|
|
|
 |
| |
| |
16,067 ft.
Antarctica
We board an
Ilyushin 76 TD, Russian cargo plane for our 4 hour flight to Patriot
Hills. We land on a four and a half mile blue ice runway, which is
much like landing on an ice skating rink. We are 600 miles from the
South Pole. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Mt.Vinson
journal entry:
Nov. 21, 2008 |
<Last |
Next> |
|
 “We
are airborne, miles above the vast expanse of pack ice. It is all a
bit surreal. One of the Russian crew says it is alright for me to
enter the lower cockpit area of the plane. What I see moves me to
tears. The huge glass viewing area is like being in a fishbowl. I
kneel down on the glass to get a better look. I cannot speak, but
put my hand to my heart and a tear comes to my eye. I am here. I
made it. The crewmember, who does not speak English, smiles and nods
his head at my reaction to the beauty surrounding me. Everywhere I
look there is ice, with all its erratic cracks, like a giant jigsaw
puzzle below. I am in awe. I return to my seat, with a memory that
is forever etched in my mind.” |
|
