South Georgia: A Photo Essay

Day 1 of the traverse. The team skied up the Nordensjkord Glacier toward the Allardyce Range and Mt. Paget. They established their first camp at ca. 500 meters without digging a hole or building a wind break, which resulted in a damaged tent. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

Agnes Lapeyre (right) and Tristan Guyon struggling to get the zodiac situated in the water. Maneuvering the zodiac to drop off or pick up the team at the beaches was sometimes difficult because of ice floes and rough seas. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

At the foot of an unclimbed peak. The team had to give up because of avalanche danger, but several hundred meters up they climbed the obvious couloir visible to the right of the raised ski pole. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

The team near Murray Snowfield during the traverse from Possession Bay to Sea Leopard Bay. Cunningham Peak is in the background. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

An elephant seal at Ducloz Head. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

The team crossing the huge crevasses of Christophersen Glacier. Route finding on the crevassed glacier was difficult because the team's map showed little detail (1cm:200,000km), making it almost impossible to plan routes in advance. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

At the crux of the Helland glacier crossing. The team had to climb up a spur dragging their equipment in heavy and awkward pulkas—Scandinavian sleds designed to be short and low-slung to accommodate either a dog or skier. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

Climbing up an unclimbed couloir on Sugartop buttress, after discovering that the line the team was going to attempt had disappeared. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

Lionel Daudet down climbing an upper section of Sugartop (2223m), the team's final objective. Poor weather turned them back just shy of the summit. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

Lionel Daudet traversing on his climb down from the team's last attempt summitting Sugartop. They were unable to finish the climb because of poor ice and severe winds. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

Returning from the team's last attempt on Sugartop (seen in the background) via Surprise Pass. [Photo] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007

The proposed route for the South Georgia expedition. The team didn't follow it exactly, but it gives a good overview of the area and its features. [Image] Courtesy of EXPEDITION GEORGIA SAT 2007