Icy exploration

A Patagonian adventure: crossing the Hielo Sur Icecap

Linda Beilharz and Rob Rigato are winter explorers. In 2004, Linda became the first Australian woman to successfully ski traverse from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole. Three years later, accompanied by Rob, she traversed the Greenland Icecap. Now, this pair of Australian adventurers are in the Patagonia region of Chile where they are attempting to cross the Hielo Sur Icecap.

The ice cap is colossal; it winds its way between the Andes Mountains for more than 400km (250 miles). To reach it, Linda and Rob intend to ascend the Jorge Montt Glacier, traverse the icecap in a south easterly direction and then descend the Upsala Glacier to Lago Argentino.

It is an expedition into an unspoilt, frozen idyll; the pair will pass the Volcán Lautaro, the Viedma Glacier and will get sights of the spectacular Mont Fitz Roy en route. Despite the duo´s adventuring experience, this journey has not been simple. Deciding to climb in the winter to avoid the notorious Patagonian winds, Rob and Linda were expecting icy conditions; they reinforced their tent with double poles to protect it from heavy snow. Eleven days into the twenty two day expedition, persistent snow and rain have consistently hampered their progress.

The couple has yet to cross the Jorge Montt Glacier, it is splintered throughout by gaping crevasses; it will be a perilous climb. With eleven days remaining, it is not certain that the pair will have enough time to complete the crossing. However, as the couple write in their blog, even if they do not cross the ice cap, ´being in a spectacular area bounded by snow capped mountains and glaciers´ makes the exploring worthwhile.