An expedition in one of the most splendid regions of Antarctica, Drygalski Mountains
Highlights
- Take part in an expedition in one of the most splendid regions of Antarctica, Drygalski Mountains
- Let yourself be carried away by gliding on the ice
- Immersion in a wild and untamed natural environment
- You will be accompanied by a very experienced polar guide
We arrive from Cape Town, South Africa to Wolf’s Fang, our base camp located in the magnificent region of Drygalski Mountains. From there, guided by a Polar Experience guide trained by Dixie Dansercoer, we will live 13 days of expedition in an extraordinarily beautiful and wild polar environment. We move on foot equipped with our skis and sleds. We are not far from the Indlansis where we will be carried away by the joy of kite skiing. A few climbs are possible for unforgettable ski descents. From our mobile base camp, we face icy vastness, impressive and pure mountain ranges. This unique experience is one of the best that we can live in Antarctica. Check our live expedition in 2021.
Overview
Queen Maud Land, is located in East Antarctica between the British territories to the West and the Australian territories to the East. It covers 2.7 million square kilometers and is named after Queen Maud (1869-1938), wife of King Haakon VII of Norway.
The ice sheet of Antarctica covers this area and a thick wall of ice extends along the coastline with ice cliffs of 20 to 30 meters making its access by the sea, called “Haakon VII”, complicated. We get there by air either through Troll Airfield, a nearby station, or through the Russian Novolazarevskaya Base, also known as Novo Airbase. This is the one we will most likely take.
Heading inland, the mountain ranges stand out of the ice sheet (Alt. 2,000 m.) and offer a favorable site for flora as well as migratory birds. Its highest point is Jøkulkyrkja 3,148 meters above sea level in the Mühlig-Hofmann Mountain chain. Among others a little less high ranges are Heimefront in Orvin, Wohlthat and Sør Rondane, mountains free of ice in the hinterland.
The shorelines called “Prince Olav Coast” and “Princess Ragnhild Coast” were discovered in 1930 by Norwegian aviation pioneers and it is the Norwegian Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen who explored this territory for the first time. Since 1961, Queen Maud Land is considered a demilitarized zone under the Antarctic Treaty, but remains, with Peter the First Island, one of the two territorial claims of Norway in Antarctica and since 1939...as such, it is administered by the Norwegian Judiciary and Police Ministry’s Polar Department in Oslo.
The first scientific expedition within Queen Maud Land is a British-Swedish-and-Norwegian expedition that took place from 1949 to 1952. To date, there are twelve stations that can house up to 40 researchers depending on the season. Six of the stations are permanently occupied, the others being used in the Austral Summer.
During the Austral Winter, this land is plunged into the polar night. During the summer, the sun is still low in the sky and most of the light that reaches the surface is reflected by the snow. This lack of heat lavished by the sun combined with the high altitude of the location (over 2,000 m above sea level) means that the temperature is cold. In the middle of the Southern Summer, so during our expedition, the average temperatures range between -10°C and -30°C. The climate is typical to that of a genuine polar desert and the place receives virtually no rainfall (snow representing the equivalent of 70 mm of water). The air humidity is near zero. However, the winds can be strong.
We move on crampons on the “Blue Ice” with ice ripples that make progression difficult. Near the mountains, snow is sometimes hard, sometimes soft, and sometimes deep. We also advance with skis on sealskin and kite-skiing when the terrain and the wind are in our favor.
It is then within Queen Maud Land that we go on this expedition. We are located just 2,000 km from the South Pole. For polar experts and enthusiasts, this area is probably one of the best places ever.
Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT CAPE TOWN
Day 1
We arrive at Cape Town in South Africa where we were greeted by our guide. Depending on our time of arrival, we have a free day and are then invited to a welcome dinner.
DAY 2: BRIEFING INSTRUCTIONS
Day 2
Preparation day. Safety briefing, detailed planning. Weather forecast. We get our equipment ready for the flight the following day.
DAY 3: FLIGHT TO QUEEN MAUD LAND (ANTARCTICA)
Day 3
We load the equipment and take the Ilyushin-76 morning flight to the Queen Maud Land with a scheduled departure time of 23:30 pm. This flight is subject to the vagaries of the weather and to the state of the runway in Antarctica. It will take 5 to 6 hours of flight from Cape Town to reach Novo Airbase. On the way we will pass the Antarctic polar circle and see our first icebergs! An hour before landing, we get dressed to face the Antarctic cold. We are greeted at the camp around 4:00 in the morning.
DAY 4: EXPLORATION AND FREETIME AROUND CAMP
Day 4
We take our breakfast at camp and then we visit the area and we relax. We talk with the scientists on their research. We check our equipment and then he prepares us for the next day. Briefing and Q&A from participants.
DAYS 5 TO 15: EXPEDITION IN QUEEN MAUD LAND
Day 5
Today, after breakfast, we are transferred by plane to the starting point of our expedition, in Wolf’s Fang (Wolf’s Tooth) Camp, near the Drygalski Mountains. In 2017, we shall be the first ones to inaugurate this new camp linked to our White Desert partners. Champaign! To reach the mountains from the Novo Airbase, we expect some 30 minutes of flight.
Depending on the weather and terrain conditions and our skiing and kite-skiing techniques, several options are possible from Wolf’s Fang Camp, all of which will be determined with the participants and the guide.
In total, we have about a week to discover this extraordinary region of the world. Get ready to feast your eyes with an overload of beautiful vistas and the unexplainable serenity that reigns there.
On day 5, we get settled, prepare our pulka and discover the magnificent surroundings.
On days 6 and 7, we start a two-day man-hauling expedition towards the Drygalski Mountains, which is about 38 km away from the camp. We pull a pulka loaded with all that we need for food, accommodation and our activities (weight for participants is approx. 30 kgs).
We enjoy the polar days, a rather mild temperature and favorable southeast winds to go in the direction of Ulvetanna Peak, “a wolf’s tooth” in Norwegian, at an altitude of 2,930 meters, which is located in the Drygalski Mountains. Three Norwegians climbed this summit for the first time in February 1994 by the Northwest side and in 2006 by the North face...
We establish our campsite at the foot of the mountains. Now we have to choose our program for the next two days (days 8 and 9): kite-skiing at the heart of the Drygalski Chain, accessible with non-technical ascents, downhill skiing, exploring surroundings…total happiness!
The wildlife surrounds us: some birds, sometimes a lonely and isolated Adélie penguin. To the East and the West, magnificent mountain ranges of various heights, bare rock or alpine peaks covered with ice are our frame during our ascents on skis and our descents. To the North and the South, we see flat planes of the Antarctic icecap.
Then we return to Wolf’s Fang Camp and we shall need another 2 days. The scenery is magnificent and our playground is limitless.
Theoretically, the weather is nice and dry with a little wind and the temperature is still mild at this time of year, between -15°C and albeit rarely -45°C! We feel a little what the first explorers experienced when they came here nearly a century before us.
DAY 16: RETURN FLIGHT TO CAPE TOWN
Day 16
Today, if the weather permits, we embark to head back North and the heat of Cape Town! We land in the early morning.
END OF EXPEDITION
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Trip notes
Guiding
Your guide
Your expedition leader is a polar guide of the Polar Experience team (see description above). He is a French-speaking, Dutch speaking and English-speaking IPGA - International Polar Guide Association polar guide who is very experienced in polar environments and in group management.
He represents Expeditions Unlimited with the group, our partners and local authorities. He makes the decisions necessary for the smooth running of the expedition. His authority is preponderant and unavoidable. You will have to respect its decisions as well as those taken collectively.
And throughout the program, we will draw on other local skills as needed. Finally, we will have access to a very experienced weather router and a doctor specializing in cold and isolated environments H24.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Difficulty level
Level rated: challenging
This expedition calls for regular practice of trekking the rest of the year or of another endurance sporting activity. It is accessible to anyone with a good physical condition.
The main difficulty of this expedition is the potentially extreme weather conditions. The temperature at this time of the year can reach - 40°C.
The carrying is provided by the participants in the pulkas which weigh nearly 40 kg at the start. A good physical and mental condition is therefore imperative. Each participant is responsible for the application of safety rules, his equipment and its maintenance, the installation of the camp, the preparation of meals. As always in this type of project, the key to success remains the collective and team spirit.
Participation in one of our seminars or polar courses of our School of Adventure is, if not required, strongly recommended.
Accommodations
At a hotel in Cape Town (accommodation not included), in a guesthouse with showers and under tent during the expedition.
Meals
Meals are (not included) at a restaurant of your choice or at the hotel in Cape Town. All meals are included at the Novo Airbase campsite. During the expedition, the meals have been prepared in advance in dehydrated form. They give us all the calories required for the expedition all the while providing a balanced diet and taking into account the weight and simplicity of preparation. Any of your dietary needs will be respected.
Group size
The group is composed of 4 to 12 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Equipment
All logistics equipment is provided, including tents and pulkas, as well as all collective equipment including stoves, gasoline, etc.
Your guide has a satellite phone, another équipement for telecommunications and emergency, as well as a geolocation beacon.
We also provide, free of charge, the very cold sleeping bag (–30°C/–35°C) and the mattress.
The rest of the personal equipment is not provided. A full list is provided below in this document.
Our commitments to sustainable development
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
These calculations made us aware of the importance of the total carbon emissions generated by our activity. Also, we have committed in 2022 to a carbon reduction that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. Thus, in 2030, we will not entitle ourselves to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02 and until then, each year, as soon as the carbon footprint budget is reached, we will stop taking any reservations for the current year. Thus, our maximum “carbon” budget for 2024 is 2,950 tonnes and for 2025, this budget will be reduced to 2,800 tonnes. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 5,54 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €166 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €7,000 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Polar Experience guiding
Polar Experience guiding
This program is guided by a Polar Experience guide, accredited by the IPGA (International Polar Guides Association) with a solid experience in the polar regions and who adhere to a specific working method to help participants achieve their goals on an individual basis. They frequently lead participants in Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, towards the North Pole, the South Pole and elsewhere in Antarctica like in Queen Maud land. Not only are they some of the best polar guides in the world, but they also have first-rate teaching and interpersonal skills, making the experience you are about to have, with and thanks to them, even rarer.
These guides were all trained by our late Dixie Dansercoer, who tragically passed away in June 2021 in Greenland. With many years of polar experience, he had developed a high-level team with a specific approach which can be summarized as follows:
- Respect for the environment: going places and leaving no traces, this is what we implement the best way we can during all our Polar Experience guided trips and expeditions. As expeditions are inherently based on a minimalist’s attitude, we stick to the basics and avoid excesses. Respect for local cultures.
- Safety: our knowledge and know-how has been developed with a major focus on maximum experience and minimal risk for our participants. Preparation and high-quality equipment are obviously two major issues with no compromise. We have as well weather, medical and rescue partners on stand-by 24/7. Your guide has a satellite telephone, an Iridium Go! VHF radio, mountaineering safety equipment, a location beacon, GPS and other equipment necessary for a journey in the best safety conditions.
- Preparation & training: full immersion in physical and mental training, equipment knowledge, first Aid basics, logistical challenges and crisis management. Understanding the environmental, cultural and geographical characteristics of polar environment, learning from pioneering and contemporary expeditions. Preparation calls and expeditions training (theory, practice) over a weekend.
- High quality equipment: constant improvements and customized adjustments for maximum efficiency and performance. Screening of personal clothing and advice on purchase of special polar clothing at partner’s stores with special discounts.
Julie Brown, Dixie's partner of many years, now leads this dynamic little team.
Each participant receives the useful book, Polar Exploration: A practical handbook for North and South Pole expeditions, hard cover or electronic version, written by Dixie Dansercoer, which is the reference handbook that explains all aspects of polar journeys and expeditions: polar environment, safety, preparation, training and equipment.
Extensions
Emperor Penguin Colony at Atka Bay
We depart by Twin Otter plane from Wolf's Fang for an exceptional day in the heart of a massive colony of emperor penguins at Atka Bay. An experience of only a few hours, rare and unforgettable, framed by strict rules related to both the preservation of biodiversity and the management rules of Antarctica.
Extension duration
1 extra day.
Extension price
Starting from 12 000 €/participant based on 1 to 12 participants.
Cape Town and its surroundings
Although Cape Town is not a big city strictly speaking, its position between ocean and mountains and its history offer us dozens of wonders to discover and many experiences to try. A night in Cape Town in a comfortable hotel on a busy street in the city center will cost you between 40 and 50 euros with breakfast. Among the activities to do, here is a (non-exhaustive!) list not to be missed: climb Table Mountain and descend by the funicular with a view of the ocean, visit the marvelous Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on the slopes of the mountain de la Table, discover the colony of Cape penguins on Boulder beach, visit the colorful streets and houses of Bo-Kaap, buy your souvenirs in Greenmarket Square, dine at sunset in Camps Bay, taste the wines of the region in Constantia Nek, hike or go mountain biking to discover the Cape of Good Hope reserve to discover the endemic flora of the Cape and its local fauna (baboons, moose, ostriches), go for a day for a hike, swim and rock climbing lessons at Silvermine Reserve, visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned during Apartheid, and more. There are also beautiful safaris to be done a few hours away. Depending on your desires and the time you have, we can help you build the ideal extension to end your expedition in South Africa in style.
Extension duration
1 extra day.
Extension price
Price with minimum of 1 participant, to be agreed upon with our team.
Departures and pricing
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
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I initiate a new datePrice includes
Transfers tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Accommodations tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Meals tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Guiding tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Equipment tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Travel folder tel qu’indiqués dans le programme.
Price does not include
All accompaniments, accommodations or meals mentioned “not included” in the program. Drinks and personal “extras”. The “single” supplement or a different hotel category. Other supplements linked to a lower number of participants registered, your desire to customize or privatize the expedition. The mandatory expedition complementary insurance.
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
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