Hey everyone -

Just a quick update…

We had our briefing on Antarctica today – leave no trace, what to expect, medical emergencies and the like.

There is good meteorological support on the continent and the weather forecast for flying tomorrow looks favorable, so we are likely to get a 6 am call to be in the air by 9. It’s about a 4.5 hour flight. Unfortunately there are no windows for passengers, so we won’t see the continent from the air until we are in the Otter on our way to Vinson Base Camp, which could also be tomorrow.

The last group had some significant storms and the climb took over 10 days, so we really won’t know what the conditions are like until we are in the thick of it.

So far, so good.

If you are inclined to worry, I was pretty amazed by the quality of the logistical support, which includes a doctor, nurse and clinic at Union Glacier where the big plane lands.

The Iluyshian is an interesting looking bird – it’s a converted Russian cargo plane with 4 engines and a payload of 17 tons (think Russian tanks).

If we have a chance to communicate again before we leave, we’ll shoot you another message. Otherwise, check on the Cybercasts.

Love,

Sally