ICE AXE

Doug leads Baffin Team to the North Pole

2008-04-16T11:42:00.003-04:00

Paul Hubner, Brent Hubner, Doug Stoup and Mark Hubner

Full coverage on ICE AXE TV

TEAM REACHES THE SOUTH POLE!

2008-01-18T09:09:00.000-05:00

Richard and Doug at the South Pole

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica - 18 January 2008 -- Trekking 209 km in their last week (1,089 km total), Richard Dunwoody and Doug Stoup arrived at the Geographic South Pole at 10:23 GMT after 48 days and 20 hours on the glacial ice -- establishing a new route based on Ernest Shackleton's planned 1915 'Endurance' expedition.

Pushing the limits, the two-man team arrived ahead of schedule despite injuries and exhaustion. They will remain at the South Pole until Saturday, when they will be flown out to the Russian base at Novolazarevhaya. From there, they will catch a flight to Cape Town, South Africa and then home.

More details at BeyondShackleton.com

Week Six in Antarctica

2008-01-11T10:30:00.001-05:00

Richard Dunwoody passing the 88th parallel

The homestretch
Week six saw Richard and Doug passing the 88th parallel...

It still remains an uphill climb, with long days of dragging sleds over sastrugi in high winds and blowing snow. The team truly is pushing the limits; and the rewards come on the occasional clear days, on this breathtaking continent, with the realization of the distances traveled and the nearness to their goal.

All things permitting, they should arrive at the Geographic South Pole about a week or so from today.

ANTARCTICA: WEEK FOUR IN REVIEW

2007-12-27T15:06:00.000-05:00

James ready to board the plane back to Novo

A good part of week four was spent waiting for the DC3 to pick up James; though, amidst all the madness and mayhem, the full three-man team had their best single day -- 31.3 km -- go figure?!

The sleds are are now down to about 180lbs (82kg), lessened by food and fuel consumption. However, they are still climbing to higher altitude with a fresh round of crevasses and whiteouts to contend with. By the way, did I mention that they are also down in body weight by about a stone? If it's not one thing...

Doug checking the compass during a whiteout

Anyway, all that said, the remaining two-man team is more or less back on schedule -- having trekked a total of about four and a half degrees south thus far -- nearing the half-way mark. They still hope to reach the South Pole sometime in January.

Two Weeks, Two Degrees...

2007-12-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

Whiteout conditions and uphill climbs

The Interchange Shackleton South Pole Expedition team has trekked over 200 kilometers over some of the most treacherous terrain on the planet. Avoiding numerous crevasses and dragging full sleds uphill in whiteout, sub-zero temperatures has become their daily routine. But despite these grueling conditions, the team is on schedule; and once they get through a few bad patches, they should eventually have the opportunity to get ahead of schedule. Everyone is in good shape, and there are now only eight degrees to go!
Stay tuned...

Team Progressing in Earnest

2007-12-05T11:11:00.000-05:00

Crossing the vast expanse of Western Antarctica

The Interchange Shackleton South Pole Expedition team trekked nearly 50km in their first four days on the ice. Each day their sleds gradually get lighter as they consume provisions; while their endurance improves -- they are now skiing for up to 9 hours a day.

Over the past several days they have crossed cravasse fields, climbing upwards in sub-zero temperatures with windchills -23 and colder. Everyone is feeling fine, eating good and well focused on their objective. Visit BeyondShackleton.com for daily photos and audio dispatches.

Note: The team members do not have access to email. All email messages that have come in so far, have had to be read to them over the satellite phone. If for some reason you need to get a message to the team, please make it as brief as possible, since satellite time is limited. Thank you.

The Team Arrives in Antarctica

2007-11-30T15:23:00.000-05:00

The team upon arrival at Novolazarevskaya, Antarctica

Richard Meets Up with Team in Cape Town

2007-11-25T11:22:00.000-05:00

Richard with family at Heathrow

Richard Dunwoody has arrived in Cape Town. The team will spend the next several days preparing for the Interchange Shackleton South Pole Expedition. (below) Richard reviews the provisions with Doug.

Team meets up in London

2007-11-18T13:52:00.000-05:00

James, Doug and Richard in London

The team departs for Cape Town on Tuesday (20 November 2007). Stay tuned...

Team prepares for South Pole trek

2007-10-25T07:37:00.000-04:00

This November, Doug Stoup, James Fox and Richard Dunwoody will set out on Shackleton's planned 'Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition' route (c. 1915), that was never attempted due to the break-up of the 'Endurance' and the stranding of the 'Ross Sea Party.' The team hopes to reach the Geographic South Pole in 60 days (or less) -- totally unsupported and dragging 250 lb. / 113 kg. sleds over 660 mi. / 1062 km.

Stay tuned for daily coverage on ICE AXE TV.

Previous Expeditions...

2007-04-21T17:29:00.000-04:00

Last Degree to the North Pole 2007

2007-04-15T11:02:00.000-04:00

On the Amazon...

2007-01-23T15:47:00.000-05:00

ICE AXE TV Amazon Adventure

2007-01-20T14:38:00.000-05:00

Doug Stoup, Allan Marshall, The Wilkes family et. al. explore the Amazon rain forest and river...

Aconcagua Final

2006-12-17T17:06:00.000-05:00

Glenn and I left at 1200 yesturday to Camp II It took us 6 hours to
gain over 6000 ft and the wind was unbelievable? My Kestral wind
anemometer read gusts of 80mph and Glen and I were knocked off our feet
several dozen times. We arrived at campII with one of our tents
demolished in the high winds and luckly we brought another. The winds
continued all night and this morning and would not give us the break we
need to ascend the Polish glacier. We packed up Camp II with each of us
carrying over 100 lbs and took us 4.5 hours to decsend from Camp II to
Base Camp. We will head down the Vacas Valley in the Am (30 miles) and
get picked up and head back to Mendoza and hopefully can catch a flight
on tuesdaay. I want to thank everyone for following another exciting
ICEAXE Adventure and unfortunately mother nature has the last word. We
are all a little bummed we did not get to ski the amazing face (Polish
Glavcier) but it will still be there for another adventure. I want to
thank my family, John, Ryan and Glen for being great climbing partners.
The jouney would not have been so enjoyable without them. I want to
wish everyone a Happy Holidays and stay tuned for The Amazon Adventure
in a couple weeks!

Cheers,
Doug

More Aconcagua 'o6

2006-12-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

John Griber (live) from Aconcagua

2006-12-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Text Dispatches 11.30.06 (expedition start)

On the road again! This has been quite a busy year of traveling - Tibet, Nepal, Iceland, Bolivia and here I am in Argentina! It's always very exciting to step off the plane and start the adventure - I never get tired of visiting a new country, meeting the people and experiencing something different out of our ordinary lives. When I boarded the plane out of JH yesterday it was -5F , we stepped right into summer, Santiago is almost 80 degrees green and beautiful. Today was a spent wandering the streets and loosening our cramped legs, getting our Park climbing permits and some last minute food and fuel details. Tomorrow we load the jeeps and head into the Vacas Valley and start the trek into BC... Griber out

From Ryan
After over a day of travel which began in a sub-zero degree Colorado blizzard, took me through four different airports and landed me in complete contrast on a gorgeously sunny day, I have finally made it to Mendoza and am only a good nights sleep from beginning the journey to Aconcagua. It is great seeing Doug and John again as well as meeting Glen for the first time. I feel extremely lucky to be a part of such a skilled and experienced team of mountaineers and look forward to the next couple of weeks on the mountain. For now I am enjoying the warm weather and beautiful scenery in Mendoza while making some final preparations for tomorrow.

2007 ICE AXE Expedition Dates Announced

2006-09-16T15:03:00.000-04:00

Coming off two successful adventures in 2006 to the Antarctic and Arctic, Doug Stoup recently announced his plans for the remainder of 2006 into 2007. Scheduled for this December is a summit attempt and ski and snowboard descent of Aconcagua, Argentina (This would be Doug's fourth of the seven summits). He will be joined by John Griber and Ryan Sutter. Immediately following the climb, Doug will participate in an educational and humanitarian expedition to the Amazon rainforest on January 20 through February 10. After a short break, Doug will lead a team on a 'Last Degree' to the North Pole in April. And in November-December he hopes to return to Antarctica and the island of South Georgia; followed by a last degree to the South Pole. Visit ICE AXE TV for details and updates.

Last Degree to the North Pole

2006-03-23T18:03:00.000-05:00

The adventure begins in April on ICE AXE TV...

Namaste from Namache

2006-01-21T05:33:00.000-05:00

John Griber from Nepal...
January, 2006

We are currently in Namche Bazaar starting our journey back to Kathmandu.
The Khumbu Climbing school was a great success! I was here working with
Michael Brown documenting the event for Rush HD. I feel very fortunate to
have returned to Nepal so soon, the Sherpa people are some of the most
special individuals I could ever imagine to be in company with. I'm
excited to come home to see my family although I'm sad to leave this
magical place.

Team Back Home... Here's What's Next...

2005-10-04T06:03:00.000-04:00

October 6, 2005
The North Face Team is back from Cho Oyu.

Coming up in 2006... Doug Stoup and ICE AXE have an ambitious schedule planned for 2006. Starting with the Antarctic Peninsula in February, The North Pole in April, Botswana in July and possibly Tyree in November. Check the ICEAXE.TV website for details.

Stay tuned for complete coverage leading up to, and during the expeditions.

PS -- Thanks to everyone who followed the Cho Oyu expedition on ICE AXE. Stop back often and click on a banner, or tell a friend about us... Every little bit helps. Cheers!

Team in Kathmandu

2005-09-28T06:25:00.000-04:00

9-28-05

Our group arrived in Kathmandu a day ago, it's been abit of a culture change to say the least.
Since the last dispatch the Yaks were loaded in ABC and walked to Chinese camp without a hitch. That night we stayed in beautiful downtown Tingri. The drive from Tingri was spectacular- we had unobstructed views of Everest, Shishapangma and endless Himalayan summits. Our senses were aroused as we descended thousands of feet into lush pine and bamboo forests throughout the drive entering the Kathmandu valley.
From the team we would like to thank The North Face, Fenwick and West, Black Diamond, Suunto, Brunton, JetBoil, Smartwool, Laura at Kiehls, ICEAXE.TV, and LifeLink.
These sponsors generous participation added to the overall success of our expedition.

Thanks again,
John Griber
Willie Benegas
Kasha Rigby
Hilaree O'Neill

Getting in some turns on the way down...

2005-09-23T08:18:00.000-04:00

23 September 2005
The unexpected happened for us yesterday. We'd all spent the night at Camp 3, hoping for a summit attempt the next day, but things weren't looking to hopeful. We were all tired and we went to bed with a lot of wind and heavy snow. Our first weather check at 1:30am showed the mountain socked in and still snowing. The same at 3am and again at 4am.
Finally at 5:30 the weather looked to be improving enough that we thought we should go for it. We were rewarded with a most beautiful day! Of course, there was a major downside to all the snow and wind from the night before- major trailbreaking, post-holing you name it! With that said we have to gave a huge thanks to the sherpas in a friend of ours' group, because without them an already hard day would have been unimaginable!
Three out of four of us summited- John madeit to about a thousand feet below the summit, amajor accomplishment for him! The rest of us summited in about 7 hours from Camp 3, Willie and I did not use oxygen.
The summit was warm and calm but, unfortunately a bit foggy so no Everest views for us.
Of course, the stormy weather from the day before sucked for the way up, but it was pretty fun for the way down. If we hadn't been so tired it would have been incredible powder skiing! As it was, it didn't take long before we met up with John who still had some strength in his legs and was able to make some beautiful snowbord turns.
Willie gave up on the skiing pretty quickly as powder turns in soft boots at 8000m isn't quite in his bag of tricks just yet!
Kasha and I kept plugging away and, after breaking down Camp 3 found our best turns between Camp 3 and Camp 2- pow-pow!!
Willie,he who has apparently bottomless resoures of energy, decided to hoof it all the way back to basecamp last night, while the rest of us stayed at Camp 2. I think we are just hoping to rest our legs a bit so we can enjoy another couple thousand feet of skiing.
We are all healthy and happy and feel so lucky to have summited this mountain andeven gotten to ski powder on the way down. I doubt that happens every day!
We've been so lucky to have met great people and the wonderful sherpas who have helped us along the way.
Thanks again everyone,
We'll keep you posted on the next few days of wrap-up!
Hilaree and the TNF crew..

TNF Team Members Reache Summit! (podcast)

2005-09-22T08:51:00.000-04:00

9-22-05 -- Here are two podcasts from John and Hilaree.

Willie, Hilaree and Kasha reached the summit of Cho Oyu this morning. John nearly made it to the top, but had to stop just short of the peak. Both Willie and Hilaree have been climbing the whole time without oxygen; while Kasha and John were hitting the 'O.' John's spirits were up, and he plans to make some turns on the way down -- not a bad place to 'snurf' down. Stay tuned for more details, dispatches and photos. Our congrats to TNF Cho Oyo 2005 team!

Summit bid set for tomorrow (podcast)...

2005-09-21T07:09:00.000-04:00

9-21-05 -- Here's the latest podcast from John.

From Kasha... Hello from camp 3 at 24,700 feet. We seem to have entered a bit of a monsoon cycle so we raced up a day earlier than planned with hopes of beating a bigger storm. Afternoons bring in wind followed by warm snow. Looks like we have some major trail breaking ahead of us. I use we lightly as Hilaree and Willie are moving faster than I am. We are still deciding what the pay back will be. Weather permitting we plan to leave camp 3 around 3 am, summitting by early mid day and descending to camp two by skis. We will check in tommorrow.
Thanks, Kasha and the team.