Antarctic Expedition avoids treacherous crevasses on record-breaking trek

The Commonwealth Antarctic team has reached its first major navigation point and started, for the first time, easing its way due South towards the 72km-long Thiel Mountains and the South Pole itself.

The record-breaking trip sees women from Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, India, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom attempt to ski 900km to the centre of Antarctica.

Careful navigation is more important than ever at this stage, as the team tries to avoid the treacherous crevasse fields and stay on schedule, according to expedition leader Felicity Aston.

“We have had recent reports from a pilot that the crevasse fields are full of really big holes, so our navigation has to be spot on,” she said. “We decided to make a four-day ‘dog leg’ around the fields to avoid the worst hit bits but we are on tenterhooks every time the snow moves beneath us.”

Celebrating 60th anniversary

In addition to the daily hazards of extreme cold, high winds and the physical effort of dragging all their food and equipment, they now have to keep their minds sharp to avoid falling into crevasses.

These giant gaps in the ice can be tens of metres wide, hundreds deep and cover several kilometres, but they can also be very difficult to see. Covered in snow against an all-white backdrop, the first sign that you're in such a field might be the ‘whoosh’ of the ground beneath you falling away.

The expedition, which is sponsored by IT company Kaspersky Lab, marks the 60th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth and is intended to demonstrate the potential for greater international understanding and highlight the achievements of women across the world.

Frost bite

On reaching their target, the team members from Brunei and Cyprus will be the first persons from their nation, male or female, to ski to the South Pole. Those from India, New Zealand and Singapore will be the first women from their nation to make this prestigious journey.

The adventure has not been without disappointment for some, however. Two weeks ago 30-year-old Kim-Marie Spence from Kingston, Jamaica, had to be evacuated from the team due to frost bite on her fingers.

Follow the team on Twitter: http://twitter.com/KCAE

Key Links:

• Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition