The waiting Game

The Waiting Game

I have been down off the mountain for a week now. I was meant to fly out
two days ago, but space on the twin otters was limited and I decided to stay
behind thinking that the next flight, scheduled for the 16th, would take me
back to Patriots. It is the 16th and there is no signs of movement of
aircraft any time soon. Weather has moved into the area and has closed in
Vinson and expected to last for a few days time. The same goes for Patriot
Hills, and with wind expected to increase flying back to Punta Arenas, even
if I was to get to Patriots, is unlikely for at least 3 days or more. My
flight was scheduled to leave from Chile to the states on Dec 20th, and
unless there is a dramatic improvement in the short term forecast, I do not
believe I will make that flight. Other than issues getting off the ice, all
is well. I am getting restless knowing that not only can I not fly soon,
but weather permits going far from camp. We are all trying to stay busy out
here, but we are running out of things to do, reading, knapping, writing,
drawing, making plans, reading some more, listening to music, eating, doing
pull-ups, and repeat. All parties are off the mountain, which is good,
considering that things up high would be considerably difficult given the
current conditions. We all wait together. There is a saying out here in
Antarctica... "Difficult to get onto the ice, difficult to get off the
ice." It is what it is. At least I am not like Shackleton's men who waited
a year, no knowing if they would survive, let alone get off the ice. I have
the peace of mind knowing that as soon as the weather breaks, planes will be
in the air. Plus we have plenty of beer, wine, and soy patty's to last at
least another week! So I wait for the clouds to lift, I wait for the wind
to die, and I wait to hear the sounds of twin turbines overhead.

Vinson Base Camp
Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions
vinson.base@antarctic-logistics.com

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