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Just spent 12 days in Chile, Union Glacier Camp & South Pole, only saw 1 Porsche
This may be the only 911 in Punta Arenas Chile where I just spent 2 days before and 2 days after a trip to the interior of Antarctica.
I did see some cool vehicles though that drove from Union Glacier Camp where I stayed for 8 days, to the South Pole, then the Ross Ice Shelf, the Ronne Ice Shelf and back. The first cross continent, 1000+ mile journey ever made in that direction. The guys that drove these vehicles were really interesting and ended up driving 24 hours straight one day to make it happen, using jet fuel as the fuel for their vehicles.
If you were curious what it all looked like, here is the link below. I did the North Pole last year, South Pole this year. I'll have to come up with something different and odd for next year.
Our Ilyushin IL-76 TD The flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to Union Glacier, Antarctica takes roughly 4 ¼ hours.
The IL-76 cruises at an altitude of 31,000-35,000 ft (9450-10670 m).
The tires on our 911 Turbos are expensive but these tires are $2000 each. They're super un-inflated here and there is no dirt here, just snow and ice.
These are the vehicles that drove to the South Pole from Union Glacier Camp, then the Ross Ice Shelf, Ronne Ice Shelf and back. Craziness and the first time it's ever been done.
Our 911 AWD Turbos have great winter grip, but this vehicle which we took out regularly really upped the game on gripiness. They could go over anything, anywhere. A school bus can fit inside an Ilyushin 76. In fact, a lot of things can fit inside an IL-76. Along with the Boeing C-17, it is one of the largest bush planes in the world and is unmatched for its unique capability to carry weight over distance from airports with little or no loading devices. This is our plane landing to pick us back up 8 days later.
Another weird vehicle we traveled in to other places near Union Glacier Camp THE BASLER BT-67.
In the 21st Century you don't expect to see an old DC-3 originally built in 1944 working for its keep in the Antarctic. However the DC-3 has survived many other attempts to pension it off and in its latest re-incarnation the old warbird has proved once again that it can fill a valuable aviation role.
The place where all 7.6 billion people on earth were all north of me )
Last edited by Steve 96C4S; 12-30-2017 at 12:20 PM.
Very cool trip! Did you see any wildlife? Where did you sleep at night? I'm visiting Antartica next year but doing it the old fashioned way, by cruise.
If you haven't visited the Galapagos yet, put it on your list.
Very cool trip! Did you see any wildlife? Where did you sleep at night? I'm visiting Antartica next year but doing it the old fashioned way, by cruise.
If you haven't visited the Galapagos yet, put it on your list.
I'd like to see the Galapagos for sure. It's on my list. There is no life in the interior of Antarctica (I did the Peninsula 3 years ago which is teeming with life). There's no bugs, no life, no plants, no dirt, no nothing.
Happy Holidays from Union Glacier. No 911's here, just bikes. Pretty slow going.
Merry Xmas from union glacier. Pretty lame Xmas tree. This is the 10k loop I took.
Only reliable mode of transport here.
My double clamshell tent for 2
The 3 shower room about 40 paces from my tent
My life for a week. Pretty luxurious, actually for a tent.
The bathrooms 40 paces from my tent. We used a pee bottle at night (nalgene bottle) so we didn't have to go out in the cold.
20 km from camp.
The "mess" tent where we ate. Great food at union glacier camp.
19 km from camp
Celebration night after getting to the South Pole
My home for a week. 24 hour sunlight. This picture was taken at night.
Fly to the South Pole, where all 360 lines of longitude meet and in a few steps you can walk around the world. History comes alive as you stand at 90° South, the ultimate goal of polar explorers Amundsen and Scott. Imagine how it felt to head out across the frozen continent and into the unknown over 100 years ago. Feel the spirit of determination and discovery that has inspired a century of Antarctic exploration and scientific research.
The bathroom on our Ilyushin Russian plane to Antarctica. You'd have to duck low just to walk into this space.
The seats were as comfortable, almost, as a 911 Turbo. Russian flight crew but a Chilean flight attendant.
The IL-76 was originally built as a military/cargo aircraft with hard benches for passengers. ALE’s IL-76 is outfitted with traditional airline-type seats for guests.
The main cabin only has a few small windows. A camera positioned in the navigator’s bubble is connected to a screen in the passenger cabin and provides fantastic live footage of the take-off and landing.
The IL-76 has an onboard crane, capable of lifting up to 10 tonne.
A school bus or a few Porsche 911 can fit inside an Ilyushin 76. In fact, a lot of things can fit inside an IL-76. Along with the Boeing C-17, it is one of the largest bush planes in the world and is unmatched for its unique capability to carry weight over distance from airports with little or no loading devices.
very cool. quite a distance to travel just to get to the southern tip of SA !! And def need some eye cover/ sleep aid to get some sleep where there's 24 hours of
all that daylight...
very Cool trip. My step father works for ALE and built all the showers, bathrooms etc. He’s been down there working a bunch, not this year though. Once in a lifetime trip for sure. Would like to go someday.
12-30-2017, 12:52 AM
Just spent 12 days in Chile, Union Glacier Camp & South Pole, only saw 1 Porsche
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