The Journal of the New Zealand Antarctic Society Vol 16. No. 4, 1998-99 SEASON 1998-99 IRIDIUM ICETREK iAw Antarctic FEATURE When that storm had passed the trio trekked to within banquet with a need for impromptu speeches." The expe 98km of the Pole, now only four days distant. dition was flown with ministers to Christchurch and Unbelievably, bad weather again struck and once more within 72 hours of ending the trek found themselves in a they pitched their tent in a fierce storm, unable to venture cauldron of controversy. out in 60-100kmh gales with temperatures fluctuating Suddenly, the heroic achievement of the inwards trek between -30deg and -50 deg. (and the sponsor's new satellite-direct mobile phone) was After a tortuous 84 days of battling blizzards, frostbite overshadowed by media generated allegations of a rift in and illness the Icetrek trio arrived at the South Pole. the team. The initial transition from isolation was gradual. "The 'Damage control' by Iridium's public relations advisers first people we saw were two people on a skidoo salvaged the inner integrity of the overarching achieve researching ice dust clouds then a lone skier came over," ment of Icetrek but internal disagreement by the trekkers recalled Phillips. "We crossed another valley and then we over the causes of the decision to halt at the Pole now saw the flags. And five minutes short of the Pole station the emerged. binding broke on my ski!" Whilst all were frustrated that the return journey was Peter Hillary says "a small contingent from the abandoned, Phillips, his undoubted skills in using quadri- American base were there to foils so superbly demonstrated meet us . then we found a on an earlier solo crossing of quiet spot to reflect on our Greenland, publicly showed shared experience and put up the intensity of his disappoint our own ceremonial 'South ment. "As with every expedi Pole' a piece of driftwood Jon tion you plan and train but you Muir brought all the way from never have enough time. Our the Victorian coastline in quadrifoiling and kiting skills Australia." were not as good as they could "I didn't sleep that night." be and the fact was we weren't says Phillips, "We had clean fast enough — we went sheets and were warm but it ' through a learning curve and was so alien getting back into started slowly." the real world and was Muir was deeply introspec uncomfortable." tive and declared at a media Queen Elizabeth II New conference in Christchurch's Zealand PM Jenny Shipley and Eric Phillip* towing a fledge Rydges Hotel that going back Australia's Communications was not a burning ambition Minister each wired their congratulations. Ed Hillary, who and he was now planning solo journeys across deserts and had ridden a modified Massey Ferguson tractor to the Pole along remote coastlines. in 1957, told his son "Congratulations Peter on this marvel A perplexed Hillary diplomatically played down the lous achievement of reaching the Pole." apparent dissension, thanking Antarctica New Zealand for Ed Hillary had shared updates constantly throughout its confidence in supporting "something less mainstream, the expedition with Peter's wife Yvonne Oomen who wrote a small group facing the elements in a place of great epics in a wife's perspective of the trek published in 'The Press' and dramas and communicating this back (to the public)." "Not long ago we heard that due to the relentless blizzards, For him the highlight of Icetrek was the journey through the delays and the resulting logistical problems with rescue the Shackleton Glacier. "On the eastern side it reminded requirements, the team would have to call a halt at the Jon and I of the Himalayan peaks, vast and stunning, while South Pole." the western side was like the incredible terrain of the Crossing to the Pole, she wrote, had been "such an American Rockies. At the top of the Glacier in the cama arduous affair with hugely heavy sleds and endless mono raderie of the climb we all told each other Monty Python chromatic Harness. The vast emptiness affected the team jokes." deeply. It required great physical endurance and mental "The Polar Plateau went on forever, an absolutely aston discipline. Peter's calls would bring me shockingly into the ishing place, the harshest place I've ever visited, a surface reality of a wild, lonely and vicious place, and I would fret etched by wind. We encountered not one but five storms about dwindling food, their state of mind and the vastness and it was quite incredible putting up a tent in a 50 knots of their task. But still they marched on inexorably . ." gale . knowing that if it blew away it might tumble for "Ironically the return part of the journey was always lOOOkms." going to be the easiest, with the katabatic winds blowing "The actual snow does not pose a problem. At no stage the right way for the team to use the huge quadrifoil kites is it deeper than six inches and not difficult on skis." they were carrying. But every expedition must work with But the kites proved difficult to deploy to best Nature. advantage. The quadrifoils were in various sizes, operated "Triumphs are achieved not through conquering Nature like a parachute or flown higher to generate greater speed but by being graciously blessed by her opportunities." and lift. Hillary says that as a qualified pilot he was aware From South Pole Station it was a very fast transition back of how air works "but nothing beats specific training." Or, from isolation. Ferried by Hercules aircraft to Scott Base, of course, wind from the right direction. There were few they found the "Ministerial-on-Ice" meeting under way northerly winds en route to the Pole and Hillary says there and participated not in "a quiet barbecue but in a full is little existing evidence of wind coming from the North Volume 16, No. 4, 1998-99 The Journal of the New Zealand Antarctic Society Vol 16. No. 4, 1998-99 SEASON 1998-99 IRIDIUM ICETREK THE NEW ZEALAND Sfr* COMPANY REGISTER A valuable reference book in the current economic climate. The 1998-99 edition is now available Packed full of information on New Zealand companies listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, the register has become the "bible" for anyone interested in the New Zealand investment scene. Information includes: • 10 year financial data, balance sheets and results summary. j Up-to-date comments on each company, including details on operations, recent developments and future prospects. • Directors, management, head office address and major share shareholders. A section on leading Australian stocks is also included in this edition. Yes, until countermanded in writing I would like to purchase copy (copies) of the 1998-99 NZ Company Register FOR ONLY $39.80 each including GST. Name Address. □ Payment enclosed □ Bill me □ I hereby authorise you to debit my AMEX / VISA / DINERS / BANKCARD Number. Expiry Date Signature Please post coupon to: Mercantile Gazette Marketing Ltd., FREEPOST 5003, P.O. Box 20-034, Bishopdale, Christchurch. 8 Sheffield Crescent, Christchurch 5. FREEPHONE 0800 649 696, Telephone (03) 3583-219, or Fax (03) 3584-490. Antarctic Contents NEW ZEALAND Ministerial on Ice at Ross Island Ross Sea Environmental Report Update UNITED STATES National Science Foundation - From Sea-bed to Universe NEWS Duck Billed Dinosaur Bones The Cape Roberts Project was a highlight of the 1998-99 scientific season at Antarctica AUSTRALIA Tribulations for Aurora Australis Volume 16, No. 4, 1998-99, Issue No. 166 FEATURE Captain Scott's Body Drifts Past Depot ANTARCTIC is published quarterly by the New Zealand Antarctic Antarctic Storms Repel Icetrek's Return Plan Society Inc., ISSN 0003-5327. Please address all editorial enquiries and contributions to Warren Head, Publisher, 'Antarctic', P O Box 2369, Christchurch or BOOK REVIEW telephone 03 365 0344, facsimile 03 365 4255, e-mail headconf"chch.planet.org.nz. Norwegian's Solo Ski Journey Printed by Adams Print, Annex Road, Christchurch SCIENCE NOTES ANTARCTICA First Summer Course Raises Fresh Perspectives OPINION Fears for Future of Antarctic Material ■. zzr-^f EDUCATION Antarctic Collection at New University Home •... SCIENCE NOTES 5- Four New Fish Discovered By Accident •i // The ponds at McMurdo 1 ANTARCTIC / PENINSULA TRANSITION Navy Flies Last Antarctic Mission Operation Deep Freeze Volume 16, No. 4, 1998-99 Antarctic NEW ZEALAND Law and Order to the Wild South ' • ' ' Ministerial on Ice at Ross Island if- -■ S^lfe -'. Bringing law and order to the wild Zealand Government "declared south was the focus for a top level war" on toothfish poachers, flying a informal Government meeting held Royal New Zealand air force Orion in Antarctica in January. surveillance aircraft over Antarctic The meeting was the first of its waters and deploying the frigate kind for Antarctic Treaty Nations "Te Kaha" into the New Zealand and it was hosted by New Zealand controlled Ross Sea to detect and with assistance from the Italian deter poachers of Pantagonian and United States Antarctic toothfish. programmes. Representatives from In a speech made at McMurdo 23 parties to the Antarctic Treaty Station on January 27 Simon were present from 25-28 January. Upton told delegates that vigilance New Zealand's Associate by all signatory countries was Minister of Foreign Affairs and required if illegal toothfishing and Trade, with responsibility for other exploitation of Antarctic Antarctica, Simon Upton led the resources were not to get out of forum and focused on the conti hand. nent's dependent eco-systems "However comfortable we might saying that it was have been in believing that our time for politicians decision to impose a 50 year to give some moratorium on mining has safe Members of the ministerial group pictured near Scott i m p e t u s t o t h e guarded Antarctica, pressures Base.