The expedition campaign 2018-2019 ANTARCTICA UNEXPLORED DOME FUJI by the polar eco-vehicle WindSled has reached the Russian Antarctic Novolazárevskaya Base, from which it departed last December 12 heading towards East Antarctica´s interior, after covering 2,538 zero emission kilometers on ice for 52 days. Last Saturday the four expeditionary, who will remain in Antarctica for several days, reached the exact point on the plateau from which they commenced navigating: 73º south, 11º east. They plan to return to Spain at the beginning of next week, where they will offer details of the campaign upon their arrival in Madrid.
The expedition leader and WindSled designer, Ramón Larramendi, and his three companions-Ignacio Oficialdegui, Manuel Olivera and Hilo Moreno- fortunately, are in perfect physical condition. Feeling tired, though, after having endured temperatures of 42ºC (43.6 ºF) below zero in a unique scientific campaign and polar exploration, the first worldwide of these characteristics.
“It has been difficult but we consider this crossing a great scientific, technical and geographical success, because we have proved that it is possible to travel thousands of kilometers, with two tons of cargo, without polluting and performing cutting-edge science, in a complex and inaccessible territory such as Antarctica. That was our main goal. We still have to make a balance, but we are well and very happy, ” explains Ramón Larramendi from the Russian base. “The WindSled has endured much while suffering little damage, and has shown that round polar trips, solely driven by clean aeolian energy, are possible,” he affirms.
The Antarctica Unexplored Dome Fuji campaign has been mainly sponsored by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. It has also received funding from Tasermiut South Greenland Expeditions, and undertaken collaboration as contractor for the European Space Agency. Also the invaluable support of ALTUS and the 350 crowdfunding patrons. WindSled has carried a dozen scientific projects on board for which data is still being collected these days.
Initially, Larramendi’s plan was to cover 2,000 kilometers of route. Finally it has been 20% more distance but in less time than originally expected in the plan: 52 instead of 55 days. Furthermore, they have faced the challenge of climbing Dome Fuji, up to a few meters from its highest point: arriving at 3768 meters (1236 ft) of altitude. The Dome F summit is at 3810 m (12500 ft).
The expedition members have left the Antarctic ice plateau on a Vessler plane, which picked them and all the equipment up at about 260 kilometers (161 mi) from the Russian base.
Previously, during the weekend, the four expeditionary had completely disassembled WindSled, whose versatility allows an entire polar expedition campaign to be transported in a small plane.
As mentioned beforehand, these last days, they have continued to collect data and process the materials obtained, tasks that will remain until their departure from the continent, at the finalization of this 2018-2019 WindSled Antarctica Unexplored Dome Fuji campaign.
The expeditionary are grateful of the funding endowed by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the European Space Agency (ESA), Tasermiut South Greenland Expeditions, as well as the 350 participating patrons who have made this feat possible. Likewise, they are especially grateful to the Aemet Antarctic team for their constant support providing around the clock forecasts, and the research scientists who have entrusted their projects to WindSled and team.