Shackleton Traverse 22’. After the traverse.

After six days in the field having skied 50 kilometers across snow and ice of five glacier systems (the Murray, Briggs, Esmark, Kohl Plateau, Konig) and crossing four cols with five camps, our party of nine arrived into Stromness Bay late in the afternoon of the 26th of September.

This was the ‘alternative Shackleton route’ - one that his party of three could have done from where they landed with the James Caird in King Haakon Bay to arrive at the same point of refuge at the whaling station. The advantages of our route were the avoidance of the big slide they did into the unknown off the Razorback Ridge above the Compass Glacier and also the steep descent down from the Breakwind Gap off the Fortuna Glacier.

The downside was having to cross three cols instead of two to reach Fortuna Bay. Of course, this is all useless speculation, the important thing from Stephen’s and my perspective was to cross some new ground on the island. Uncertainty is what it is all about!

I will leave the impressions of this adventure to our team, those who are experiencing the trials and tribulations, and the joys of South Georgia for the first time. I have another salient point to make.

Because of the remoteness of the island, the only way to attempt and accomplish such an ambitious adventure is to have a capable vessel in support – and the old adage of “ships are only as good as the men (now persons) who sail in them,” never holds more true.

Skipper Kenneth and crew Mariana and John had their hands full getting us ashore in some difficult circumstances. King Haakon Bay was windy, blowing longshore on the beach so this was a job for some aggressive landings and departures with the Zodiac.

Likewise on the pickup of all our camping gear at Fortuna Bay, where a substantial swell made every trip a very wet ride getting off. Meanwhile, Vinson was jogging as anchoring in this condition was not possible.

All that, not to mention being in the right place at the right time to extract us off the beach at Stromness. With no other vessel on the island, the reliance on Vinson was not to be underestimated!

So, spare a thought for these exceptional yachtsmen. Without their expertise and enthusiasm for the project we would have never gotten started, nor finished.

Pictures by Kenneth Perdigón & Shackleton Traverse Team.

Skip Novak

Expedition leader