British South Georgia 2013

This team sailed 1300km from Port Stanley to King Haakon Bay on Pelagic Australis, to act as unpaid guides to 5 non-climbers hoping to repeat the ‘Shackleton Traverse’ of 1916. They then planned to attempt the first ascent of one of the Trident Peaks in the Allardyce Range. The start of the traverse was delayed by several days because of the weather, but when they eventually set off, in continuing bad weather, they realised that the potential risk of wind slab avalanche during the descent from the Trident with an inexperienced team would be unacceptable. They therefore decided to omit this part of the traverse, and arranged to be picked up by Pelagic Australis in Cook Bay. After relocating to Fortuna Bay, they continued the traverse to Stromness Bay. But by now, so much time had been lost that there was insufficient left to attempt any of the Trident Peaks, so they had to be satisfied with an ascent of Mt Hodges (605m), near Grytviken.