Page 27 - 2006 AMA Summer

the (next) sting; unusually dense Ice had prevented Gambo from making the planned pick up point in Waddington Bay.
We had to rethink our proposed descent, the only certainty being that it would be less straight forward and more committing than anything we had yet encountered. Still that lay ahead as we progressed south. By now we were off the published map and navigating on little more than a sketch map. A break in the weather allowed a brief
glimpse of a possible descent route, one that three years ago we had dismissed as unworkable but now represented our best and perhaps only chance but from this distance looked reasonably straight forward. To start with it would Involved a three mile descent of a previously unexplored glacier with steep icefalls and crevasses. This would be followed by an unseen route over a series of glaciers and ice falls.
However it was still more than twenty miles around the upper reaches of the Bagshaw Glacier. Five days later, the celebration of completing the crossing was tempered by the reality that the greatest difficulties lay ahead but even at this stage none us appreciated their magnitude and challenge. On the two days that we would have liked clear weather (Mts Johnson
and Walker), we got it. For the start of the descent we needed it, and the Gods continued to look benevolently on us. The descent was not just physically demanding but the mental pressures of route finding, uncertain ground and the prospect of collapsing snow bridges with no certainty of success were enormous. It took two days to get down and reach the coastal ice cliffs and I really started to believe that we had cracked it, all that
remained was a straightforward traverse along their tops.
This false sense of security was reinforced by a gentle two mile slight down hill ski but after gaining another rise over a headland we found ourselves in a yet more difficult and dangerous ice field. This
further challenge was committing and involved crossing some very tenuous snow bridges over deep crevasses. Not for the first time team members felt the unnerving sensation of freefall acceleration as bridges collapsed and we confirmed the inadequacy of a pulk as a makeshift parachute. The whiteout returned and we were again pinned down by another blizzard. Unable to find an obvious route out we recced our way across crevasses and ice blocks the size of large houses. We moved tantalisingly closer to safety. The final day held more drama, a steep rising traverse in appalling snow conditions was followed by a steady climb to gain a saddle ridge. As w,e gained it the cloud descended and once again we were back in whiteout for cfie last time. The descent was dramatic, a steep unrelenting ice fall with avalanche debris and more precarious blocks ^bove. It flattened out into a crevassed
Camp at the start of the plateau.
bowl but half a mile from the coast we suffered our last crevasse incident. Above Waterboat Point we took a chilled(l) bottle of champagne from a pulk. The relief was palpable. Behind us lay unforgettable experiences and memories; blizzards, high winds, aching muscles, stunning views, hardship, humour, danger, exhaustion, elation and friendship. All had left their mark. We shook hands and moved off.
Our contribution to polar exploration and field studies will never be more than a footnote in the annuls but for us the Forbidden Plateau wifi always be special. It had lived up to its name but conceded its borders to A British Army team. Honour had been satisfied; I hope it considers us worthy because the love affair is far from over.
,
Traversing open water.
The team and success.
ARMY MOUNTAINEER 25