Yesterday I awoke to expedition leader Laurie Dexter’s Scottish lilt announcing through my in-cabin speaker that Cape Horn lay directly off the bow. I rushed to the deck, bleary-eyed, and got to see one of the most storied spots on earth—a place I’d heard about my entire life, and where nearly 30,000 sailors died. Fortunately, the sea was calm as can be and I was able to take in the moment peacefully. In fact, our entire recrossing of the Drake was about as placid as it gets. First
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November 18, 2009
Klaus Obermeyer turns 90 in December. To celebrate, we check out some of Obermeyer’s new outerwear. —Jake Davis
Thaw Jacket [$275]
The Thaw Jacket gives you durable outer construction, comfortable insulation, a helmet compatible hood and no less than 10 pockets for your cell phone, iPod, lift pass, and Chap Stick. It’s all there. This well thought out and stylish jacket is geared toward the
November 18, 2009
We’ve had a highly unusual stretch of weather since leaving Ushuaia at the trip’s outset. It has been sunny and blue for most, if not all, of every day we’ve been on snow. Temperatures have been in the 25-55 range—quite warm. In fact, the only prolonged overcast stretch I can remember is the one no-ski day we had while steaming from Weincke Island to Eduardo Frei base in Maxwell Harbor on King George Island to offload the injured guy. Laurie Dexter, our Scottish-born Canadian
November 17, 2009
I used to be one of those people who, after a day of skiing, needed a beer or a spot in the Jacuzzi to ease the aches and pains in my legs. But after being introduced to the miracle of the CW-X Insulator Stabiltyx Tights, I get less achy and tired after a day on the snow.
They’re called compression tights. Their purpose is to promote blood circulation and oxygen flow to your muscles. They’re supposed to fit snugly for them to work,
November 17, 2009
Here’s the thing about tagging along with a Warren Miller shoot. If you’re there to observe how it works, you don’t get to ski very much. Don’t get me wrong. Watching Tom and Colin work is fun. These guys work extremely hard. And the athletes are skiing a lot of cinematically beautiful shots over and over, but with all of the setting up of shots and waiting for the right lighting, there isn’t much time left over for a longer climb and ski or multiple yo-yo laps. So after Thursday’s
November 16, 2009
On Wednesday night, we anchored in the lovely crescent-shaped harbor of Half Moon Island, home to a large chinstrap penguin rookery. In the yellow light of evening, I boarded a Zodiac with the Warren Miller film crew and sped among icebergs, observing Tom and Colin as they filmed the athletes scoping tomorrow’s lines.
Thursday morning saw Doug Stoup, me, and the Warren Miller crew (cinematographers Tom Day and Colin Witherell, and athletes Kip Garre, John Morrison, and Andrew
November 16, 2009
Blame genetics or an intrinsic wimpiness, but I am always cold. Always. On sunny days in April I’ll wear two down jackets to hike uphill. I try to be tough, or layer until I can hardly bend over, but I’m always on the lookout for something that can keep my core temperature up. And I refuse to wear any clothes that have a battery or any kind of electrical system. On my first truly bitter ski day of this season I layered the Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover under my shell
November 16, 2009
If you find yourself unexpectedly falling into large bodies of water or banks of snow with some regularity, then the Dry Case could be for you. This fully waterproof pouch is vacuum-sealed via a medical grade one-way valve and a hand held vacuum sealer-duper (Dry Case hasn’t taken that on as official terminology yet). It features a watertight audio jack and neoprene arm band, so you can wear it like an iPod arm band and use it for swimming, wakeboarding, or
November 14, 2009
Lots to catch up on here. Sorry about the delay. Having some challenges with the ol’ internet connection on the ship. I haven’t been able to receive any emails or load any web pages, so I apologize if you’ve been trying to get in touch with me and I haven’t responded.
I believe I’ve been out of touch since Wednesday night. I spent Thursday skiing Livingston Island with Doug Stoup and the Warren Miller crew: cinematographers Tom Day and Colin Witherell, and athletes Kip Garre,
November 12, 2009
It’s around 4 PM on November 11, and we’ve just pulled out of a harbor where a couple of passengers disembarked at a Chilean Science base. We’re now on our way to Half Moon island, where we’ll visit a large penguin rookery, sleep for the night, and spend tomorrow skiing the slopes surrounding Mt. Flora on Livingston Island. After that, our plan is to round the Trinity Peninsula, which is the very end of the Antarctic peninsula, head due south through the Antarctic Strait and into
