…
But, amazing shots. Must be be pretty cool being in a place where you won’t run into many sledders… Enjoy!
Extraordinary and unbelievable.
Sick shots Steve!
And yes, I too want to know what Thomas is skiing on.
I tried on a pair of Virus Lites (http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-73063456671420_2077_8117075) the other day. They were sweet. The touring range-of-motion is probably better than anything on the market.
Funny. I thought I was the only one geeking out on those boots when I scrolled down. Pics look amazing! Wow, I can only begin to imagine the stoke you guys are feeling. Go! Go! Go!
From the first photo, it looks like you are wearing the same boots as Thomas. Are you also sporting new skis?
Wow Steve unbelievable place that your in…..enjoy!
This looks amazing! I really enjoyed the pics and most of all your statement about skiing down to the ocean:-) Soon it’s time for the Northern hemisphere!
We’re all such dorks! We should be stoked in the scenary and whatnot and we’re all geeking out over boots that look new and fancy.
Regardless of the gear, enjoy the trip of a lifetime Steve, just know that us dorks will be waiting for any ski and boot beta you can spew out.
Pray for snow!
I’ll console my envy only by saying I skied powder here in France yesterday. Otherwise, amazing stuff skiing down there. It’s sooooo beautiful but where are the penguins??? Keep given’er!!!!!! Big Hi to Thomas also.
so cool! i feel like i was there. thanks
hey everybody! thanks for the props…it truly is amazing and magical down here.
regarding the bd boots and skis…those guys always have something in the works.
My, oh my! That place looks incredible – glaciers, rock, snow, clear skies, and deep blue seas. Enjoy these days!
Giver from Deep Cove!
Hmmm, comments closed today and you edited your response from yesterday omitting some news you were going to pass on after talking to Doug? Wondering what that was about?
Glad your getting some good weather. Hope it holds on for the rest of the trip!