Kaspersky Commonwealth Expedition Latest NewsenWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<h1>11.01.10<br />BBC Breakfast Television</h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="BBC Breakfast Television" alt="BBC Breakfast Television" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_253.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Just a quick note to say that the team, who are due to land any minute now, are scheduled to be on <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/default.stm" target="_blank">BBC Breakfast News</a> tomorrow morning. So, if you can't make the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition Welcome Home this evening (details below) then hopefully you can catch them on TV tomorrow morning.</p> <p>-</p> <h2>The Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition Welcome Home</h2> <p>Monday January 11th, 6.30pm<br />The Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5AP</p> <p>-</p> <p><i>P.S. Calling all schools in Singapore! Check out the competition you can take part in on <a title="Schools Page" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=9">the Schools Page</a>.</i></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/bbc-breakfast-television.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<h1>07.01.10<br />Welcome Home Party - Monday, 6.30pm, London</h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Eugene Kaspersky and the Team celebrate at Patriot Hills" alt="Eugene Kaspersky and the Team celebrate at Patriot Hills" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_251.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The team are due to land back in London this Monday and will be doing what all good returning expeditions should... partying.</p> <h2>The Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition Welcome Home</h2> <p>Monday January 11th, 6.30pm<br />The Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5AP<br /><br /> This is your chance to hear about the trip while it's still fresh, still raw. You can ask the questions you've been dying to ask as well as see some new photos and maybe some video too. And, if you're lucky, there'll be some champagne and nibbles.<br /><br /> So we have an idea of numbers, please RSVP to me - tim@commonwealthexpedition.com</p> <p>-</p> <p><i>P.S. Calling all schools in Singapore! Check out the new competition you can take part in on <a title="Schools Page" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=9">the Schools Page</a>.</i></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/welcome-home-party.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<h1>05.01.10<br />Still looking good</h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Still looking good" alt="Still looking good" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_250.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>You know that scene in <i>Jaws</i> where they're comparing scars and injuries in the boat? Well, that sounds a little like what's going on at Patriot Hills right now. And the good news is that the girls are still looking good - even if Kylie (New Zealand) does say so herself in today's PodCast. Steph (Cyprus) also has an update for us.<br /><br /> Hot off the press too are photos from the Pole. There's one above and I'll dish out a few more over the coming days.<br /><br /> Lastly, there's a party and you're all invited! The Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Welcome Home takes place next Monday 11th, 6.30pm at The Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5AP. We need to have an idea of numbers so please RSVP tim@commonwealthexpedition.com if you fancy popping along.<br /><br /> Over to the girls...</p> <h2>Kylie's PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=175000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-3akqccar9fe4.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=175000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22806"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Kylie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br />"Hi, it's Kylie from New Zealand. We're at Patriot Hills still. We were supposed to fly out today but the weather's not so good. It's really low cloud and there's quite strong winds and its snowing lightly. It's one of the colder days here. We're feeling OK, we've been getting fed up, eating lots of lovely food.<br /><br /> I went for a ski around behind the hills. There's a marathon course out of Patriot Hills so I had a bit of ski around there. Some of the girls are sleeping. Some are reading. A couple of the girls went for a walk up one of the hills yesterday. We finally don't have a lot of jobs to do and just a little bit of R&amp;R.<br /><br /> It's still cold. We're still all bundled up. But we're very happy we don't have to wear those gorilla masks over our faces every day the minute we pop out of the tent. Some other people have made it back from the cold since we've been here, and we can compare stories and we can also compare injuries. Some guys, a couple of guys have got really bad sunburn and frostnip on their faces, they're all scabby and pussy and just really, oh my goodness, it looks terrible. Another guy's lost his thumb. He's got frost nip on the end of his thumb and it's come off, and everybody can't believe how good we look for like and how well we've looked after ourselves. So that's really great. We really have done well.<br /><br /> A lot of these people. Not all of them, but a lot of them have been guided and had two or three resupplies so they've been carrying 15-20 kilos and 25 kilos max and we've been taking 40 to 60 kilos. And of course as we approached the Pole we were carrying all of our poo, so we were really quite heavy. I'm just so proud of everyone because our girls, a lot of them are so small and, gosh, we've done well as far as being really small and strong, so that's really pretty cool.<br /><br /> We really have shown that woman can do anything. It doesn't matter what shape or size you are or where you're from. I think it's pretty neat. If you want to do something just get out there and do it. Have a crack.<br /><br /> Alright, well that's me from Patriot Hills. We will hopefully be flying out tomorrow. Well, not "hopefully" because I think it's pretty cool here, but flying out in about 24 hours perhaps when we're all clear. So we'll just wait and see."</p> <h2>Steph's PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=91000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-nryden6texhb.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=91000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22807"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Steph's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br />"Hi everyone, this is Steph. I'm calling from Patriot Hills, Antarctica. We're still here. We were meant to fly out today, but the Ilyushin airplane which comes in from Punta hasn't arrived on our end. It's not that it's extremely bad. It's just there's a lot of low cloud over the blue ice runway, therefore it makes it a bit difficult for the plane to land and it's a risk that ALE wouldn't want to take.<br /><br /> We're just enjoying the hospitality of the ALE staff and good food, good company. Hearing everyone's stories about how they got involved or expeditions they've been on and all that. It's been an enjoyable time and I think we're all trying to get ourselves sorted so that we can get to London and enjoy our home coming party.<br /><br /> We're here as well with the Eugene Kaspersky who has been absolutely wonderful. He is the soul and life of the party. And his team as well have been taking some great photos. So all in all we're all well. Looking forward to getting onto the next point of the expedition."</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/still-looking-good.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<h1>04.01.10<br />A White Glow</h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="A White Glow" alt="A White Glow" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_249.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>It's snowing in Antarctica and that, believe it or not, is a rarer occurence than you might expect in the white desert. Helen (UK) brings up to speed with life at Patriot Hills in today's PodCast.</p> <h2>Helen's PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=160000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-u8ryxhng9ez4.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=160000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22636"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Helen's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br />"Hi this is Helen from the UK, we're still in Antarctica, at Patriot Hills. There's a fair amount of sorting out all of the rubbish from the equipment that we'll be bringing back to the UK with us setting off in just a few days from Antarctia. The weather's been quite chagneable here, we've had cloud and a fair amount of snow actually even covering the Patriot Hils which has added a lovely sort of white glow to the obviously already white landscape which had become our familar territory in Antarctica.<br /><br /> It seems a strange feeling in camp this time for myself. I was here two years ago and we were right at the very end of the season and the weather was closing in on us. On this occasion, ironically, it's so warm that we're just walking around in our thermals with just a downjacket on top and feel comparatively warm. There's a fair amount of business around here even though Saturday afternoon tends to be a little bit more down time. Patiot Hills will no longer be here after the end of this season, it's moving to the Union Glacier closer in to the mountains, about 8 hours' drive across the snow from this point.<br /><br /> It's a lovely feeling for me personally to have come back to the place that I left. There was a bit of sadness from not achieving the goal that I did achieve on that occasion and now with this expedition having reached a succesful goal I feel it's time to move on. The next time I hope to be back in Antarctica it will be a completely new start and a new base camp.<br /><br /> It reminds me once again that we need the back up and support of people like Antarctic Logistics &amp; Expeditions (ALE) - they've been fantastic in terms of providing chocolate brownies, mental and emotional support on the phone as well as physical backup, providing us with spare tent poles when ours snapped at the beginning. A really nice feeling to be amongst friends, I suppose, and the infrastructure at Patriot Hills.<br /><br /> Time to sign off now because we have more interviews with our sponsors, Kaspersky Lab, who are wanting to get the final atmospheric feel of Antarctica before our departure. So long, probably the last time I'll speak to you from Antarctica."</p> <p>Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/a-white-glow.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<h1>02.01.10<br />Return to Patriot</h1> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The team have been whisked away from the South Pole and flown back to the basecamp at Patriot Hills. Kylie (New Zealand) gives us today's PodCast and update.</p> <h2>Kylie's PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=104000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-qij9gzmq69f1.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=104000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22545"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Kylie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br />"Hiits Kylie from New Zealand and I am calling from Patriot Hills.<br /><br /> We had about a three hour and forty-five minute flight from the South Pole Patriot. We spent New Year (Punta Arenas, Chilean time) on the aeroplane with Mr Kaspersky and his team. That was pretty good fun actually. A couple of vodkas and the food which the pilots got us: fruit and biscuits and chocolate and sandwiches. We thought that was great even though we very, very tired. Some people slept through the flight.<br /><br /> We landed at Patriot Hills at some ungodly hour and the whole night staff were up waiting with the most incredible meal we could ever wish for. Huge set table with drinks. We put on our team stuff and we basically ate and drink. A really great bunch here.<br /><br /> Its lovely to be back except it's true Patriot Hills style - it's blowing 18 knots and its coldish and its really different cold to the Pole though, it's not as biting and bitter. We're managing okay. We're just sitting around trying to get back into all in the same time zone and gather all our bits and pieces. We're leaving in a few days hopefully so take care everybody. Signing out from Patriot."</p> <p>Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/return-to-patriot.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<h1>31.12.09<br />Sitting around, drinking tea</h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Sitting around, drinking tea" alt="Sitting around, drinking tea" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_248.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>So, how do you follow an act like skiing to the South Pole? What do you <i>do</i> at the end of a feat like that? Well, apparently you drink a lot of tea. Over to Felicity for a little bit more of an insight into what they've been up to since reaching the bottom of the globe. (Happy New Year everybody!)</p> <h2>Felicity's PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=170000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-5yd3z0wqf22r.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=170000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22449"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br />"Hello this is Felicity from the team just giving you a quick update on what has happened to us since we arrived at the South Pole on the 29th of December.<br /><br /> Well we had a lovely welcome from the staff of the South Pole station. Right at 90 degree south is the Amundsen-Scott Research Station which is a big American research facility and the staff that work here came out to cheer us when we arrived at the ceremonial South Pole and since then we have camped in a camp area which is maybe 15 metres from the actual South Pole.<br /><br /> We have been mostly eating and sleeping since we arrived as well as calling friends, family, media and catching up on some well earned rest. It is very strange because I think this morning when we woke up we were all very relieved that we did not have to strap on our feet and ski 15 nautical miles but our bodies are getting use to the fact that it's not having to exert itself quite so much every day. So we are sitting around drinking lots of tea, lots of hot drinks.<br /><br /> Yesterday afternoon we were allowed a tour of the South Pole base and so a couple of members of the staff came round to invite us to have a little look around and it was really great to be able to find out a bit more about the science that they do here and what it is like to live at the South Pole.<br /><br /> I think a highlight for a bunch of 7 women that have been deprived of shopping for a long time was going to the small South Pole shop and being able to buy some little souvenirs to the fact that we have been here. The ultimate highlight was that we were allowed to go into their nice warm rest rooms which is something that we have not seen in a long time. Actually quite horrendous because they have lots of mirrors inside as well and so we were able to see ourselves for the first time. We have all lost quite a little bit of weight but nobody seems too worried about that. I think we are all quite eager to get back home and find all those clothes that we have not been able to fit in for a long time.<br /><br /> It is very exciting here because obviously it is the lead up to New Year. We have already celebrated one new year which is South Pole time new year but we are looking forward to celebrating new year at least 7 times over the next 24 hour period. One for each time zone that we belong to so there is a lot of celebrating to be done.<br /><br /> Anyway just to let you know that that is what we are doing at the moment. We are really enjoying just being here at the South Pole at the bottom of the planet and I think it is really beginning to sink in for all of us just how far we have come. Speak to you soon. Bye."/p&gt;</p> <p>Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/drinking-tea.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<h1>29.12.09<br />The KLCAE team reach the South Pole!</h1> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This morning, we received the following podcast from Felicity as the team made the South Pole</p> <h2>Felicity's PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=165000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-dbhhybqfcquo.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=165000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22384"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello this is Felicity reporting that at 23:09 on the 29th of December the Kaspersky Labs Commonwealth Antarctica Expedition arrived at the Geographic South Pole. We're all standing around the mirrorball that sits at the South Pole and surrounded by the flags of all the Antarctic Treaty Nations with the South Pole base in the background and standing next to me is Era Al-Sufri the first Bruneian ever to ski to the South Pole. Next to her is Stephanie Solomonides, the first Cypriot ever to ski to the South Pole. Next to her is Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu, the first Indian woman to ski all the way to the South Pole. Next to her is Sophia Pang the first woman from Singapore to ski to the South Pole. Next to her is Kylie Wakelin, the first woman from New Zealand to ski to the South Pole. Next to her is Helen Turton who has fulfilled a long-held ambition to ski to the South Pole and I've also fulfilled an ambition to take a team of inspirational women all the way to the South Pole.</p> <p>I'm incredibly proud of the team and I think the feeling that we're all feeling right now is that if we can do this then you can do anything that you like to and that's the message that we really want to send to everyone. There's so many people that we need to thank for being able to stand here right now. First of all our friends, family and partners who've put up with so much disruption in their lives to let us do this and then there's all the volunteers who have given so generously of their time and their energy to help us organise this. And finally of course to our wonderful sponsors Kaspersky Labs who has made this dream possible for us. Thank you to all of you.</p> <p>We can't wait to get home and share all our stories with you all and we're going to be doing that over the next couple of weeks but first of all we're all off to get a good sleep and to have something really good to eat. Love to everyone at home. We're all incredibly happy and we're standing here, 7 women at the bottom of the planet with a biggest smiles on our faces right now. Thanks to everybody out there for supporting us and getting us here. Thank you. Bye."</p> <p>Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/south-pole.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>29.12.09<br />Happy Birthday Sophia<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Happy Birthday Sophia" alt="Happy Birthday Sophia" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_247.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The goal is in sight. Literally. They can see the South Pole and I can think of worse ways that Sophia could have spent her birthday.<br /><br /> A quick practical bit before we let Steph (Cyprus) give us the interesting stuff. Firstly, they are roughly 6 nautical miles from the South Pole. The map on the Progress page is approximate so might look a bit off on the last day or two. <br /><br /> Second, they are taking the day off to prepare for this evening's <a title="National Geographic - Live Lecture" href="http://www.nglondonstore.co.uk/future.html" target="_blank">live lecture at the National Geographic Store</a> via satellite phone. So, despite being a stone throw's away from the finish line, there will be a slighy delay in the arrival. The tension mounts!<br /><br /> Anyway, over to Steph for today's update...</p> <h2>Stephanie (Cyprus)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=144000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-exkczh8d42fi.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=144000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22332"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Stephanie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone. We're on Day 37. We've made it this far which is absolutely amazing.<br /><br /> Sophia's birthday today so I think Antarctica's given us the greatest gift of a perfect day. It's been absolutely perfect for traveling. It's been quite cool, obviously for temperature wise, because we're close to the South Pole and there was no wind whatsoever. Sunshine throughout, it's just been absolutely perfect. I mean, we covered 13.7 nautical miles which is really good and you know we just, we're just ecstatic because we can actually see the South Pole Station.<br /><br /> I don't know if you're aware of this but the Americans have a research station, The Amundsen-Scott Station which is on the South Pole and we can actually see the buildings now and it's been a case of so close yet so far for the past few days. Now we're just so close and so very excited about reaching the South Pole, I can't even begin to describe what the feelings were today when we spotted this building for the first time, it was just unbelievable.<br /><br /> If you think about it, it's the first time that we've actually seen anything in 20 days since we've left Thiels so I think it's been a really good birthday present for Sophia and the team as well. We're going to take the day off tomorrow so even though we're quite close to the South Poke now, just a few hours away, so we can focus on our National Geographic talk which is on tomorrow.<br /><br /> If you're in London, then I think you should get yourself down to Regent Street and listen to us because it sounds like it's going to be really, really good one. We're preparing for it and we want to hear all your questions. We'll be on at 6:30 England time so the more the merrier. Please come down and hear our stories and ask us questions.<br /><br /> Apart from that well, you know we're all heading to bed now and looking forward to a nice long line for a change. Hopefully none of us are gonna wake up at an obscene hour, otherwise we're going to be very disappointed. So, until tomorrow. Take care. Bye."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/happy-birthday-sophia.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>28.12.09<br />So Close Yet So Far<br /></h1> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="So Close Yet So Far" alt="So Close Yet So Far" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_243.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>I've just got off the phone from Felicity and it's clear that they are feeling the magnetic pull of the Pole. At a mere 20 nautical miles away, I suspect they can almost taste it.<br /><br /> They are also preparing for tomorrow evening's live lecture via satellite phone at the National Geographic Store on Regent Street in London. You can find out more about the event at <a href="http://www.nglondonstore.co.uk/future.html" target="_blank">the store's website</a> but it means the girls will be huddled around their satphone answering questions from the public tomorrow evening in what must be some kind of "polar first".</p> <h2>Felicity (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=123000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-b2nk9v8y25i3.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=123000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22273"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello this is Felicity with an update for Day 36. We are now less than 20 nautical miles from the Geographic South Pole which is very exciting. It brings new meaning to the phrase so close and yet so far.<br /><br /> We thought we might be able to see the South Pole station. It's an American research station situated at the South Pole and we thought we might be able to see out on the horizon to day but we haven't been able to see anything yet which is very frustrating. Really desperate to see something.<br /><br /> Our minds have certainly been wandering towards thinking about the end of our expedition and what we're going to do first and I think high on everyone's list is going for a shower, a nice hot shower but we have to wait until we get back to Chile for that. None of us has even seen a shower since the 12th of November which is pretty gross when you think about it particularly as we haven't had a change of clothes since our resupply 3 weeks ago either but its not as bad as it sounds because the cold means that we don't smell too bad.<br /><br /> With the recent "hot weather" (we've had a couple of sunny days in a row) when we're working hard skiing, we've been reminded of quite how dirty we are right now. During the expedition we've been keeping ourselves clean with a daily ration of one Baby Wipe per person per day and we've become very skilled at getting really good mileage out of that one precious baby wipe every day. We've also got a small toothbrush each and some toothpaste but worryingly we're running very low on toothpaste - if we were at home we probably would have probably thrown the tube away by now. Of more concern is that we're also running low on the portable john bags that we use so that we don't leave any human waste in Antarctica. We only have a few left so it's absolutely vital that we get to the Pole soon.<br /><br /> None of us will ever take for granted hot running water or a flushing toilet ever again that's for sure! On that note, I'm off to eat my dinner of lovely chicken chasseur this evening. So we'll speak to you again soon. Bye."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/so-close-yet-so-far.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>27.12.09<br />The Last Degree<br /></h1> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="The Last Degree" alt="The Last Degree" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_242.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>After weeks of isolation with only their selves for company, they are entering the relative Piccadilly Circus of the Last Degree. A popular route for shorter ski trips and a reason for keeping their eyes peeled and pointed south at the horizon for the first signs of the finish line. Reena (India) updates us today with PodCasts in English and Hindi.</p> <h2>Reena (India)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-nnzdiwpbvrku.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22204"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Reena's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello its Rea from the (?) Commonweath Antartic Expidition and we had a very good day. The sun was out and the best part of all there was no wind because even if the sun is out and there is wind it becomes very cold . So there was no wind and the ground seems to have become more evened out, flatter. We do have sastrugis but they very small. Nothing compared to what we had faced last week. This is smooth sailing for all of us.<br /><br /> Now that we on the last degree the 89th degree we saw another trail which is strange because we've been pretty much on our own for the last few weeks. But now that we are in the last degree we will be expecting to see more and more other groups and other groups' trails. What happens is most of the people just fly into the last degree and they ski the last degree to the South Pole, not all the way like we've been doing from the coast. We are expecting more and more company. In fact, there are two other groups also in our immediate vacinity so we might be bumping into them. Because it's the last degree, it's very popular.<br /><br /> Everbody's doing fine. Except from the minor aches and pains which have become so much a part of life that you don't even bother about it. It's become part of me, part of us, having these kinds of ailments. We're all very excited and very happy that everyday we are getting closer and closer to the Pole. We are looking for any signs of the polar station, the American base, Amundsen-Scott station at the South Pole. But we haven't seen any signs yet no flags, no snow mobile trails or anything but I'm pretty sure that tomorrow or the day after we will be coming into some of those. Hopefully! That will mean we are closer to our goal.<br /><br /> And that's it for today from our side. mybest wishes to everybody, my friends, my well wishers and my family. Talk to you in the New Year "</p> <h2>Reena's Hindi PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=166000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-ppcknurq3v42.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=166000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to Hindi PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22205"> Link to Hindi Podcast</a></p> <p>Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/the-last-degree.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>26.12.09<br />Christmas Special<br /></h1> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Christmas Special" alt="Christmas Special" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_230.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Where were you as the clock struck midnight on Christas Eve? Frantically wrapping presents? Singing your heart out at Midnight Mass? Sound asleep in your bed awaiting Santa's arrival? Or how about having seven girls singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas!" down a satellite phone from a tent in Antarctica?<br /><br /> Not only do we have a brief rendition of that particular Christmas Carol today courtesy of Felicity and the team, but we also have Guest Blogs from Guy Risdon (First Aid Trainer), some new profile pics from Expedition Photographer Robert Hollingworth and a couple of the cooler bits of press coverage the team have had.<br /><br /> Happy Christmas! - Tim (UK Support)</p> <h2>PodCast from Felicity and the Team:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=97000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-dw0tkdoij332.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=97000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22148"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "<i>We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!</i><br /> <br /> Steph, Reena, Kylie, Helen, Sophia and Felicity from the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctica Expedition would like to wish all our our friends and family back home as well as everyone following us on the website and of course the Kaspersky Lab team as well. A very, very Merry Christmas!<br /><br /> We had an absolutely brilliant Christmas Day. It started of with phone calls home to all our families which was fantastic to speak to our loved ones after two months of not knowing what's going on back at home. And then our Christmas present from Santa was a beautiful sunny calm day.<br /><br /> There was not a breath of wind today and so we had a lovely, lovely Antarctic day. We got on our skis and we really stormed today. We covered 15.6 nautical miles which is a really good day for us and then this evening we put the tents up and and got together in one of the tents to have a Christmas meal of freeze dried Chicken Tikka Massala for our Christmas meal. <br /><br /> We've been surprised by Helen who has made a wonderful Christmas tree with a little stocking for each of us, an absolutely lovely touch. So we've had a lovely day but of course we're thinking of everybody back home so whether you're eating Christmas turkey or Christmas rice or Christmas baklava, whatever you're eating, have a lovely lovely day."</p> <h2>The Night Before Christmas - Guest Blog from Guy Risdon</h2> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Guy (Adventure First Aid) briefs the girls before departure" alt="Guy (Adventure First Aid) briefs the girls before departure" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_238.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stocking were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there....... I finished reading this to my three year old daughter, kissed her goodnight and came downstairs to my warm sitting room, popped the kettle on picked up the laptop and started to think.....<br /><br /> A long way from home, 800 miles into a team and personal journey, 8 women will be going through the same daily routine for the 33rd time. Place 1 ski in front of the other and repeat, pitch tent, eat food from a foil sachet, tend to sore feet, aching muscles and prepare physically and mentally for the next day of the same again....<br /><br /> It seems a world away from most of us, especially at this time of year when most of us are tucked up at home with the family. Yet in a strange way the girls are tucked up with family. A family born of common goal, to succeed and reach the pole on time in good health, a goal that has been shared by others over the centuries and one which will be shared by many more to come in the future.<br /><br /> As you rest your head on your feather pillow tonight, listen carefully and not only will you hear St Nick approaching from the North, you may be able to hear Felicity.....<br /><br /> <i>As she sprang to her pulk, her team gave a whistle,<br /> And away they all flew like the down from a thistle,<br /> I heard her exclaim as she skied out of site,<br /> Merry Christmas to all, the South Pole is in sight.</i></p> <p>[Guy runs <a href="http://www.adventurefirstaid.co.uk/" target="_blank">Adventure First Aid</a> and provided the team with the necessary training and supplies before departing on their expedition.]</p> <h2>Solar Halos - Guest Blog from Jim Mayer</h2> <p>Jim was a member of the team that trained the Kaspersky ladies. Along with his wife, Sarah, he runs arctic holiday company: <a title="The Polar People" href="http://www.thepolarpeople.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Polar People</a>. He's kindly given us some more information about Solar Halos following <a title="How are the schools getting on?" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=101">Felicity's recent PodCast</a> on the subject.</p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Jim Mayer (The Polar People)" alt="Jim Mayer (The Polar People)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_175.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The Solar Halo that Felicity mentioned in yesterday's pod cast are caused by the refraction of the sun's light through ice crystals (or snow) in the sky. This refraction doesn't work with all types of falling snow, only snow that is formed at certain temperatures. Ice crystals that are created at between -20 and -25 degrees C form as hexagonal prisms.</p> <p>It's these prisms that refract the light and produce a ring or halo around the sun. If they fall the prisms are orientated horizontally then not only will you see a halo, but Sun Dogs too. These appear as extra bright spots on the ring of the halo, aligned horizontally with the sun. Often they are called "mock suns" or Perihelia.</p> <p>Cheers! Jim</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>BBC World Service and the Sunday Times</h2> <p>Here is an interview that Felicity (UK, Team Leader) conducted with the BBC World Service from her tent earlier in the month:</p> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=216000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-y0zb6hh0x5e4.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=216000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to BBC World Service Interview" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22130">Link to BBC World Service Interview</a></p> <p>And here is a link to a piece that was run in The Sunday Times Magazine:<br /> - <a href="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_239.pdf" target="_blank">Sunday Times article</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Profile Photos from Robert Hollingworth</h2> <p>Rob followed the team down to Antarctica and is responsible for all the wonderful images you see on this website - <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">see more of his work and book him here</a>.</p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Felicity (Team Leader)" alt="Felicity (Team Leader)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_231.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Sophia (Singapore)" alt="Sophia (Singapore)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_232.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Reena (India)" alt="Reena (India)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_233.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Kylie (New Zealand)" alt="Kylie (New Zealand)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_234.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Helen (UK)" alt="Helen (UK)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_235.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Era (Brunei)" alt="Era (Brunei)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_236.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Stephanie (Cyprus)" alt="Stephanie (Cyprus)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_237.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Last but not least, a couple of people have asked where to find the <a title="How are they updating the website from Antarctica?" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=70">blog post I wrote about how the team are updating the website from Antarctica</a>. Well, <a title="How are they updating the website from Antarctica?" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=70">here it is</a>!</p> <p>Photos by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/christmas-special.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>25.12.09<br />Eating Dogs<br /></h1> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Eating Dogs" alt="Eating Dogs" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_229.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>It's not like the old days. They now have pile and Pertex where they used to have wooly jumpers and tweed. They have dehydrated meals and protein shakes where once they relied on seal blubber and worse, as Helen (UK) describes in today's PodCast. We've got a voicemail in English and a special message for our Norwegian followers too.<br /><br /> Remember, these updates come in at the end of the day which means that <i>tomorrow</i> will be the Christmas Special. Make sure you log on!</p> <h2>Helen (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=145000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-z9by6hyaa9ob.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=145000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22128"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Helen's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi it's Helen here ringing in, representing the UK, here in Antarctica. We're almost at 89 degrees South and it's Christmas Eve, certainly for myself back at home.<br /><br /> It reminded me today as I was skiing along thinking about Amundsen and Scott when they did this journey about 98 years ago and thinking they didn't have the sort of modern technology that we have today like sat phones for ringing through for our Christmas messages or the type of clothing that we've got that really protects us from the elements. We've had a pretty raw cold day today.<br /><br /> We do get reminded of Amundsen every day - there's a picture of his face is on our skis ironically. But the other thing of course is that thankfully we don't have to eat our dogs like Amundsen did or eat pemmican for our meals. So there are definitely better sides to our trip itself.<br /><br /> I am hoping to replicate something like this so in 2011 when it's our 100 year anniversary with one of my Norwegian colleagues <a href="http://newland.no/" target="_blank">Svante</a> and we'll be bringing Norwegian and English young people's group to the South Pole to this last degree so that the last bit of the journey that we've got left now to do.<br /><br /> I always feel that when you take part in a trip like this you should be inspired to pass on something special about what you've learned about yourself and about places you've been to visit. So if you want more information on that if you want to follow what's going to be going on in 100 year anniversary, I'm sure there's going to be lots happening down here in Antarctica to mark Amundsen and Scott taking that first step into the great unknown and arriving at the South Pole for the very first time.<br /><br /> Of course they didn't know they got there by GPS or compasses we're using, it would have been by using sextants and it really was a step into the unknown. But thankfully for us we know where we're going, we're on our way and we're not far from the Pole now and we're really looking forward to Christmas and New Year celebrations over the next few days and when we get back home to see all our family and friends. It's a shame we're not with you but we'll be thinking about you over the next few hours.<br /><br /> That's all for now. Speak to you soon!"</p> <h2>Helen's Norwegian PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=88000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-u9zw6vdmh1b0.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=88000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to Norwegian PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22129"> Link to Norwegian Podcast</a></p> <h2>More Info on Scott, Amundsen and 100th Anniversary:</h2> <p>Not sure who this Amundsen chap is? Can't work out you should be celebrating Scott's anniversary? Here are some links for more info and a couple of expeditions marking the occasion:<br /><br /> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Amundsen" target="_blank">Roald Amundsen</a><br /> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Falcon_Scott" target="_blank">Robert Falcon Scott</a><br /> - <a href="http://newland.no/" target="_blank">Newland: Website of Svante Strand</a> (the Norwegian friend that Helen mentioned) <br /> - <a href="http://south.bensaunders.com/brochure/" target="_blank">Scott Antarctic Expedition</a><br /> - <a href="http://thenextchallenge.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Inspire.pdf" target="_blank">2012 Olympic 'Inspire' Project</a></p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/eating-dogs.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>24.12.09<br />Ice Goatee<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Ice Goatee" alt="Ice Goatee" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_228.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>As the subtle bite of winter sinks its icy teeth into the UK's transport network, the girls down south continue their journey towards the Pole in conditions that would make for quite the Traffic News Bulletin back here. Kylie (New Zealand) tells us today how the weather affects her facial hair...</p> <h2>Kylie (New Zealand)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=151000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-om6nk4xp3pn7.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=151000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22090"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Kylie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello everybody, it's Kylie from New Zealand calling on day 32 from Camp 31. We are up on the Antarctic Polar Plateau as you probably know by now. Trucking towards our last degree which will be cool.<br /><br /> Still climbing a little bit. We're at 9,006 feet today so even though we've been climbing really slowly, that little bit of altitude has been effecting some people and even though I've been feeling quite strong I can see that I've been breathing harder because my icicles are getting longer on my face mask. A big long ice goatee like my builder Colin MacArthur in Twize; except for mine's a little more spectacular, pointy and long.<br /><br /> We're all good. The girls are just amazing. Everyone is just putting the heads down and getting on with it. A pretty cool bunch of people just to be cruising along with. We don't get too much time on the road to chat during the day. We're in single file so a little bit of the catch up in the tent in the evening.<br /><br /> Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everybody because it's coming up in a few days. We'll be walking. We'll be on the go, on the move now so thinking of you all and especially friends and family at home. You all know I'm thinking of you but also Scottish cousins: Helsa, ... Alan, Ferg and Anita, Pucking, Frank, Hilda and Familia, and also to the Danes, Selina, Martin and Michel and Mia, and Michel and Pora. Everyone have a great Christmas and New year.<br /><br /> Think of us girls here. We'll be on the dehydrated food and porridge I think just for a change. And also to the Aussies: Pete, Megs, Jeanie and Mick and Joe etc. G'day, g'day. I hope everyone's good. We'll see you all on the New Year, for the big party, alright.<br /><br /> Over and out."</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/ice-goatee.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>23.12.09<br />Too Skinny<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Too Skinny" alt="Too Skinny" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_227.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Try as they might to keep the shovelling the calories in, it sounds as though their metabolism can't keep up with the workload. Poor Sophia is shrinking away! Here's today's PodCast from our Singaporean member.</p> <h2>Sophia (Singapore)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=96000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-posdx08mwq5f.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=96000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22045"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Sophia's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi this is Sophia calling from the Xxpedition on day 31 of our traveling.<br /><br /> Today i realized that there is one reason why you should not be happy about not having too much body fat: because being in this environment for this number of days you will realise that how the body uses every part of it.<br /><br /> So, for me, being someone that has more of an athletic build and not so much body fat, I think on the first half of the expedition, the body is basically using whatever reserve fat that you have to get used to the environment. Even just sitting in the tent keeping yourself warm takes a lot of energy from your body and now it's coming into day 31, probably a lot of fat reserve on me has been gone and it's starting to eat into my muscles which I'm feeling. Really feeling it these last few days. The mind says you are clear and you want to go faster. The legs and the arms are just not doing it. That shows how much energy we are using even though I'm the only one that finishes all my ration bag.<br /><br /> So that's about it for today. Just a little bit grumpy about myself so talk to you again next time."</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/too-skinny.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>22.12.09<br />Comments Page Updated<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Comments Page Updated" alt="Comments Page Updated" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_226.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>I am pleased to say that the comments on the 'Ask us a Question' page our now back online. Sincere apologies to the many amongst you who have been sending your messages and wondering what had happened to them - there was a slight technical hitch, now resolved. I'll be passing on some Christmas messages on the 24th. There's no way I could read them all out but, if you've got a message for the team then by all means submit now!<br /><br /> Oh yes, I almost forgot: we have some news from one of those girls doing that whole "South Pole thing". Era, I think her name is... - Tim (UK Support)</p> <h2>Era (Brunei)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-fcjf7t0e2izg.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=22011"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Era's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone, Era here. Today I'm doing the UK voice mail. I'm gonna talk about keeping warm in Antarctica.<br /><br /> Well the past 2 days, today and yesterday, were a bit chilly. It's been hard to keep warm especially when we're not moving. It's OK while we're skiing but during the breaks - we have about 7 minutes breaks - it's hard to keep the heat in.<br /><br /> We're trying to slow the cool down by putting on our down jackets but apparently when you start eating and drinking, a lot of your energy is used to digest that food and drink so the heat goes away from you fingertips and toes and stuff so you feel cold anyway.<br /><br /> Sometimes you just wish you could go on for 2 hours and then have a break, it's a bit hard because we need toilet breaks and stuff like that. So one of the ways we keep warm is jumping up and down, doing punches in the air. Everything really to get circulation back into the fingertips and the toes.<br /><br /> What else? Another part of the body that gets cold is the face, it's a dilemma. We wear gorilla masks and you don't want to move them around. You want to keep it on there because you've got you goggles on your gorilla mask and if you move your gorilla mask - a bit to the right or a bit to the left - or take off the nose bit and stuff like that. The gorilla mask is a kind of balaclava, it keeps the wind off your face and stuff like that. So you don't want to move it around too much or else, its fogs your goggles up. Sometimes during the breaks, you're trying to get food in and it's hard to get it in through the mask because it just freezes from your breath, the condensation of your breath. So, we get icicles around our masks, which is quite interesting and we've taken quite a few pictures..."</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/comments-page-updated.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>21.12.09<br />Lemon Noodles<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Lemon Noodles" alt="Lemon Noodles" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_218.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Desperate times call for desperate measures. They've seemed totally unfazed throughout this journey so far - consistently putting in the hours and churning out the miles - and, frankly, have been making it look easy. So, it is in many ways refreshing to be reminded that the team is in fact comprised of humans. I think they've had a tough one today and Steph (Cyprus) has been dealing with it by mixing noodles, with soup, with a citrus energy drink. Strange.</p> <h2>Stephanie (Cyprus)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=170000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-ub06d2bv7v0w.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=170000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21960"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Stephanie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "HI everyone it's Steph here. We have had an early one here today - YAY! - which is good but mostly because we have climbed up about 800 feet and we getting closer to the Antarctic Plateau.<br /><br /> The weather has changed quite dramatically. I mean not that it was ever amazingly easy to see through but now we're really getting icy cold winds and things are getting much tougher. We have gone through sastrugis, really big sastrugis. Everyone is starting to feel a little bit more tired. I've had 4 new blisters. Things are getting harder and we are lucky in our unluckiness. We stopped quite early today, after the fourth leg and we are all really going to have a good night's sleep tonight and head on tomorrow for the next session.<br /><br /> We almost 2 degrees away from the pole and its a pity. One of the main reasons why we stopped was because none of us wants to get injured. It would be a pity for any of us to bow out now. I know personally I would be devastated.<br /><br /> My mantra everyday is we need to make it to the South Pole without injury.<br /><br /> You can't imagine just how hard it is to just stay out of trouble or at least I am finding it really hard. It's all fingers and toes and mittens and gloves and liners. I'm telling you this is not easy. We all sound jovial and happy and enthusiastic on the voice mails and you can probably hear us smiling but it is actually really hard and it's getting harder as we get closer to the pole. Especially now that tiredness is starting to kick in.<br /><br /> Apart from that everyone is really looking forward to reaching the pole (fingers crossed). We're also looking forward to Christmas where we all will be speaking to our families and catching up on all the gossip at home. But apart from that I am going on my 4th day without music and needless to say i am faring - how am i going to put this - <i>I am alright</i>. I can get through this. I hope everyone is alright at home. Enjoy Christmas. At least I am getting a white one. Ha ha! Enjoy take care."</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/lemon-noodles.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>20.12.09<br />How are the schools getting on?<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="How are the schools getting on?" alt="How are the schools getting on?" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_217.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Before leaving their respective countries, the girls <a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=9">threw down the gauntlet to schools</a> throughout the Commonwealth and the rest of the world, to race them to the Pole. Who would be faster - a team of trained expeditioners, dedicating all their time to a single objective? A group of enthusiastic youngsters working together in less harsh environs?<br /><br /> Children of the Commonwealth, school kids of the world... Now is the time to speak up.<br /><br /> The girls are only 130 miles from the Pole so where are you? Let us know through the <a title="Ask us a question" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=8">Ask us a Question page</a> and the girls will know whether to rest on their laurels or put pedal to metal until they reach 09-degrees.</p> <h2>Felicity (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=135000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-teza5tgqidbj.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=135000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21894"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello this is Felicity giving you an update for day 28.<br /><br /> Gosh, 28. Some days it feels like its been absolute months and months that we have been at this then other days I can't believe we're on day 28 . It seems to be speeding past.<br /><br /> Well, looking at the map it seems we are almost at the South Pole but we're still actually 130 miles away which is a long way by anybody's standards to go. So we still have quite a way to go and we're all beginning to feel how far we have come. There are a few aching muscles in the mornings and we have all lost a bit of weight but we have all just had a tough couple of days.<br /><br /> We have climbed almost 4,000 feet since leaving Thiels where we had our re-supply. Gosh, what was that: about 10 days ago? It feels like we have climbed most of that in the last 3 or 4 days. Yesterday and today we have also had the added difficulty of the really big Sastrugi which has slowed our progress a little bit where you're constantly climbing up one side of the Sastrugi an d sliding down the other side with our pulks sort of bumping and jamming along the way.<br /><br /> To cheer us along we had some more spectacular sun and halos around the sun and lots of really fine snow that looks sort of like diamond dust falling from the sky. So it's been really beautiful but very, very hard work the last couple of days.<br /><br /> As we're sort of finishing our last 130 miles to the pole we were wondering how the schools have done. If any schools have taken up Aurora's challenge to beat us to the South Pole. How are you all getting on? If you are taking part in the challenge, let us know who you are and how you're doing it and how you're doing by the website. Are you keeping up with us? Have you overtaken us? Has anyone reached the pole yet? It would be great if you could let us know. It would be great motivation for us to keep up the mileage and stay ahead of you.<br /><br /> Well that's it from me. Ill speak to you again next week. Love to everyone at home. Bye "</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/how-are-the-schools-getting-on.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>19.12.09<br />Antarctic Epiphany<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Antarctic Epiphany" alt="Antarctic Epiphany" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_216.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>We all know what it feels like. A zen-like state of mind, like your taken to a higher dimension, a disconnection with your senses or perhaps a hypersensitivity to them. It's those moments of epiphany that strike when you least expect them. But, most of them don't occur in the middle of an Antarctic desert with a celestial event for back up. Reena (India) talks us through her <a href="http://thenextchallenge.org/2009/11/my-subtle-epiphany/" target="blank">little epiphany...</a></p> <h2>Reena (India)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-0uqkdtkgivnc.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21857"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Reena's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello it's Reena this time from the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition. Greetings from Antarctica.<br /><br /> Today was one of the hottest days that we've experienced, like really, really hot. It started off a little bit a cloudy but later it became so hot and then we have a lot of sastrugis like we have to go up and down over. It's a pretty hard day. But in spite of all that we covered good distance. We covered Nav Point 2 - yay! They great thing about reaching Av Point 2 is that now our GPS and a compass will be pointing directly towards the South Pole.<br /><br /> It seems like very, something very great to me. It feels very good that now we have no other Nav Points but heading direct for the South Pole. That means we are coming closer and closer to our goal.<br /><br /> So, you all must be wondering what we do, what I do while skiing for so many hours. Everybody in the expedition, they are carrying iPods or some kind of music with MP3. That's why I decided not to carry any music system because being like from Delhi, there is like 24 hours of noise there sometimes even at night. You'll be hearing all the time, noise, noise, noise so I thought I will just place, this will be my place, my time for peace and quiet and have nothing, no sound at all. <br /><br /> That's good because I do all kinds of things. Like, there are these sastrugis which look like different kinds of shapes of different animals, mostly fish, so I sometimes when I'm walking by them, I just walk with my ski pole and make an eye on them. And the funny things is that as I was making these eyes, Kylie, the other friend of mine, she was making mouths and lips for them. We realized both of us are doing all this which is quite funny.<br /><br /> I think a lot you know, I think of the past and I think of the present and what the future has in mind as long as I am busy. But one thing that I do think a lot about nature and being in this kind of environment, you know like the pure wilderness, it brings you some kind of, it brings you closer and makes you think about something of a greater power that is around and you can actually feel something special. It brings you closer, maybe, to the Creator, or The Power or the Gods. <br /><br /> It doesn't matter what religion you are, but you do feel something special out here and today we saw a halo around the sun and then there was like this snow, crystals of snow falling down on us and it just seemed like a very special moment to me. I think all of us felt something really special. It looked like we were having showers or blessings from the heavens and that really made us feel good."</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/antarctic-epiphany.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>18.12.09<br />Monotonous, mundane, brain dead state<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Monotonous, mundane, brain dead state" alt="Monotonous, mundane, brain dead state" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_215.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>How on earth do you go about training for an Antarctic expedition? Would it surprise you to hear that a key component to any such preparation is to strap a car tyre to your waist with a bit of rope and drag it up hills? If it does, then you've really got to listen to Helen (UK)'s PodCast today. We've also got some comments from Polar Nutritionist Justin Roberts who advised the team during their training.</p> <h2>Helen (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-rbzf7s27x9b6.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21788"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Helen's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello this is Helen calling from the UK with the update from Antarctica today.<br /><br /> We've had a pretty cold day today actually. Very difficult to train forexperiencing cold weather where your face mask actually freezes to your face and you've got such a tiny hole left from where you've been breathing and the whole mask is full of ice to actually be force in the food. It made me think about the training that we've done in preparation for the this trip in general.<br /><br /> It's really such an endurance event and day after day to head out and go skiing for between 8 to 10 hours. It's very difficult to train for. Some people train by going on long walks in the mountains and the hills where they live in the different countries around the Commonwealth. Other people have been training by pulling tyres behind them which is a well known sort of Polar trick for strengthening and training the muscles in your lower back.<br /><br /> It's been a combination of building the muscle strength with regular trips to the gym and most people have included a combination of this within their training programs so they've either had to have a personal trainer or somebody has been able to give them some advice about the best possible way of preparing for this sort of trip.<br /><br /> We were really fortunate when we did our initial training in Norway that we had a gentleman called Justin Roberts who came out and talked to us about the type of training we should be doing and also thinking about the balance and nutrition. I know that people have talked on this website about food already and it's keeping a balance of that so that you're taking in the right energy levels at the right time and appropriate food in relation to the training.<br /><br /> Personally I find that tyre pulling works really well for me. It also gets you into that sort of monotonous, mundane, brain dead state. I pulled tyres for between 3 to 5 hours, perhaps a couple of times a week. Actually on this occasion training for the trip this time, I've found that just by doing the big backpacking trip, immediately before coming away, I didn't really have time for tyre pulling but that in itself was also really good training for the lower back muscles.<br /><br /> In spite of all the training, we're still starting sort of feel now that our muscles are gradually disappearing so we might just start off with thunder thighs, some of us but the thigh muscles in particular are now sort of disappearing fast as are our big bicep muscle. The more we seem to experience the cold, the even more we have to put much more effort into actually just pulling our pulk forward and obviously doing that same exercise..."</p> <h2>Justin Roberts (Nutritionist) comments:</h2> <p>Felicity and the team: Firstly hello from a cold and wet UK, but I guess it's colder there. Well done for getting this far, but the job is only half done, its not over until you finish! So take on board all the advice you have been given from all the people who want to see you succeed. With nutrition, remember its about consistency as well as practicality. Even if you don&rsquo;t feel massively hungry on any particular day, remember what you do today affects tomorrow. Remember to recover from the end of one day to the beginning of the next, this means carbohydrate, protein and fluid intake. Keep me posted.<br /> LOL<br /> J</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/monotonous-mundane-brain-dead-state.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>17.12.09<br />A Trivial Pursuit<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="A Trvial Pursuit" alt="A Trvial Pursuit" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_214.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Apparently, they're coasting along so easily that they've found the time to play board games in the evening! Well, perhaps it's not quite that easy but they certainly seem to be making good progress. Update from yesterday comes courtesy of Sophia (Singapore) and today's is from Kylie (New Zealand).</p> <h2>Sophia (Singapore)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=113000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-z0n3vsi4oufv.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=113000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21729"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Sophia's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone. This is Sophia from the expedition team. We are on day 24 today.<br /><br /> We had a pretty good day. Weather was good. We have a nice sunny day with light wind so it's very good for traveling or for skiing. Typically in weather like this we are dressed real light. On our bottoms we typically have our Chocolate Fish thermal, and the salopettes. The salopettes are actually your pants with a layer of fleece underneath to keep our legs warm and protected from the wind. But sometimes when it gets too warm we have zips by the side where we can unzip and air it as well. On our top again we have our Chocolate Fish thermal and we typically in weather when it's sunny and right when we would just have our wind proof jacket on top of the thermal. It might sound a bit little but when we are skiing we get pretty warm, so it's a nice balance. But of course for some of us we feel a little bit chilly we put on a fleece underneath.<br /><br /> We do have another layer, our smocks. We have two smocks from Montane. Again, these are pretty much like our salopettes. They have a layer of fleece underneath and windproof on the outside. but we would typically wear it only when it's very, very windy because they give us very good protection.<br /><br /> That's all for today's chat. I'll talk to you again next time."</p> <h2>Kylie (New Zealand)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=127000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-7jy6b8c56bj6.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=127000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21730"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Kylie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi folks, it's Kylie from New Zealand. Reporting in from Camp 24 on day 25.<br /><br /> We've had a really good day. We've been pushing slightly uphill most of the way the last week. We should have been able to see a little bit pulling up hopes. But sort of getting a bit of a surprise when we look at the altimeter, we're over 7000 feet now. The South Pole is just over 9000 feet so you know we really don't have so far to go.<br /><br /> An altitude gain is great, the conditions are harder and faster now. There is more sastrugi starting to appear a little bit more like the end of the first week, a bit tougher on our joints and things, girls seem to mowing through it no problem. We did a whopping 16.1 nautical miles today and it was all pretty much uphill, so that's good.<br /><br /> So we're back to our 6 legs a day, 6, 1 and half hour legs in about 10 hours so back to 10 hour days for a bit. Today we reached 87 degrees of latitude so that's a reason to celebrate. We're just heading over to the other team to run a Trivial Pursuit night. Got team questions about the Antarctic.<br /><br /> Yeah, so we're all good, the moral is good and everyone is getting along really well. It's a great bunch of people great bunch of girls and we're just trucking along at this stage, looking for any incentive to have a small celebration and pat each other on the back. Bye."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/a-trivial-pursuit.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>16.12.09<br />Did I say the right thing?<br /></h1> <p><a title="Jim Mayer (Training Team) - The Polar People" href="http://www.thepolarpeople.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Jim Mayer (Training Team)" alt="Jim Mayer (Training Team)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_175.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></a></p> <p>..."Did I say the right thing?"<br /><br /> Replay the scene in my head: There is a log fire in the grate and a gale outside. We are in Norway&rsquo;s highest mountain hut in the middle of winter, February 2009. The road outside is closed to all traffic and we may have to stay here longer than planned. The women of the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition look at me with a mixture of expressions ranging from &ldquo;I have no idea what you&rsquo;re talking about&rdquo; through to &ldquo;Is he speaking English?&rdquo;<br /><br /> I pick-up the rainbow coloured beach ball and start again &ldquo;So latitude is how close to the pole you are &ndash; if you&rsquo;re at zero then you&rsquo;re on the equator. You need to get to 90 degrees, that&rsquo;s the pole&rdquo; I trace my fingers over the globe and some expressions of understanding come back to me from the girls. Progress quickens and later we take our yellow GPS units outside for some orienteering. A couple of days later the team are using them to navigate with ease between checkpoints 10km apart as they ski across the feature-less vidda. <br /><br /> They seem to have got the hang of the navigation techniques that will get them to the pole. May be I did say the right things after all. Only one puzzle remains, why does a snow bound mountain lodge have a beach ball amongst it&rsquo;s inventory?<br /><br /> - <br /><br /> <i>Jim was a member of the team that trained the Kaspersky ladies. Along with his wife, Sarah, he runs arctic holiday company: <a title="The Polar People" href="http://www.thepolarpeople.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Polar People</a>.</i></p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/did-i-say-the-right-thing.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>15.12.09<br />Era's Weight Loss Contest<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Era's Weight Loss Contest - Robert Hollingworth" alt="Era's Weight Loss Contest - Robert Hollingworth" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_213.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Atkins. The Glycemic Index. That weird "cabbage diet" people always talk about. There are a lot of crazy diet plans out there but I think this one takes the low-calorie biscuit. Admittedly, it may be an unavoidable consequence of skiing for 8 hours a day in temperatures well below zero but, nevertheless, Era (Brunei) wants you to guess how much weight she'll lose by the time she reaches the Pole. Hear it from her in today's PodCast.</p> <h2>Era (Brunei)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-pa44hs90fkb5.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-pa44hs90fkb5.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21547"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Era's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone it's Era here, just to tell you about the contest that I posted on <a href="http://twitter.com/kcae" target="blank">Twitter</a>. If you don't know about it you can look it up.<br /><br /> It's the EWLC which stands for <i>Era's Weight Loss Contest</i>. It's a contest about how much weight you think I'm going to lose on this expedition. I need the guesses to nearest 0.1 kilo, you send your name and your contact details to <a href="mailto:info@commonwealthexpedition.com">info@commonwealthexpedition.com</a>.<br /><br /> Some details which might help you guess accurately how much weight I lose are:<br /><br /> - My pre-expedition weight was 57.9kg<br /> - I'm 26 years old<br /> - My height is about 153 centimeters which is about 5 feet<br /> - We're eating about 4300 to 4500 calories We're skiing about 7 and a half to 9 hours a day (It depends whether were doing 5 or 6 legs but you can look that up on <a href="http://twitter.com/kcae" target="blank">Twitter</a>)<br /> - For breakfast I'm eating <a href="http://www.mightymuesli.com/products.asp?iCatID=3" target="_blank">Power Porridge</a> - 60 grams of that if you want to know how many calories that is you can <a href="http://www.mightymuesli.com/products.asp?iCatID=3" target="_blank">click on the link from the website</a>. That, together with 10 grams of powdered milk and 10 grams of sugar.<br /> - I'm also drinking hot chocolate for breakfast which is about 120 calories. <a href="http://www.highfive.co.uk/" target="_blank">High-5</a> protein drink. Calories for that is also on the <a href="http://www.highfive.co.uk/" target="_blank">link from the website</a> and another carbohydrate drink which is about 375 calories.<br /><br /> If you need anymore info on that you can ask me a question. Leave it on the leave a comments page and I'll get back to the you as soon as I can.<br /><br /> Another thing, I would like to say is "Happy Birthday" to my brother. He's 25 years old. His birthday is today, 15th December 2009. I love you my only brother and also in 5 days I'm going to celebrate my 1 year 8 month wedding anniversary. So, in advance, since I won't be on this call, I want to say "Happy Wedding Anniversary" to my husband. That's it..."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><i><i><br /><br /></i></i> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/eras-weight-loss-contest.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>14.12.09<br />Fine and dandy and pleasant<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Fine and dandy and pleasant" alt="Fine and dandy and pleasant" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_212.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>What have you been up to over the last three weeks? Getting your Christmas presents? Wrapping things up at work? Well, it's Day 22 now down south and the girls have spent those days with a single objective: reaching the South Pole. Their surroundings still inspire but it's not all fine and dandy and pleasant as Steph (Cyprus) explains:</p> <h2>Stephanie (Cyprus)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=156000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-xyj1or0pz8sr.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=156000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21443"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Steph's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone, this is Steph. I'm calling from literally the middle of nowhere.<br /><br /> I'm standing outside, it's just about bed time and everyone's getting ready to go to bed, have a sleep and get ready for tomorrow. It's just unbelievable. I mean, we're on day 22. I'm just awestruck by this place. The emptiness, the nothingness. I'm outside the tent and I can see 360 degrees of white. Not flat, not really, we've got a couple of hills coming up towards the south. It's unbelievable, it's such a privilege to be here.I can't wait to come back and see everyone and show you photos and tell you about it. It's absolutely brilliant.<br /><br /> Obviously, not everything is fine and dandy and pleasant. It is a very hard experience. I've had my first cold injury, I've had chillblains on my leg. But hopefully it's nothing serious, as long as I look after them and they're not in the wind. They can turn to frost bite apparently if they become a full open wounds which is fairly scary. But you know, at least it's not frost bite, or frost nip.<br /><br /> Apart from that, you know, things are getting tough. We're getting in the mileage, I'm feeling the weight of my pulk from resupply. We're climbing up a lot of hills. We're gaining altitude, so the temperature is relatively colder. It's getting colder as we get along. But you know all is good.<br /><br /> I can't wait to speak to the family on Christmas Day, which should be a great experience. One of the oddest things about being on this expedition is being so cut off from the world outside. I have no idea what the current affairs are. I have no idea what's going on in the world and that's such a weird feeling, so isolated. But I'm looking for a good catch up. I'm looking forward to a good catch up on Christmas Day, so that should be good.<br /><br /> Miss everyone. Hope everyone is well, and still hoping I make it to the South Pole in one piece without any major injuries. So lots of love, speak again. Bye."</p> <p><i><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></i></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/fine-and-dandy-and-pleasant.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>13.12.09<br />Getting your boots off<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Getting your boots off" alt="Getting your boots off" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_211.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>You get through the front door, hang your coat up, chuck your bag on the floor, kick your shoes off and collapse on the sofa. It's the end of your day and time to <i>relax</i>. They may not have a sofa, or even a front door for that matter, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the moment they fall into the tent and get their boots off, a similar wave of relief strikes. Felicity (UK) talks us through the process.</p> <h2>Felicity (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=147000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-80ypzdfcmmjj.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=147000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21403"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello, this is Felicity giving you an update on Day 21.<br /><br /> Everything's going really well, and we're making excellent progress. We're all absolutely delighted. We've literally just passed the half way mark, and it does feel like the miles are catching up with us a little bit. Lucky there's been no sort of serious injuries yet, but we've all got various aches and pains, which I think come from walking so many miles. But everyone is definitely grateful each evening to get into camp and take our boots off. It's definitely one of the highlights of our day.<br /><br /> We stopped this evening just around 5:30pm, and these days it takes about half an hour from stopping on our skis to getting everyone in the tent. My job in the evening is to secure the tent by digging snow onto the edges, onto the balances so I'm usually one of the last into the tent. Once I've got in and got my boots off, I take off all my ice encrusted goggles and face masks and hats and gloves, which again is another amazing moment - to get these horrible icy things off of my face, and then we hang all those ice encrusted bits of kit on our washing line that we have on the roof of our tent.<br /><br /> That's usually followed by about 10 minutes of concentrated power eating while I do the best to finish my bag of popcorn, nuts sesame snacks and everything else that we're supposed to eat during the day. I never usually finish it off while we're skiing so I just have to finish it all in the evening instead. And then by the time I finish, dinner is usually ready. So I get handed a huge dehydrated meal which I'm still really thrilled when I open it up and find that there are real proper vegetables in it. We honestly have the best dehydrated meals in the world. I've eaten a few, and these rank as some of the best, they really do.<br /><br /> After dinner, the stove is brought right inside the main part of the tent and we zip it up so it gets really hot in here and dries out all our clothes that have got wet with snow during the day. And it does get really hot. It might be -20 outside, but we can sit here quite comfortably in our chocolate fish sandals and really thaw out for once.<br /><br /> But that's it. That's the update for today. Love to everyone at home. I'm thinking of you all and really can't wait to speak to you all on Christmas Day. Lot's of love, Felicity."<br /></p> <p><i><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></i></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/getting-your-boots-off.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>12.12.09<br />Glass half full<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Glass half full" alt="Glass half full" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_210.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>It crept up from the shadows and caught us unaware but the halfway point is nearly upon the team. I don't know whether they'd count themselves as optimists or pessimists but I'm taking this to be a case of the glass half full. Here's Reena's take in English and in Hindi...</p> <h2>Reena (India)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=160000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-geqxiocansaf.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=160000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21363"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Reena's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello. Reena from the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Expedition. Greetings from Antarctica for everyone. Just to let you know that we keep on getting your messages. But are unable to reply to the messages because we don't have a laptop or a computer on us, nor do we have internet access. We get your messages like twice in a week. Kind courtesy of Tim (UK Support) who rings us up on the satellite phone and let's us know them.<br /><br /> So we come to know what are the messages and that makes us feel really good and boosts our energy levels. But I'm sorry to say, on behalf of all of us, that we cannot reply to all those messages individually. But definitely once I come back to India I will try to reply these messages.<br /><br /> The good thing today, like one big accomplishment for us is that we reached about half way. So we've covered about 460 km, and we've got another 460 km to go, and although we've gone this half way, you know, we still have to be always vigilant and take care of ourselves and our feet and hands and face. And also we have to keep on eating food, you know, lots of food. 4000 to 5000 calories so that we get the energy to be skiing for 9 to 10 hours daily.<br /><br /> Sometimes we're not hungry, sometimes we, but we still force feed ourselves because we have to reach the South Pole now, and that's a long and we've got another 19 days to do that. So well, I mean there are some slight feet issues you know, but nothing big. I have also some pain in the right foot below the ankle. But you know, it's alright and I'm taking painkillers. The moral is high and people are still like: "No problems". We just keep on going and every day we move closer to our goal. <br /><br /> So also today I miss everybody. My friends and everybody at home and well-wishes. I will speak to you again next week. Untill then, bye bye and take care."</p> <h2>Reena's Hindi PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=147000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-t2j9521pchn3.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=147000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21364"> Link to Podcast</a></p> <p><i><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></i></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/glass-half-full.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>11.12.09<br />Not enough Norwegians<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Not enough Norwegians" alt="Not enough Norwegians" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_209.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Norway ain't part of the Commonwealth and more's the pity for Helen (UK) who's accustomed to skiing with the cross-country naturals. Here's what she's got to say about the cultural differences between the teams and the physical differences between the Poles...</p> <h2>Helen (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=181000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-ue8uethapvfn.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=181000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21274"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Helen's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi, this is Helen calling in from the UK. Just a quick update from the Antarctic.<br /><br /> As you know, we have between 8 to 10 hours each day to think about a whole variety of different things as we're skiing along and one of the things that I talked to the voice mail about today was the difference in my Polar trips between going up from North, up to the North Pole and trips down here in Antarctica.<br /><br /> The big difference I suppose with this trip however, the most obvious difference from other Polar trips I've done is that it's with an all women group. Previously my trips have been with almost all male groups actually and I've been the token female or there has been one of two of us. That's not to say they, you know, were a bad crew at all, it's a fantastic team that I'm with here on the ice.<br /><br /> Other major differences, well life inside our tent in Antarctica is actually really pleasant. We've had some wonderful funny weather. We've been really blessed with good weather. Light winds picking up generally in the evenings but even so it's very dry and warm in the tent and at night you can leave your gloves and your face masks and goggles and everything out drying out on the washing line on top of the tent.<br /><br /> It's very different contrasting with up near the North Pole where it's a very damp atmosphere and you get a lot of sea water seeping into your face mask and can be quite unpleasant at times. The actual landscape here is incredibly different from one end of the world to the other. The Arctic landscape being much more dominated by amazing beautiful ice features which just really catch the light in unusual ways, where as Antarctica, the scene is completely dominated by this vast endless sky. The horizon seems to go on forever and it sometimes feels a little bit like it does because this is actually one of the longest trips I've ever done in terms of skiing even longer than the trip I once did skiing across Greenland.<br /><br /> Temperature wise, well generally the Arctic tends to be a little bit warmer. It's sea ice surrounded by land mass as opposed to Antarctic where you've got a land mass that is surrounded by sea and then Antarctica, the highest level that we'll be going up to, just before the Pole is just under 3000 metres. Well, of course, in the Arctic you're always at sea level.<br /><br /> But I think the other sort of major difference that I've noticed on this trip which stands out for me in particular is that most of my other previous Polar trips have been with Norwegians. That's been both the Arctic and the Antarctic. I must say if there's any Norwegians listening in, I'm really missing you on this trip. There are quite a few Norwegians who work for ALE based at Patriot Hills so I had a chance to catch up with my Norwegians and actually one of the other women on the trip is trying to learn Norwegian herself as well. <br /><br /> This is Helen from the UK just continuing the voice mail, got chopped off there. Yes and one of the major differences is not skiing on this trip with Norwegians. They do have quite a different mentality I find to the group that we're with here. This is very much of the International flavour with team being from all over the Commonwealth. We're learning an awful lot about each others culture, ways of living. Just everything really. Religion, the lot and that's a real eye opener.<br /><br /> Where as with the Norwegians I suppose, what I generally find is that I'm on a trip and I'm learning as much as I can about how to become a Norwegian. So I'll sign off at this point with a message that's written on my sleeping bag which I read each night. It comes from Norway and it says:<br /><br /> <i>"Sovgot (sleep well)"</i><br /><br /> And as I said if there is any Norwegians listening in, hope to be speaking your language and skiing with you again very soon. Bye for now."</p> <p><i><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></i></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/not-enough-norwegians.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>10.12.09<br />Nunataks and Mountains<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Nunataks and Mountains" alt="Nunataks and Mountains" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_208.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Is that a hill? A mountain range? Or an exposed section of rock commonly known as a 'nunatak'? Find out in today's PodCast from Kylie (NZ):</p> <h2>Kylie (New Zealand)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-bu3z44tjjuzr.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21263"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Kylie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello this is Kylie from New Zealand calling the world. How's everyone doing out there? I'm sitting in the tent with Reena and Helen and we're trying awfully hard to eat our food tonight, it's not that it's nor delicious, it's just to be honest, I think our stomachs must have shrink because just trying to get all of our drinks and food and seems to be a bit of an effort. Our bodies are still working pretty hard or hard enough to be you know warranting this good food but it is hard work.<br /><br /> We were skiing along today in pretty good weather, pretty light wind but cold. We seem to be getting a little bit colder, the air is colder. We headed aways from a place called Thiels Corner following along what we thought was the Thiel Mountains but were actually just a few Nunataks. Bloody big Nunataks!<br /><br /> Then we saw today the real Thiels Mountains way back behind these Nunataks. We could see that because we started climbing up a sort of a long low-angled hill. So we've got pretty full pulks after our resupply and we can feel the weight of it and we headed out of the nice soft snow and nice smooth snow and were back into some sort of more lumpy bumpy harder stuff. I was really hoping this wasn't an indication that the wind went through here and worked all the snow off. So far the tents aren't battering aroung too much so that's great.<br /><br /> We're doing OK. We're all good. a few niggles and aches and pains and things with everybody. Funny stomachs and what have you. I think it's just the couple of hundred kilometers that we skiied already, probably just starting to kick in a bit. I think some of the girls including me, I'm on one of them, are starting to look a little bit skinnier but I've assured everyone that they always have chicken legs.<br /><br /> So I hope everyone is well and thank you so much for all your amazing messages, they're coming through, we can't get to hear all of them every week but we get to hear a few from you guys at home. Friends and family and also thank you so much to all the friends that none of us have ever met. That have been writing in with really inspirational comments that make me feel more determined to carry on and inspired to keep going because we need a bit of help! It just really lifts our spirits and makes our day so thank you very much."</p> <p><i><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></i></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/nunataks-and-mountains.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>09.12.09<br />Back in the game<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Back in the game" alt="Back in the game" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_207.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The heady luxuriance of rest has passed. The team have fresh socks for their feet and new meals for their bellies but now it is time to get back in the game. Sophia kicks us off with PodCasts in English, Cantonese and Mandarin...</p> <h2>Sophia (Singapore)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=115000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-0ki1npmcszuw.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=115000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21183"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Sophia's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone, this is Sophia from the expedition on day 17. We just past on the 2nd half of our expedition to the South Pole.<br /><br /> It shows that we are pretty happy today about what we have done. Although it is overcast, not really direct sunlight today and it's not very clear on the horizon, but we had a pretty good day traveling quite a good distance in a shorter time than expected. Well, being the first day of the 2nd half, we are carrying actually a little bit more weight than the last few days but I think the majority of us didn't really feel it. Whatever it is I think probably most of us are trained.<br /><br /> For me personally it's really more focusing on my feet than on the pulk (sled) because I have a set of new wool tankers. When we have on our skis with our boots, what we wear is that we actually have a pair of socks on and then we have a pair of wool tankers* with the polar socks. Well I have a new pair for the second half but it's kind of huge for my left leg so its slipping left and right. So I'm trying to control quite a lot on it on the first half of today, but in a way it's a blessing because with all the focus on my leg, I forgot about the weight at the back, so it kind of lessens that one more in that sense. Obviously it's still a good day.<br /><br /> So that's about it for us on the first day on the 2nd half to talk to you again. Bye."</p> <p>*<i>Tankers<!--1-->, I believe, are thick woolen boot liners - Tim (UK Support) </i></p> <h2>Sophia's Cantonese PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=69000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-vx9wckac4a2o.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=69000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to Cantonese PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21185"> Link to Cantonese Podcast</a> <br /></p> <h2>Sophia's Mandarin PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=115000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-0ki1npmcszuw.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=115000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to Mandarin PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21183"> Link to Mandarin Podcast</a> <br /></p> <p><i><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></i></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/back-in-the-game.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>08.12.09<br />A lot to celebrate<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="A lot to celebrate" alt="A lot to celebrate" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_206.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The girls have enjoyed a day of R&amp;R with a little bit of deserved celebration. Here's what Era (Brunei) has to say...</p> <h2>Era (Brunei)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-avuyz7rthz4o.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21083"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Era's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone, it's Era and I'm calling from our resupply point at Thiels.<br /><br /> We have a lovely view of the Thiel Mountains right now and it's been an exciting day. We had a plane and it actually came to land this time. Last time we heard a plane it didn't land but this time it actually landed, so the plane came in and took all our rubbish and poo back.<br /><br /> They also brought us goodies so we got some brownies and some carrot cake and some lemon meringues cake so thank you to those people that gave us the carrot cake and the brownies. I think it was Kylie's niece and nephew who gave us the lemon meringues fudge. Oh it was lovely. Very sweet.<br /><br /> Now we are enjoying the goodies we left in the resupply. We've brought in cheese, we thought we put some tuna in, but it has not surfaced. I think someone stole it. Yes sneaked it out, oh well. But we've got cake and Dorito's as well.<br /><br /> So right now we're having our kind of evening party. But we've got the two tent groups in one tent and we passed 85 degrees yesterday so we've got a lot to celebrate. Reaching resupply, passing through the crevasse fields, reaching 85 degrees, getting our charges, because before we using some make-through chargers but now we have the actual chargers for our cameras and video cameras. <br /><br /> Me and Steph have had a some dinner for our lunch. We had hot chicken tikka and hot lamb for our lunch. We had a talk with Dr John about some of our niggles and naggles, some aches and blisters. My ankles have both of them have got a bit of a sprain, so that's a bit worrying..."</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/a-lot-to-celebrate.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>06.12.09<br />Phase One Complete<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Phase One Complete" alt="Phase One Complete" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_202.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>This is a thank you to everyone who has left messages on the '<a title="Ask us a question" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=8">Ask us a Question</a>' page. I've just got off the phone from the whole team tucked up in their tents at the end of a well-earned rest day. I passed on dozens of messages to the girls who laughed heartily for a good half hour and asked me to pass on their thanks and smiles. So, please <a title="Ask us a question" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=8">keep it up</a>! <br /><br /> (N.B. Sophia and Era were a bit short on messages - where are the Brunei and Singapore supporters!?)<br /><br /> In other news, the team have reached their most significant waypoint on the whole journey - the re-supply.<br /><br /> New food, clean undies and extra fuel were dropped off by plane at arranged coordinates that the team aimed for with their GPS. They've re-sorted their kit, tucked into supplies and left a stash of unwanted kit and waste to be transported out by another plane.<br /><br /> Steph (Cyprus) tells us more...</p> <h2>Steph (Cyprus)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=125000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-sgd76aafxjtu.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=125000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=21030"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Stephs PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone, this is Steph. We're still in the Antarctic, we're still OK. We've made it to our resupply point. Which means that part one of our expedition has now been successfully completed.<br /><br /> I think Helen mentioned, Helen spoke about the resupply point and ALE role. Well, we've come to that point, we've found all our stash that ALE very kindly dropped off for us. Tomorrow morning, we'll sort through all the bags and get everything we need for the second leg of our journey. So that means ration bags, food bags, the early morning and dinner bags. Clean clothing fpr whoever's packed any clean clothing.<br /><br /> We're also getting rid of stuff that we found we haven't been using that often and we don't need for the second leg to keep our weight down. So it will be a busy day tomorrow. But it's also a day off, so we're all very, very, very happy about that. I probably sound knacked, that's because I am, and the rest of the team can safely say the same.<br /><br /> We've made it to Thiels two days early, which I think is a great feat, and goes to show you that this team is really, really going for it. And you know, we're look forward to our well-deserved day off tomorrow. We're also planning a little party tomorrow night with some good food that we left in our resupply bags. So you know, morale's high, everyone's happy, happy but tired, and I think everyone's looking forward to sleeping in. Should be good. Hi to everyone at home, and we'll be speaking soon. Bye."</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/phase-one-complete.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>05.12.09<br />Sun Dogs<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Sun Dogs" alt="Sun Dogs" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_201.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The tension is tangible even over the distorted tones of a satellite phone. The team are but a few Antarctic inches from their re-supply cache at the Thiel Mountains where new food and clean clothes await. Felicity (UK) updates us.</p> <h2>Felicity (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=178000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-cxptzv4uxuc8.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=178000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20970"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello everyone, it's Felicity, and doing an update for day 14, and we've had a couple of days of change really here in the Antarctic. Up until now we've been heading southwest every day, almost parallel to the Pensacola Mountains. Which we have been able to see in the distance. But yesterday we quite literally turned a corner. Our one and only change in direction that will have the entire expedition. But we turned to the left, and we're now heading exactly south direct for the South Pole.<br /><br /> So the change in the direction has made a bit of a difference to what we're experiencing every day. Most importantly the position of the sun. We got quite used to the sun being in one place in the morning, and then working it's way around us to be in another place in the evening, but now it's all changed and the sun's in a different place in the morning, which is a little bit different.<br /><br /> But the sun today has very short rainbows either side of the sun, which are called 'Sun Dogs', and they're just like rainbows but they're caused by ice being in the air rather than water. But it was really pretty, so it was lovely to be skiing along watching the Sun Dogs either side of the sun as it changed.<br /><br /> It's been different weather as well the last couple of days. Been quite cloudy, so there isn't any shadows on the snow, which has made it quite difficult because you can't see where all the lumps and bumps are. It's called flat light and it just makes everything look completely white rather than being able to see the sastrugi. We've actually been tripping over them and not been able to see them ahead of us. So it's making it a little bit harder.<br /><br /> It's also been snowing a bit which is surprisingly uncommon considering we're in the Antarctic. So we're actually quite privileged to be getting so much snow. It snows settling on the ground and forming sort of thick layers, and as we walk across it the snow's settling with a big kind of <i>"Voomph!"</i> noise, and it feels like the snow underneath you is sort of dropping away. It was a little bit unnerving because at the moment we're scouting around the edge of a known crevasse are. So every time the snow settles and we hear this Voomph noise I think everybody's heart sort of misses a beat. But now that we know what it is we're prepared for it and we're sort of getting used to it I think.<br /><br /> Tomorrow is an exciting day because we're due to arrive at our resupply which is at a place called Thiels, and it's very exciting because it means clean underwear, more food, and a few special treats that we packed for ourselves when we packed the resupply back in Patriot Hills. So I think everyone's going to be racing tomorrow because we all want to get there as quick as possible. So we're looking forward to that. But we'll let you know how we get on and speak to you again tomorrow. Lots of love to everyone at home. Bye."</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/sun-dogs.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>04.12.09<br />A vast sky<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="A vast sky" alt="A vast sky" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_200.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>As most of us settle into a weekend away from work and the routines of Monday-to-Friday, the girls down under continue their march as on every other day. In fact, I think they just recorded a personal best. Reena has today's bilingual PodCasts:</p> <h2>Reena (India)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=153000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-g91ezfx39vyf.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=153000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20861"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Reena's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello it's Reena from the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctica Expedition.<br /><br /> Today has been very good. We traveled for about 10 hours and we covered a record 15.5 nautical miles. For those of you who don't know what a nautical mile is: 1 nautical mile is equal to 1.8 kilometers.<br /><br /> Another big thing was that we crossed Nav-Point 1. From here we are headed pretty much directly south so that feels good and from that Nav-Point 1 it is only 2 to 3 days to our next big point: Thiel Mountains.<br /><br /> Today is a pretty good day towards the beginning and towards the end but in the middle we had a little bit of a white out and it was wet and we covered up.<br /><br /> As they sky, as we are moving, I just can't get over the vastness of the sky, like its stretching for hundreds of kilometers it seems like to me. It seems wherever you look, the sky is so vast and the clouds are layered in a different kind from what I'm used to seeing.<br /><br /> So other than that everything is all well. We're doing great, the team is good, the occasional blisters are always there, little bit of a muscle aches but overall it's good. I miss my family and Raj and lots of love to my mother and many others (you'll have to listen to the audio for all the names!). I miss you all and we'll be seeing you and will talk to you next week again at this time.<br /><br /> That's all from our side today. Bye bye."<br /><br /><i>"What's Nav-Point 1?" I hear you cry! The navigation on a huge white continent is not overly complex but it does require a little more than walking directly south at all times. The team has a handful of navigation points which they aim for to take them around obstacles such as mountain ranges which would take time and effort to cross, and, in this instance, a large crevasse field which would be dangerous to enter - Tim (UK Support)</i></p> <h2>Reena's PodCast in Hindi:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=176000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-1nq1xre3702v.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=176000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20862"> Link to Podcast</a> <br /></p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/a-vast-sky.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>04.12.09<br />The Cache<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="The Cache" alt="The Cache" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_199.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The sun has taken his hat off today and replaced it with a large coat of clouds. Helen (UK) has today's PodCast:<!--[--></p> <h2>Helen (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=181000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-b56663qeoijv.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=181000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20770">Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Helen's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br />"Hello this is Helen from the UK. Actually ringing from Antarctica at the moment. We've had another great day out crossing the snowy wastes of Antarctica. Some ups and down and the cloud cover has come over considerably tonight. In fact almost total cloud cover now which had been a real shock considering we've had so many days of blue sky and sunshine now. We're about 1 day away now from our navigation point and that's the point at which we start to turn and go due south towards the cache* that has been placed for us at a place called Field Corner.<br /><br /> The cache has been place by a company called <a href="http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/" target="_blank">ALE: Antarctica Logistics and Expeditions</a>. They have been people who've been providing support right from the start with our expedition, planning and preparation, they deal with all of the logistics of actually flying us into Antarctica. We came in on an Illyushin-76 plane from Chile and then were flown on from the main base at Patriot Hills by Twin Otter and they set up this summer camp at Patriot Hills each year.<br /><br /> It's actually managed by a good friend of mine Steve Jones and they're just a real expert team of professionals. even able to lend a hand when our tents and almost all of its contents blew away the first few days after we'd arrived actually at Patriot itself. The camp is set up each year from mid-November to the end of January. It not only provides support for unguided expeditions such as ourselves but it also links in with guided trips through a company called ANI which they took over from in 2003. They also run a base camp at Mount Vinson.<br /><br /> without the logistial support and help there is no way that we could get into these interior parts of Antarctrica. The only other people you find in these parts are the government bases of which some are staffed all year round. But those are there purely for scientific research purposes not for supporting expeditions.<br /><br /> So a big mega thanks for your continued support ALE and all of your staff, especially those that we phone into each day with our communication checks so that they know we're all doing OK or if we have any other medical, updates or emergencies then they can be on hand to deal with them.<br /><br /> But we're looking forward to receiving our cache anyway, reaching there. That'll probably be about another 5 days yet but very exciting times ahead."<br /><br /> <i>*What's this "cache" all about? Well, the team have arranged what is known in Polar expedition circles as a "resupply". That means they have one opportunity on the trip to have pick up and drop off equipment. They can pick up a fresh batch of rations, more fuel and any replacement kit they need. They can also then get rid of any waste that they've had to carry so far. Remember, they are not leaving any rubbish behind so it all adds up quickly. After that, they will be on their own again until the Pole. - Tim (UK Support)</i></p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/the-cache.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>03.12.09<br />Crocodile Teeth<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Crocodile Teeth" alt="Crocodile Teeth" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_198.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Land ho! The team have their first sighting of a geographical feature that isn't both flat and white. They'll now steer a course in the direction of the Thiel Mountains, cross the crevasse fields and hook up with their re-supply. Kylie has news about Reena's teeth today...</p> <h2 class="light">Kylie (New Zealand)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=181000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-yv5dq4550wd1.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=181000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20716">Link to Podcast</a> <br /><br /> <b>Kylie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hey everyone, it's Kylie from New Zealand. Hello New Zealand, Hello the world. We are having a pretty good time here. We're actually having fun I think despite all the hard work and hard graft we're doing. We're nine and half hours on our feet everyday which is good. We're moving well and I'm enjoying it a lot.<br /><br /> Seven minute break every hour an a half is pretty hard. I'm finding it hard to all my food snacks and fluids down is not long enough so have to prioritize.<br /><br /> We're walking into the winds now. Really cold, cold wind every day and without a doubt we've got these gorilla masks on with a flap over our nose and mouth; and our goggles on so we're completely covered and we get these really cool gnarly icicles that hang down from the masks. The masks is attached and sewn onto our goggles and it looks like we have crocodile teeth. Some people get some really good icicles. I think some of the best icicles makers are my two flat mates, Reena from India and Helen from Yorkshire, UK. One of them has like leopard-seal teeth for most days and Reena, she gets like a crocodile one going and frozen hair so she looks pretty hard core.<br /><br /> We're just tucking into some chicken tikka massala, it's really yummy, one our favourites. Helen's having the chicken chasseur.<br /><br /> Just thinking of you all at the moment. I'm not missing anything terribly but I'm looking forward to a lot of stuff: swimming in the river, drinking and eating nice food. Looking forward to seeing my family, especially Eva, George and Trevor, and Donna and Callum, and, of course, Bessy, luca, mum and dad, and aunt barb and mike and all of my friends.<br /><br /> We're into December now. Only a month to go. Really exciting, yesterday we were walking along and we looked off to the left and we saw a big range of mountains sticking up and it was like "Woh! Where did they come from?". They're miles off to the left but they're a big range and it's given us sometihng to look at which is cool. Your eyes are always just searching for anything that's out of the ordinary flat and white."</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/crocodile-teeth.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>01.12.09<br />Woman cannot live on porridge alone<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Woman cannot live on porridge alone" alt="Woman cannot live on porridge alone" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_197.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Porridge to an expedition is like concrete to a house. It holds everything together. The girls are sponsored by the wonderfully entitled <a href="http://www.mightymuesli.com/products.asp?iCatID=3" target="_blank">"Power Porridge"</a> but even this may not be enough to keep Sophia's stomach from rumbling like an Antarctic avalanche. Updates in both English and Mandarin today.</p> <h2 class="light">Sophia (Singapore)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=64000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-n66u3nh7mauk.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=64000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20666">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Sophia's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hey, this is for Sophia from the expedition on day 10.<br /><br /> We have been traveling pretty well today, nice smooth pace. I will say probably, we had a good start and that's really due to our <a href="http://www.mightymuesli.com/products.asp?iCatID=3" target="_blank">Power Porridge</a> breakfast everyday. Well for me porridge is not just enough.<br /><br /> I actually added in more some stuff from the snack pack things like dry banana and pop corn, they help to give me a little more boost in the energy, as well as I try to finish my snack pack for the day, but I'm happy to say, that's still with the added food. <br /><br /> I'm beginning to feel a little bit hungry on the way so, I hope that's a good thing, and now waiting for our dinner, which is a very nice chicken dansak with rice. <br /><br /> That's it. Talk to you again another day. Bye."</p> <h2 class="light">Sophia (Singapore)'s PodCast in Mandarin:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=80000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-t9prtwukdgvn.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=80000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20667"> Link to Podcast</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/porridge-alone.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>30.11.09<br />Keeping hands out of trouble<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Keeping hands out of trouble" alt="Keeping hands out of trouble" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_196.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The sun still shines on the white continent but now has the wind for company. How is Steph (Cyprus) dealing with the cold blow?</p> <h2 class="light">Steph (Cyprus)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=136000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-eyigsd5ysjqb.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=136000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20626"> Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Steph's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi everyone, this is Steph. I hope everyone's well. We're definitely doing well down our end. The Antarctic has been very good to us. The weather's still holding up. We've got sun all day.<br /><br /> It's been really windy though lately and we're getting this really icy cold wind from the south and I'm finding it very very hard to keep myself out of trouble and when I mean trouble, I mean getting frostbite for example. I have unfortunately very, very sweaty hands and this is really bad when, when you're in an environment like Antarctica because as soon as you've got any sort of dampness on your hands or any of your clothing, it turns immediately into ice and this could drastically drop your body temperature and eventually cause injury.<br /><br /> So I've been having a very hard time trying to keep my hands out of trouble. Fortunately, each day I've I've been coming out alright. Each day's been a new a new method of trial, of hit and miss on how to keep my hands out of trouble. At the moment what I'm doing is, I'm using a different pair of liner gloves which are the really thin layer that you put on your hands just before you put on your big mitts. Every break, which is every one and a half hours, I change the pair to keep my hands dry when we stop and we're eating and having a drink.<br /><br /> It seems to be working well - touch wood - for the moment so I'm hoping to keep that up. Might be an issue when I start having more breaks, as I'm running out of liner gloves but I think it's all good for the moment.<br /><br /> Apart from that, I think we're all well. The team's still waking up in the morning with a smile, that must mean something. And me, I'm good as well, apart from this msassive fear of frost bite and I'm enjoying it as well.<br /><br /> I hope you're all coming back to the website and enjoying our updates every day. I'm not sure who's on tomorrow but I'm sure it's going to be very, very intersting. Lots of love to everyone. Bye!"</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/keeping-hands-out-of-trouble.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>30.11.09<br />A routine is established<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="A routine is established" alt="A routine is established" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_195.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Polar expeditions, like every day life, are all about routines and it sounds as though Felicity and the team have just established theirs...</p> <h2 class="light">Felicity (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=139000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-d1g8s3vrrpxw.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=139000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20607"> Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello, this is Felicity. This is leader giving you an update on day number 8.<br /><br /> Really pleased to report that we're doing really, really well. Everyone is in good spirits and we're making absolutely great progress.<br /><br /> We're currently 20 nautical miles ahead of where we expected to be right now. That's brilliant because it means that when the bad weather hits us we can spend a day in a tent and still not be behind schedule. So we're all looking forward to having a rest day at some point when the weather goes bad. We're making up the time that we lost due to the late start at the beginning. So we still hope to be at the South Pole by New Year's Day as planned which is brilliant.<br /><br /> One week in and we definitely have a routine established. At the moment our day starts at about 6:30, and we get up, we have breakfast and get the tent down, and we usually start skiing by about 9:00. We ski during the day in 90 minute legs with everyone taking a turn at leading and navigating at the front of the group. We ski in one long row and have a 7 minute break after each leg to eat and drink something. We're very strict about the seven minutes. We even have a time keeper that counts down the minutes so we know how long we've got left.<br /><br /> We've been doing five legs a day so that's about 8 hours on the go but today we tried extending that to 6 legs and it seemed to work well so we're going to stick with that. We're going to do 6 legs a day. That's about 10 hours on the go. <br /><br /> We stopped skiing about 7pm this evening put up the tents had some dinner and then a bit of time to do jobs. Today my job is doing the comms.<br /><br /> We have a daily phone call with Patriot Hills at ten past eight each evening. Patriot Hills is the base camp where we flew into Antarctica and we keep in daily contact wit hhtem to give htem our positon so they know exactly where we are in case we need help. <br /><br /> Then usually we're in bed by about 10 o'clock each evening ready to have some sleep and do it all over again the next morning. We're working really hard out here so all your messages are really helping. Thank you so much. Please keep them coming. Speak to you again next week. Bye!"</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/a-routine-is-established.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>29.11.09<br />Fesival of Sacrifice<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Festival of Sacrifice" alt="Festival of Ice" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_194.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>This is an expedition about more than just skiing to the South Pole as Era (Brunei) reminds us in today's PodCast about what it's like to celebrate Eid AlAdhar in Antarctica.<br /><br />Also, hot off the press are fresh photographs from Antarctica. Team photographer <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Rob Hollingworth</a> has just emerged from the white continent and found internet access is Chile to send me back some new images. Expect more and more over the coming days and weeks - Tim (UK Support)</p> <h2 class="light">Era (Brunei)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=181000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-4ffyzrosobq8.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=181000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20554">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Era's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Salaam alaikum<br /><br /> This is Era calling from Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Women's Antarctic Expedition. I have got a song for those of you who know what day is today. OK here goes...<br /><br /> (You'll have to listen to the audio for this bit!)<br /><br /> To everyone from Brunei and to my family and my friends and all those who have supported me. Today I have just been singing that song to my tent mates and my team mates as well and I have been sharing stories about what is the significance of it and educating them on Islamic belief. In honour of the day we have been eating lamb because usually today I think we eat sacrificial so we have eaten the lamb today instead of the chicken. We had lamb tagine with couscous and the other tent ate lamb stew.<br /><br /> Today was a good day we did about 22 kilometres, 12.4 nautical miles. For those of you who don't know the converison of nuatical miles is times 1.8.<br /><br /> It was a good day but it was slighty windy so I had to put an extra fleece layer on. Usually I just put on thermals, salopettes and then the windproof layer. But today was a bit chilly so I had to put an extra fleece layer on.<br /><br /> The official blister update: the count of how many blister I have is three right now. I think there might be more on the way. Hopefully not but they do get bigger!"</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/fetival-of-sacrifice.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>28.11.09<br />Skiing over meringue<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Skiing on meringue" alt="Skiing on meringue" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_184.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The weather's fine and the skiing's good but what lies ahead? Find out from Helen (UK) in today's PodCast.</p> <h2 class="light">Helen (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=165000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-ix6enejvhp7k.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=165000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Link to PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20514">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Helen's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hi this is Helen from the UK speaking on behalf of the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctica Expedition.<br /><br /> We have had another really good day on the ice today. The weather has been fantastic and it's really holding up well. You wouldn't have thought this was Antarctica really, by the gorgeous sunshine that we're having but we don't want to make you think that we're having an easy time. <br /><br /> It's not all smooth and plain sailing across nice smooth snow. If you imagine Antarctica is about the size of one and a third times the area of Europe and about 99 percent of it is covered in snow. But it's all very sort of up and down, it's a little bit like skiing over the top of a frozen meringue.<br /><br /> All of the the waves of snow are whipped up by the strong winds that come, especially in the winter time here, and form what are called sastrugi. these winds grow and point towards the direction of due south but at the moment the bearing that we're following from our Messner Start towards our first navigation point isn't actually taking us in a due south direction. So, all throughout the day we end up cutting across these sastrugi waves and sometimes the pulks (sledges) just glide across the top of the ice and sometimes they get stuck in the ruts and we really have to pull and use the strength in our backs to get the pulks moving again.<br /><br /> As I say, it would seem like a dream world here and it's certainly easier going at the moment than we expect the sastrugi to be later on in the journey. We have seen some satellite imagery of sections of our route to come later on between 86 and 87 degrees South provided by <a href="http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/" target="_blank">Antarctic Logistics &amp; Expeditions</a>, the logistics company that is providing us with help for this expedition. The images of the sastrugi were so large that they showed up on these satellite images. We're expecting these waves to appear almost the height of ourselves so I think we need to sharpen our knives and really strengthen our muscles to be able to pull the pulks through.<br /><br /> But this is certainly good practice and it's not hindered our progress today. We've done another 12.8 nautical miles on our distance and we're all chuffed to bits with that.<br /><br /> So it's good night now from our tents. It's nice and cosy in here, the sun's shining and we'll speak to you again tomorrow."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/skiing-over-meringue.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>27.11.09<br />Chocolate Fish<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Chcolate Fish" alt="Chcolate Fish" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_183.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Has the sun and isolation finally got to the team? Why are they talking about Chocolate Fish!? No doubt Reena (India), will explain. PodCasts in both English and Hindi today.</p> <h2 class="light">Reena (India)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=140000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-jqmbujzupv2c.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=140000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Reena's PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20446">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Reena's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br /> "Hello. Reena from Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition. First of all I'd like to thank our well-wishers for their good wishes because I'm sure it is their good wishes that has given us good weather to go by.<br /><br /> We are hiking daily for 8 hours and making good progress. The distance that we go each day is increasing gradually and gradually. Today we were down to our thermals, our <a href="http://www.chocolatefishmerino.co.uk/" target="_blank">Chocolate Fish thermals</a>, which are keeping us warm and cozy inspite of the cold of Antarctica.<br /><br /> It's pretty flat over here but towards the last 3 hours of our skiing we had to cross some sastrugi - sastrugi is raised bits of snow which form due to wind blowing over it. That was a little challenging but it was good. I still am amazed by the 24 hours of sunlight. In Antarctica, wherever you look, from all angles, it's flat-flat-flat and there's endless horizon. Just remarkable beauty. Just loving being here, I think I feel very privileged that I'm on this expedition and to be in Antarctica. And skiing is really an amazing experience.<br /><br /> Our morale-meter is 7. I think some girls have got some blisters on their feet so about 7 out of 10. That's all from us. Have a nice day! "</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><i>Chocolate Fish are a UK company that supplied the team with Merino Wool clothing for the expedition. <a href="http://www.chocolatefishmerino.co.uk/" target="_blank">Check out their website here</a>.</i></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2 class="light">Reena's Hindi PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-fpy5w3nowx5v.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Reena's Hindi Podcast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20447">Link to Podcast</a></p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/chocolate-fish.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>26.11.09<br />83rd Parallel<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="83rd Parallel" alt="83rd Parallel" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_182.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Today the team passed their first global waymark - the 83rd parallel. Kylie has today's PodCast.</p> <h2 class="light">Kylie (New Zealand)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-cqkk6q5me0if.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=180000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Kylie's Podcast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20416"> Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Kylie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br /> "Hi it's Kylie from New Zealand, it's the 24th of November, a continuation from last message <i>(The message was actually left on the 25th. Guess she left her PDA at home - Tim, UK Support)</i><br /><br /> Position South 83 degrees 01.261 minutes, West 067 degrees 53.284. <br /><br /> We've been traveling for 8 hours and 10 minutes today and we've covered 11.5 nautical miles. We're traveling really well, moving well. We've got fantastic conditions for making ground and our systems are working nice and fluidly. Everyone is really happy with the progress today, a bit up beat and I've also solved the problem of how to get the protein drink to dissolve on water. It was like trying to eat polystyrene balls - really hard work trying to digest that but we've got it sorted now. <br /><br /> So really all working super hard to try and drink all of our allocated food and snacks for the day. It's really hard work but i think as we continue to keep working we'll get more and more hungry and eat more. we have to eat otherwise we have to carry it. Interesting times with the poo bags. Lots of stories there which I won't go into. <br /><br /> Everyone seems to be really well, happy. I've had a strain on the top of my left foot which has been bothering me quite a lot yesterday. I've been trying different things with my boots to sort that problem out and eventually today I changed skis with someone else and that seemed to work a treat.<br /><br /> I think we're all good. This weather is frickin' unbelievable. We've had hardly any wind at all, it's been cool and sunny 24-hours. We can see for<i>ever</i> in every direction. It's incredibly beautiful. Looking for a feature to head towards can be a bit challenging. Heading into a little bit of sastrugi every now and then just to keep it intersting, make us work a little bit harder. We've come across a couple of hills but they're probably just a few metres high over 5 or 6 miles so it's hardly even a hill but when you get up on top you can look back and see the white expanse just slightly underneath you. It's magnificent. Not monotonous and boring yet still really inspiring and everyone's feeling pretty lucky to be here. <br /><br /> Okey doke!"</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/83rd-parallel.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>24.11.09<br />Sweating in Antarctica<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Seating in Antarctica" alt="Seating in Antarctica" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_181.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Things are hotting up down south. Literally. Here's what Era's got to say about their second day on ice:</p> <h2 class="light">Era (Brunei)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=97000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-pehn3djnarff.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=97000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Era's Podcast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20277"> Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Era's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br /> "Today, is the 23rd of November 2009. It is 8:00am, local time in Antarctica. This is Era, reporting to the UK voicemail. The current location coordinates are South 82 degrees, 41.766 west 56 degrees 22.576. Our distance covered was 10.3 nautical miles.<br /> <br /> I did it! But I managed to get a blister and who knew you could get a blister on the front of your feet? I thought blisters only happen at the back so I was really surprised at that.<br /> <br /> Health and morale is good. Sun was shining again, so we were almost sweating in Antarctica. Mojo is six <i>(out of five!)</i>, I think, because we've covered more than we had to cover. We were wanting to cover 6.5 nautical miles, but we've covered 10.3 so we've covered quite a bit. We're eating chicken casserole with rice for dinner. Breakfast is the same, snack bag was the same. That's it. Talk to you next week. <br /> <br /> This is Era reporting out. Bye. "</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/sweating-in-antarctica.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>23.11.09<br />Day One, Week One<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Day One, Week One" alt="Day One, Week One" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_180.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>No clever intros today. The team are now on their way to the Pole so let's find out how it went on Day One, Week One.</p> <h2 class="light">Steph (Cyprus)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=86000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-5brbh2agfbbt.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=86000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Steph's Podcast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20226"> Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Steph's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br /> "Hi, this is Steph. It's day one. We've managed to ski 8.1 nautical miles in 6 hours, which is much better than what we expected to be doing. I think everyone's feeling a bit high on the success of the day.<br /><br /> Felicity led off, was the honorary leader of our team, as expedition leader. So, you know, we had a really good run, it was really good weather. Sunny for the morning, and then it just got a bit cold in the afternoon and overcast.<br /><br /> We're all in our tents drying off, drying our kit, looking forward to an early night and another day tomorrow. All good in the camp. For the moment, no issues thankfully, and just getting used to our surroundings and being in the vast wilderness of this vast white, it's unbelievable. Even if I tried to explain it to you I don't think I could. I don't think I could put in words how empty it all seems.<br /><br /> Apart from that I think we're all looking forward to continuing on and covering our mileage for tomorrow as well.<br /><br /> I hope all is well down over in civilisation. We're look forward to seeing you guys in about forty days."</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/day-one-week-one.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>09.12.09<br />How are they updating the website from Antarctica? - Guest Blog by Tim Moss<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="How are they updating the website from Antarctica? - Photo by Robert Hollingworth" alt="How are they updating the website from Antarctica? - Photo by Robert Hollingworth" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_178.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Every day we are seeing new blog entries, PodCasts, Twitter updates and photographs on this website but how are they doing it? Today we have a guest blog from Tim Moss who is the team's UK Support. He runs adventure website <a title="The Next Challenge" href="http://www.thenextchallenge.org">The Next Challenge</a> and is responsible for keeping this website updated (and, thus, is writing this paragraph in the third person - do you see how this works!?).</p> <h2 class="light">Tim Moss (UK Support)'s Guest Blog:</h2> <p><a title="Tim Moss (UK Support) - Photo by David Tett" href="http://www.thenextchallenge.org/" target="_blank"><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Tim Moss (UK Support) - Photo by David Tett" alt="Tim Moss (UK Support) - Photo by David Tett" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_179.jpg?a" id="baseline" /><br /></a></p> <p>"It's not uncommon in this day and age for an expedition to carry a laptop with an internet connection that they can use to update their website, check their emails and even log on to Facebook (a great example of this is <a title="Walking the Amazon" href="http://www.walkingtheamazon.com/">Ed Stafford who is walking across the Amazon</a>). <br /><br /> Not this trip though.</p> <p>The girls have enough to worry about without carrying a computer and keeping their fingers warm as they try to edit a web page. Instead, we have a whole host of other gadgets and behind-the-scenes activity to keep all of our friends and supporters informed. Here's an explanation of how some of this works: <br /><br /> <b>Satellite Phones</b><br /> All of the team's communication is done through satellite phones. These look like a mobile phone from about 10 years ago and operate on the a network of global satellites called Iridium. For all intents and purposes, they operate just like any other cell phone. <br /><br /> <b>PodCasts</b><br /> Each day, one of the team members phones a special voicemail number from their satellite phone. This gets converted to an MP3 audio file and emailed to me. If I'm lucky, it also gets converted into text so I don't have to transcribe it too. This is done with the help of a company called <a title="Vox Sciences" href="http://voxsciences.co.uk/">Vox Sciences</a>.<br /><br /> I then upload these to a website called <a title="Hound Bite" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=19753">HoundBite</a> (like YouTube but for audio) and that's what gives you the little blue boxes which you can play. <br /><br /> <b>Photos</b><br /> All of the amazing photographs you see on this website are taken by freelance photographer <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a> (except for the photo of me above - that's taken by my friend <a title="David Tett Photography" href="http://www.davidtett.com">David Tett</a>). <br /><br /> Rob has followed the team from the outset and even flew out to Antarctica with them. For the start of this blog, I've been using Rob's photographs from the training trips. As soon as Rob got out of Antarctica and onto an internet connection, I was able to use fresh images from the ice. <br /><br /> The girls also have a number of smaller digital cameras and camcorders with which to track their progress and record video diaries. This equipment was very kindly provided by <a title="John Lewis" href="http://www.johnlewis.com/">John Lewis</a>. <br /><br /> You can see more of Rob's photography and book him at - <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">www.roberthollingworth.co.uk</a> <br /><br /> <b>Charging Equipment</b><br /> Although it may be the subject of much cursing during sleepless nights, the 24 hour daylight provides the perfect medium for charging equipment. Using solar panels supplied by <a title="Applied Satellite Technology" href="http://www.satcomms.com/">Applied Satellite Technology</a> they can charge, in theory, anything from their satellite phones to the iPod Touches that <a title="BAG Networks" href="http://www.bagnetworks.com.bn/">Brunei Accenture Group (BAG) Networks</a> gave them! <br /><br /> <b>Twitter</b><br /> The scrolling updates you can see on the right hand side of your screen come live, directly from the girls' satphone. They simply write a text message on the phone and send it to a special number which updates their Twitter account automatically. <br /><br /> You can see all of their Twitter updates at: <a title="Follow KCAE on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/kcae">www.twitter.com/KCAE</a> <br /><br /> <b>The Website</b><br /> I update this website with a nifty bit of software written by <a title="Estates Today" href="http://www.estatestoday.co.uk/">Estates Today</a> who are the ones responsible for designing and building this website (I take no credit for that - I just do the blog!)."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And all of this means that we can follow the expedition as closely as possible as they make their way towards the bottom of the world. So, until the next update...</p> <p>Tim - UK Support / <a title="The Next Challenge" href="http://thenextchallenge.org" target="_blank">The Next Challenge</a></p> <p>Top photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/how-are-they-updating-the-website-from-antarctica.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>22.11.09<br />The journey has begun<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="The journey has begun" alt="The journey has begun" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_176.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Training is done. Preparations are complete. Two years in the making and no more time for delays. The team are on their way.<br /><br /> They have been dropped at the coast of Antarctic and are now left alone to ski 900km to the South Pole.<br /><br /> From now onwards, you can <a title="Progress" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=5">follow their position on the map</a> by clicking the Progress tab on the menu at the top of the screen. In due course, we'll also update their morale and climatic conditions as they go.<br /><br /> For now, let's hear from the team leader...</p> <p><i>(Missed this post first time around? That might be because I had to hold it back for a couple of days whilst we informed the appropriate people about <a title="Team to plant Jamaican flag without Kim" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=66">Kim coming home</a> - Tim, UK Support)</i></p> <h2 class="light">Felicity (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=120000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-1fn4u3nbpp89.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=120000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Felicity's PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20197">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br />"Hello, this is Felicity, calling you at about 8:00 Antarctic time. We are currently at 82 degrees, 26 minutes south and 64 degrees, 58 minutes west. The position commonly known as the Messner start, and the start point of our journey for the South Pole.<br /><br /> We are extremely please to be out of Patriot Hills and to finally be on our way. Everyone is very excited and it is a gorgeous, gorgeous afternoon. We've been having a bit of a lazy afternoon. All our stuff is repaired and ready to go out tomorrow for our first day skiing towards the South Pole. So, this afternoon we've just been able to laze around in the sunshine, eat lots of the extra food that we brought with us so that we don't have to carry it tomorrow.<br /><br /> We've been <i>mostly</i> eating at the moment. We had our first taste of the <a title="Fuizion" href="http://www.fuizion.com/">Fuizion meals</a> which are the dehydrated meals that we brought with us and evereyone is so impressed. It had proper vegetables and meat it felt like some somone had just cooked it for us. We are extremely pleased with Kung Po Chicken and tomorrow we will be trying the Chicken Tikka Massala - we're all looking forward to that!<br /><br /> Morale at the moment is a stonking 10/10 we are just so excited we can't wait to get started. Looking forward to speaking to you tomorrow and letting you know how our first day of skiing goes. We've all got fingers crossed that this beautiful sunny weather holds. We can't wait to get started towards the horizon, which at moment, 360-degrees in all directions, looks exactly the same so it's very exciting to be making our way across that horizon tomorrow.<br /><br /> Until tomorrow it's goodbye from us!"</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><i>Expedition rations are provided by Fuzion foods and you can <a title="Fuizion" href="http://www.fuizion.com/">find out more about them here</a>.</i></p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/the-journey-has-begun.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>20.11.09<br />The wind blows hot and cold<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="The wind blows hot and cold" alt="The wind blows hot and cold" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_174.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The team have been experiencing some high winds at their current base of Patriot Hills but, as Jim Mayer explains, this is no coincidence. Jim was a member of the team that trained the Kaspersky ladies. Along with his wife Sarah he runs arctic holiday company: <a title="The Polar People" href="http://www.thepolarpeople.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Polar People</a>. Here is his explanation of the winds in Antarctica.</p> <h2 class="light">Jim Mayer (Training Team)'s Guest Blog:</h2> <p><a title="Jim Mayer (Training Team) - The Polar People" href="http://www.thepolarpeople.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Jim Mayer (Training Team)" alt="Jim Mayer (Training Team)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_175.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></a></p> <p>"The wind that is causing the team such problems with their tents is also the very reason why they have landed at Patriot Hills.<br /><br /> In a few locations in Antarctica , prevailing wind and terrain combine to produce an area of glacier that is free from snow. Snowfall is not able to accumulate here as it is regularly blown away leaving a slippery, hard, blue ice surface which makes for a good landing strip.<br /><br /> Following experimental landings by Giles Kershaw and Charles Swithinbank in the 1980s, these blue ice areas have been used as runways for wheeled aircraft, allowing easy intercontinental travel by large jets, such as the Ilyushin that brought the team from Punta Arenas, Chile.<br /><br /> So whilst the winds may be testing, if we didn't have them then the team wouldn't have been able to fly there in the first place!"</p> <p><br /> Photos by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/the-wind-blows-hot-and-cold.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>23.11.09<br />Team to plant Jamaican flag without Kim<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Team to plant Jamaican flag without Kim" alt="Team to plant Jamaican flag without Kim" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_173.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>An unexpected update today. The team will be carrying the Jamaican flag to the South Pole without Kim (Jamaica). You'll see that this information came from the team a couple of days ago. I hope you'll appreciate that we had to inform everyone in the appropriate order. Hear the news from Team Leader Felicity (UK) and Kim herself:</p> <h2 class="light">Felicity (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=127000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-oz9gtd30y26a.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=127000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Felicity's PodCast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20133">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /> <br />"Hello this is Felicity calling from the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition and it is Friday morning here in Antarctica.<br /><br /> Back on Monday we left on our mini expedition around Patriot Hills to prepare for the main expedition. On our second day out we had very difficult weather. We were skiing in very bad visibility and there was quite a lot of wind. That evening while we were putting up the tents Kim's hands unfortunately got very cold and the next morning she clearly had frost bite in the tips of her fingers.<br /><br /> Kim was sent back to Patriot Hills immediately to see the doctor there. And, fortunately, the frost bit is very minor in that it will heal. She won't have any permanent damage. But, unfortunately it does mean that there is no option for Kim to continue with the expedition as to refreeze that frostbite injury could cause really serious damage. So, unfortunately Kim is now waiting to go home.<br /><br /> The team is obviously extremely sad to say goobye to a team member so early on but Kim's experience has really served as a reminder to all of us how quickly Antarctica can cause damage and that there really are no second chances here.So, unfortunately she is now waiting to go home.<br /><br /> As Kim's waiting for a flight back to Chile, the rest of the team are focusing on preparations for the flight out to our start point which should happen in the next couple of days. The team really isn't the same without Kim but we'll obviously carry the Jamaican flag for her and hopefully plant it at the south pole on her behalf.<br /><br /> But at the moment we're just all really relieved that her injuries are going to completely recover and we just want her to get home now where she can be looked after by her family and friends."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2 class="light">Kim (Jamaica)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=102000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-6u6wc69e47gg.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=102000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Kim's Podcast" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20132">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Kim's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br /> "Hi, this is Kim from Jamaica on the Kaspersky Lab Antarctica Expedition.<br /><br /> Updates: My mama says that these things come in threes, so we've had problems with two tents, and now we have the third: I have frostbite.<br /><br /> You know, it goes to show what kind of place Antarctica is. It's really tough and I have the blackened fingers to prove it. Any mistake will be paid with huge returns.<br /><br /> The doctor here has said that I cannot continue unless I'm willing to loose digits. I really wanted to get to the South Pole but that's not the sensible route at this point in time. <br /><br /> I will have to leave the expedition but I wish the best to my fellow expeditioners and colleagues. I know that they will reach the South Pole and, hopefully, in my honour can plant the Jamaican flag. I want to thank everyone for the support that I've got. I will continue to follow this expeditin because there is a story of a lot of sacrifice and courage. And a lot of ups and downs along the way.<br /><br /> Let's look forward to what Cyprus, Singapore, India, Brunei, the UK and New Zealand are going to show along the way. Of the kind of work myself as the Jamaican and even our Ghanian team member we have put in to get here. Alright?<br /><br /> See you soon. Bye."</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/team-to-plant-jamaican-flag-without-kim.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>18.11.09<br />Training begins<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Training begins" alt="Training begins" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_170.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>The team's fight back appears to have worked. Their tents have been repaired and they've managed to get a day's skiing in. We have an update from Kylie (New Zealand) as well as updates from Reena (India) in both English and Hindi - Tim (UK Support).</p> <h2 class="light">Kylie (NZ)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=105000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-v0oqv9b7j5qm.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=105000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Podcast 17/11/09" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20040">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Kylie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br />"Hello, this is Kyle from New Zealand on the 17/11/09 at 7:30pm.<br /><br /> Our coordinates today are: South 80 degrees, 19.559 minutes; West 081 degrees, 04.751 minutes. The distance covered today was 2.28 nautical miles.<br /><br /> We're on our training camp and this is our second night out. The tents are holding up after their expensive repairs. It's been white oute our conditions today. Very poor visibility, no definition but everybody has been doing really well - towing the sleds with their reasonably light loads. Everyone has had a few <i>whoop-dees</i> and a few small skates here and there because we've been skiing over some sastrugi - wind affected snow and ice. Everyone's doing really well actually. Just generally windy, quite cool.<br /><br /> We've skied for 5 hours today and had a rest of about an hour throughout the day. We are camped to the west of Patriot Hills. The morale is really good and everyone's in good spirits. We're about "eight out of ten". Had we covered a bit more ground today, this might be a bit further up the scale. All good. Over and out."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2 class="light">Reena (India)'s PodCasts:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=135000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-tcwww0hgvz9d.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=135000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Podcast 18/11/09" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20041">Link to Podcast (English)</a><br /><br /> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=160000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-46xfktmcmo54.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=160000" /> </object> Hindi</p> <p><a title="Podcast 18/11/09" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=20042">Link to Podcast (Hindi)</a><br /><br /> <b>Reena's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br />"Good Morning. Reena from India on the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition. This morning we got up in high winds with a lot of snow blowing over our tents.<br /><br /> The whole night it was stormy with a lot of high winds but these winds have become a part of our life. Everyday it is windy, windy, windy but we have learned to tolerate and deal with the it.<br /><br /> We got up and the the view has started to clear which is good. The visibility is pretty good outside. We can see snowcapped moutnains everyewhere. Yesterday we had a white-out and while we were coming towards our campsite the visibility was down to one metre so we used the "Ribbon Technique".<br /><br /> Using the ribbon was very good and very practical. By keeping the ribbon at a certain angle [as blown by the wind] it really helped navigate in the white out conditions. It's very practical for getting your bearings.<br /><br /> Everybody's doing pretty well and morale is high. *Laughs!* Good breakfast of oats and banana juice, and trying to finish off yesterday's snack. Of course, I had some chocolcate left over which made me chocolately porridge!<br /><br /> And now, in about one hour, we will be packing up from here and moving back to Patriot Hills where we can get ready for the main expedition. That's all for today. Over and out."</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/training-begins.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>16.11.09<br />Fighting Back<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Fighting Back" alt="Fighting Back" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_166.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Antarctic has put on her best display to welcome the team. Based as they are at the foot of the Patriot Hills, the girls are being subjected to some fairly severe weather after being dropped in the polar equivalent of the deep end. Helen (UK) has today's update (as you'll hear, satellite signal is a bit ropey at the start) - Tim (UK Support).</p> <h2 class="light">Helen (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=59000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-hrihos61t2ma.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=59000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Podcast 16/11/09" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=19958">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Helen's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br />"We had some testing weather over the weekend, and this has damaged our tent severely so we are borrowing tents at the moment from ALE. But, we're making good repairs, to our tent and we're hopefully be on our mini expedition, in the next few days. It is really putting us to the test in Antarctica, but we're fighting back. "</p> <p><br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/fighting-back.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>14.11.09<br />A Little Bit Windy<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="A Little Bit Windy" alt="A Little Bit Windy" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_165.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>I just got off the phone from Team Leader Felicity (UK) in a windswept Antarctica. After what sounds like a picturesque arrival, the wind has picked up and put their tents to the test. Today we have PodCasts from both Felicity and Stephanie (Cyprus) - Tim (UK Support).</p> <h2 class="light">Felicity (UK)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=60000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-hsspdq0wov5p.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=60000" /> </object> </p> <p><a title="Podcast 13/11/09" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=19830">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Felicity's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br />"Hello, this is Felicity from the UK, calling to let you know, that the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition has finally arrived in Antarctica.<br /><br /> The whole team are incredibly excited. We arrived at about 5:00 Antarctic time yesterday, after 3 or 4 days of mad packing in Punta Arenas in Chile. <br /><br />We're now in a tent at the slopes of the Patriot Hills, which are a beautiful set of hills with, wind scowered blue ice, almost gold coloured rock, showing through and then obviously a coating of snow as well. <br /><br /> We are all absolutely gob-smacked to be here and just a huge thank you the Kaspersky Lab Team , who have been enabled us to be here. We are absolutely pinching ourselves in disbelief that we've made it. Today it's a little bit windy, as you might be able to hear the tent rattling behind me but we went out for a short shake-down ski" "</p> <h2 class="light">Stephanie (Cyprus)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=60000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-s483iom83jux.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=60000" /> </object> <br /><br /><a title="Podcast 13/11/09" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=19831">Link to Podcast</a><br /><br /> <b>Stephanie's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br />"This is Stephannie from Cyprus. It's the 14th of November. The team's in Patriot Hills Antarctica. <br /><br /> It's been blowing like mad around here, we've had a few issues with tents. Lots of drama this morning a couple of guys of our tents came out of a few of the valances disappeared, some of the snow disappeared off the valances so the tents were flapping around. The whole team had to get out and make sure that all the tents were secure and build massive walls around both tents because it's really really really windy and you know there is a great possibility of tents disappearing off in this wind if one is not careful.<br /><br />On a nicer note we're all snug up in our tents" <br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/a-little-bit-windy.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>13.11.09<br />Arrival in Patriot Hills, Antarctica<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="First PodCast from Antarctica" alt="First PodCast from Antarctica" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_164.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Our first PodCast from Antarctica!<br /><br />The team flew out of Punta Arenas, Chile, yesterday and have now arrived in Patriot Hills. They will be spending a few days there to acclimatise and test out their kit before heading to the coast and their startline.</p> <h2 class="light">Era (Brunei)'s PodCast:</h2> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=60000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-ixhuwp1uwj7k.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=60000" /> </object> <br /><br /><a title="Podcast 13/11/09" href="http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=19753">Download the Podcast</a><br /><br /><b>Era's PodCast in writing:</b><br /><br />"Hi today is the 13th of November and the time is 11:50am in Patriot Hills Antarctica. It's Era here from Brunei and we are currently located at Patriot Hills. We came in yesterday on the Ilyushin and we had a lie-in to recover from the day. Our health and morale is good. From 1-10, it's about maybe 8 or even 9 because the weather has been really good. It has got clear visibility and the sun is out and it's quite warm..."<br /><br /> Photo by <a title="Robert Hollingworth Photography" href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/">Robert Hollingworth</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/arrival-in-patriot-hills-antarctica.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>14.11.09<br />Free talk at National Geoagraphic Store, London, 29th December<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Inspiring talks by explorers" alt="Inspiring talks by explorers" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_162.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><span>The girls may not have started skiing yet but here is advanced warning for an event at the end of December.<br /><br /> On Tuesday 29th, the National Geographic Store on Regent Street will be hosting a live lecture and Q&amp;A session with the team on the ice. By that time, they should be very close the Pole. It's your chance to hear, live, what it's like in Antarctic and ask your questions direct to the team.<br /><br /> You can <a title="NG London Store Events" href="http://www.nglondonstore.co.uk/future.html" target="_blank">see the advert on the National Geographic website</a>. Here is the official blurb:<br /><br /> <i>"History will be made on December 29 when National Geographic's global retail store on London's Regent Street hosts its first ever live lecture and Q&amp;A session from Antarctica. The Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition - eight women from seven Commonwealth countries skiing 900km to the South Pole - will be just days away from the bottom of the world when they share their incredible journey live from the ice."</i> </span></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/free-talk-at-national-geographic-store-london-29th-december.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>11.11.09<br />Not the time to fall<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Route planning" alt="Route planning" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_160.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><span>The excitement is building as the team went for the briefing with <a title="Antarctic Logistics" href="http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/">Antarctic Logistics</a> this morning.<br /><br /> We went along with the members from other teams who will be joining us on the first flight of the season into Patriot Hills.</span></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Era (Brunei) kitting up for departure" alt="Era (Brunei) kitting up for departure" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_161.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><br /> There are a few protocols that make this more unusual from a conventional flight - one of the main aspects that ALE wished to convey was the fact that we will be landing on an ice runway. So, our first steps on arrival in Antarctica will be very slippery... This is not the time in the expedition to fall!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/not-the-time-to-fall.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>09.11.09<br />How to handle a charger<br /></h1> <p><span>Today we have our first of many PodCasts from the team, this one left by Kylie. You can listen to it on the little player displayed below but first, let's hear from Reena...</span></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Gizmos" alt="Gizmos" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_159.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <h2 class="light">Reena (India) writes:</h2> <p>Pretty amazing how just a little bit of mishandling can ruin a charger. Fragile is the word when handling such gizmos.<br /><br /> Its staggering just how much stuff is being sorted each day and how much of it needs <i>re</i>-sorting the next. We started the day with communications equipment (hence the charger mishap). Then we packed the ration bags for dinners and <i>re-</i>packed the ration bags for daytime. We also tried loading some sledges with the gear to see how it fits and in the evening we had a most enlightening lecture on cold injuries by John, the very experianced Doctor from ALE . <br /><br /> Busy. <br /><br />I decided it was time to change the hair style I&acute;ve had since the time i was born. <br /><br /> In the middle of all this husble and bustle, I took some time out and had a hair cut. The lady at the salon could not speak English and I could not speak Spanish but we managed by sign language . I feel that it is very convienient to have short hair for the expedition and, going by the great comments I got from my team mates, I feel highly satisfied.</p> <p><span><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Reena (India) in Punta Arenas" alt="Reena (India) in Punta Arenas" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_158.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2 class="light">Kylie (New Zealand)'s PodCast:</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p> <object height="52" width="322" data="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="align" value="middle" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="filename=&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=61000" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.houndbite.com/player.swf" /> <param name="name" value="player" /> <param name="flashvars" value="filename=http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-8ae7zftphoee.mp3&amp;autoplay=0&amp;duration=61000" /> </object> </p> <p><a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/houndbite/klcae-upload-8ae7zftphoee.mp3" target="_blank">Download podcast</a></p> <p><i>Did the recording sound a bit funny at the end there? Kylie's calling from a satellite phone which actually works better in open spaces, like Antarctica, than built up areas, like Chile. But, even away from the buildings it's something we'll have to get used. They have some great technology with them but they are still a long way from mobile phone masts and satellite dishes so signal will never be 100% - Tim, UK Support</i></p> <h2 class="light">Kylie's PodCast in writing:</h2> <p>I'm in O'Higgins Road, Punta Arenas, at La Cencia Guest House.<br /><br /> Today, the distance we've covered may not have been significant as far as kilometres are concerned, but we've managed to do a lot of organizing of our food. We've been portioning it into bags and it's covering the whole floor of the guest house. <br /><br /> As for health and morale, well, ours is mostly good. We're trying to shake off a few colds before we head down to the ice. The tasks we've been doing for the last couple of days have been quite mundane and monotonous. And, even though we've been going from first thing in the morning until 10:ten at night or later, morale is generally pretty good.</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/how-to-handle-a-charger.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>09.11.09<br />Where Polar Explorers get fed [Video from Chile]<br /></h1> <p><span>Take a tour of Base Camp Punta Arenas with Kylie (New Zealand). Have a look at their kit stash, see if the Team Leader sews as well as she skis and find out where Polar Explorers get fed in this short video feature from <a href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk" target="_blank">Expedition Photographer</a> Robert Hollingworth.</span></p> <p> <object height="360" width="640" data="http://exposureroom.com/flash/XRVideoPlayer2.swf?domain=exposureroom.com/&amp;assetId=b03daf537042461bad063ededf23267e&amp;size=md&amp;titleColor=%23ffffff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="id" value="xrPb03daf537042461bad063ededf23267e" /> <param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="True" /> <param name="wmode" value="opaque" /> <param name="src" value="http://exposureroom.com/flash/XRVideoPlayer2.swf?domain=exposureroom.com/&amp;assetId=b03daf537042461bad063ededf23267e&amp;size=md&amp;titleColor=%23ffffff" /> <param name="name" value="xrPlayerEmbededb03daf537042461bad063ededf23267e" /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="True" /> </object> </p> <div> <div><a href="http://exposureroom.com/b03daf537042461bad063ededf23267e" title="CWAE Punta Arenas Video Blog by Robert Hollingworth - View it on ExposureRoom"><span class="viewOnXRLink">View on ExposureRoom</span></a></div> </div>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/where-polar-explorers-get-fed.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>08.11.09<br />Porridge, Pills, Peanuts and Popcorn<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Team meeting in Punta" alt="Team meeting in Punta" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_151.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><span> Polar exploration ain't all glamour.<br /><br />The team are currently working hard in Punta Arenas (Chile) sorting out their supplies for the coming weeks on expedition. As anyone who's been on expedition will know, food can make or break it for you so whilst it may not be the most rock-and-roll of duties, it's an important part of preparation.<br /><br />Still, I doubt many of us can claim restaurant recommendations from a president. <br /><br />Here are entries from Kylie and Kim: <br /></span></p> <h2 class="light">Kylie (New Zealand) says:</h2> <p><br /> <i>This morning...</i> we are busy beavers starting to portion our food bags. Reena (India), Felicity (UK) and I are measuring out 240gms of <a href="http://www.mightymuesli.com/products.asp?iCatID=3" target="_blank">Power Porridge</a> with 80gms of milk powder and 80gms of sugar for our breakfasts. Mmmm! <br /> <br /> Kim and Steph (Cyprus) are sorting "the pills". They are glad wrapping (cling filming) Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin B, Omega 3, Glucosamine and Antioxidant tablets together. These will keep our bodies strong, healthy and sustained for the duration of our ski to the Pole. <br /> <br /> <i>After lunch...</i> we&acute;ll be starting lunch bags and snacks. It is going to be a long day inside measuring, counting and packing. <br /> <br /> Some of us are shaking off the final traces of the wretched Cold. Better to have had it all before we get to the &iacute;ce. <br /> <br /> <i>Tonight...</i> we will head out to a restaurant run by a Singaporean lady following a recommendation to Sophia from none other than the President of Singapore! <br /> <br /> Better get back to it. <br /> <br /> Kylie</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Punta Arenas, Chile" alt="Punta Arenas, Chile" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_152.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <h2 class="light">Kim (Jamaica) says:</h2> <p><br /> We literally took over the hostel.<br /><br />- Reena (India) was on popcorn<br />- Kylie (New Zealand) was on peanuts<br />- Kim (Jamaica) was on chocolate<br />- Era (Brunei) was on Sesame Snaps<br />- Stephanie (Cyprus) was on sweets<br />- Felicity and Helen (UK) were on banana chips<br /><br /> At least a ton of banana chips, another ton of toffee popcorn, numerous bottles of vitamins and boxes upon boxes of chocolate... the preparation of "Day Bags" is underway.<br /><br /> Looking at the 176 Day Bags we've made (only half of what is needed) the challenge ahead is becoming more real by the bag. We now have to believe it: next week, this team is flying into Antarctica. Another 176 day bag to go and we are off!<br /><br /> More on the communications preparation &ndash; in which we know you all are interested in - tomorrow.<br /><br /> Kim.</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/porridge-pills-peanuts-and-popcorn.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>05.11.09<br />Popcorn and Snow in Punta<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Kit to be sorted (spot the popcorn)" alt="Kit to be sorted (spot the popcorn)" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_149.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><span>Today it has been snowing in Punta - Yipee! Well, one minute snowing and the next minute brilliant sunshine, but still with a cold wind blowing!<br /><br /> Kim (Jamaica) and I have been busy checking that all of the freight has arrived safely. We've moved it to a storage area where the skis, pulks (sledges), stoves and tents can be prepared and tested. There is also a massive amount of food, in addition to the amount that the main party will be bringing with them... imagine enough toffee popcorn to feed 8 people for 40+ days!</span></p> <p><span>Helen (UK)<br /></span></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/popcorn-and-snow-in-punta.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>06.11.09<br />The team are reunited ("Wear it or pay for it")<br /></h1> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span> The rest of the group have finally arrived in Punta Arenas and the whole team is finally reunited here in Punta.<br /><br /> We got picked up by <a href="http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/" target="_blank">Antarctic Logistics Expeditions (ALE)</a> at the airport and had a nice ride to our hostel La Estancia. Steph (Cyprus) and Reena (India) almost got charged for excess baggage but we managed to get 200Kg of baggage into Punta without getting charged anything extra - YAY!<br /><br /> We were sweating through our expedition clothing and boots but it was either wear it or pay for it! Thankfully we were greeted with hot tea and Oreos from Kylie (NZ). <br /><br /> Era (Brunei)</span></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/the-team-are-reunited.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>02.11.09<br />Press Conference Success<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Sophia (Singapore) being interviewed for TV" alt="Sophia (Singapore) being interviewed for TV" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_146.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><span> Squeezed between final <a title="From frostbite to blisters" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=49">First Aid practice</a>, <a title="Sorting out our equipment" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=47">last minute packing</a> and <a title="Advance Party arrive in Chile" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=50">catching flights</a>, the expedition team held one last press conference.<br /><br /> Hosted at London's prestigious <a title="The Commonwealth Club" href="http://www.thecommonwealthclub.co.uk/" target="_blank">Commonwealth Club</a>, team leader Felicity Aston gave an honest and inspiring speech in front of journalists from around the world.<br /><br /><a title="Kaspersky Website" href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=4" target="_blank"> Kaspersky Lab</a> were represented by Roger Wilson, Vice-President of Kaspersky Lab&rsquo;s Marketing Division. Mr Wilston used his speec to draw parallels between Kaspersky Lab's principles and those of the expedition. He was also presented with a Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition official team jacket!<br /><br /> Team member Sophia Pang (Singapore) talked about the importance of the expedition to her as a wife and mother of three, whilst Stephanie Solomonides (Cyprus) related the ethos of the expedition and the Commonwealth to the current issues in her own country <br /><br /> Following the press conference, the team appeared on <a title="BBC South East Today" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/southeasttoday/" target="_blank">BBC South East Today</a>. <br /><br /> <img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Posters at the Conference" alt="Posters at the Conference" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_147.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></span></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Kaspersky Lab European Vice-President, Roger Mills, receives his Expedition Jacket" alt="Kaspersky Lab European Vice-President, Roger Mills, receives his Expedition Jacket" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_148.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Photos by <a href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/" target="_blank">Robert Hollingworth</a></p> <p><span><i><br /></i></span></p> <p><span><i><br /></i></span></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/press-conference-success.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>04.11.09<br />Advance Party arrive in Chile<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Helen (UK) and Kim (Jamaica) arrive in Punta Arenas" alt="Helen (UK) and Kim (Jamaica) arrive in Punta Arenas" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_142.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><span> Kim (Jamaica) and Helen (UK) have now arrived safely in Punta Arenas. Kylie (New Zealand) will be joining them tomorrow. They were met by the affable Steve Jones from <a href="http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/" target="_blank">ALE</a> - who gave them the good news that their freight had arrived. They have a big job ahead in sorting it all out. <br /><br /> There is a cold wind blowing through Punta Arenas - preparing them for Antarctica. </span></p> <p><span><i><br /></i></span></p> <p><span><i><br /></i></span></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/advance-party-arrive-in-chile.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>01.11.09<br />From frostbite to blisters<br /></h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Girl and Guy" alt="Girl and Guy" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_144.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></p> <p><span> Along with packing bags, testing commmunications equipment and sewing badges to kit, the team have spent much of the weekend becomming familiar with the medical kits and talking through various protocols. <br /><br /> From frostbite to blisters, Guy Risdon of <a href="http://www.adventurefirstaid.co.uk/" target="_blank">Adventure First Aid</a> has been giving the girls a final refresher on the management of common medical problems they might have to face. Guy says: <br /><br /><i>"The girls are fantastic at multitasking and in between packing and TV crews coming and going they have listened, practiced and asked questions that demonstate they are already well versed and thoughtful. With increasing tiredness and repetative physical strain taking its toll they will have to be more vigilant each day for the waring signs of cold injury. I am sure the girls will excel at every stage and I have no worries about them making sensible and informed decisions about their well being. Stay safe girls, we will be following your every day on the ice and sending out those good vibes. See you all when you get back."<br /><br /><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="First Aid Supplies" alt="First Aid Supplies" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_145.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></i> </span></p> <p>Photos by <a href="http://www.roberthollingworth.co.uk/" target="_blank">Robert Hollingworth</a></p> <p><span><i><br /></i></span></p> <p><span><i><br /></i></span></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/from-frostbite-to-blisters.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><strong><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>01.11.09<br />Sorting out our equipment</h1> <p><img id="baseline" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_137.jpg?a" alt="Gear packed" title="Gear packed" class="__mce_add_custom__" /></p> <p><span>The very first and most important task on arrival for everyone was to sort out our gear and kit to make sure that they fitted nicely. The one most important piece of equipment was our boots, which we will be wearing for 13 hours each day during the expedition. The expedition food was also delivered yesterday, and one that caught my eye was &ldquo;Kung-Po chicken with Noodles&rdquo; &ndash; definitely something I would look forward at the end of each day! - </span><span><i>Sophia (Singapore)</i></span></p> <p><span><i><img id="baseline" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_138.jpg?a" alt="Food" title="Food" class="__mce_add_custom__" /></i></span></p> <p><span><i><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Boots" alt="Boots" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_139.jpg?a" id="baseline" /></i></span></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/sorting-out-the-equipment.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:28 GMT<p><b><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>31.10.09<br />Antarctic Expedition film live on KentTV.com</h1> <p> <object height="298" width="480" data="http://www.mizutv.com/players/player2009/player2009v1_1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="id" value="prg-eb9fc349601c-600" /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscale" value="false" /> <param name="menu" value="false" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="flashvars" value="id=prg-eb9fc349601c-600&amp;cid=kenttv&amp;masterU=http://www.mizutv.com&amp;skinCol=0x333333&amp;skinH=28&amp;skinBotPadPcnt=0&amp;skinMaxWidth=&amp;skinOver=&amp;disableDog=&amp;autoStart=&amp;looping=&amp;" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.mizutv.com/players/player2009/player2009v1_1.swf" /> </object> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/antarctic-expedition-on-kenttv.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:29 GMT<p><strong><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>19.10.09<br />Stephanie Honoured by Inspirational business women of Cyprus</h1> <p>Last week, Stephanie was honoured at the Annual General Meeting of the Cyprus chapter of the Federation of Business and Professional Women, held at the Hilton Hotel (Nicosia) for her participation in the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition. As a symbolic gesture, she was presented with a cheque by the ex-President of the BPW Cyprus, Mrs Elena Tanou. The cheque represented the support of the BPW Cyprus for Stephanie's promotion of Cypriot women through the expedition and to celebrate the all-female team that will be promote teamwork and intercultural, interracial understanding during the expedition.<br /><br />The cocktail event was launched by the Minister of Justice &amp; Publice Order, Mr Loukas Louka who also presides the Ministry's National Machinery for Women's Rights. Is it also through this particular program that the Cypriot government have recently lent their support to Stephanie, recognising her participation in the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition. Stephanie was very pleased to be able to thank the Minister in person at the cocktail for his support.<br /><br />Stephanie say that 'the gesture of support from the BPW Cyprus was a particularly important boost, as the federation represents very dynamic and inspiration women in Cypriot Society. To have their support is an honour. The cocktail provided me with the opportunity to meet many of these ladies who voiced many kind words of support and faith in our successful completion of the expedition. All the BPW members are pioneers, so I feel that there are parallels in what our expedition is trying to achieve, with their experiences as women in the male dominant business world. A very special thanks to ex-President Mrs Elena Tanou, and members Mrs Evie Lanitis &amp; Mrs Marianna Vrahimis for taking interest in my participation on this expedition; while also to the newly elected BPW Cyprus President, Mrs Alexandra Galanou who voiced her endless support.'<br /><br />The International Federation of Business and Professonal Women (BPW International) was founded by Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips in 1930. BPW International has become one of the most influential international networks of business and professional women with affiliates in 80 countries in five continents. BPW has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and participatory status with the Council of Europe. Its members include influential women leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, professionals and young career women.</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/stephanie-honoured-by-inspirational-business-women-of-cyprus.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:29 GMT<p><strong><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1>15.10.09<br />Expedition Equipment heads for Chile</h1> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Packing!" alt="Packing!" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_46.jpg" id="baseline" /></p> <p>Early in November the team will depart for Punta Arenas in the very south of Chile which is the departure point for flights to Antarctica. In order that all their vital expedition equipment is waiting for them in Punta Arenas when they arrive it had to packed up and sent by cargo ahead of the team this week.&nbsp;<br /><br />Packing all the equipment and supplies that the team will need for a 40-day expedition was a big job that required many hands. Sledges needed to be stowed carefully to prevent damage in transit, packaging had to be stripped away and ski's had to be wrapped in yards of bubble wrap. It was also a last chance to get as many last minute jobs done as possible, such as insulating thermos flasks, colour coding toothbrushes and creating repair kits.</p> <p>Luckily there were plenty of volunteers on hand. Thanks to Mark and Connie who took a day off work to help out and to Jackie and Richard Aston who spent a long night wrestling with bubble wrap!</p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Insulating Flasks" alt="Insulating Flasks" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_47.jpg" id="baseline" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/expedition-equipment-heads-for-chile.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:29 GMT<p><strong><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p> <h1>30.09.09<br />Expedition Equipment Arrives!</h1> </p> <p><img id="baseline" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_31.jpg" alt="Expedition equipment arrives" title="Expedition equipment arrives" class="__mce_add_custom__" /></p> <h1><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px;">Over the last couple of days the expedition has been busy gathering together all the clothing and equipment it will need for the journey to the South Pole. The team will be departing for Antarctica from Punta Arenas in Chile. Therefore, all the expedition equipment has to be packed up and freighted to Chile ready for the team's arrival.</span></h1> <p>Every piece of equipment from jackets to stoves to sledges has to be checked for weight and reliability. With 8 women living in a very small space for a very long time with identical kit, everything is colour coded so that each woman knows which bowl / spork / bottle belongs to them!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/expedition-equipmentarrives.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:29 GMT<p><strong><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></strong></p> <p> </p> <h1>07.10.09<br /> The expedition team thanks Singapore's President Nathan and Lee Foundation for their support!</h1> <p>The expedition team would like to express its thanks to President Nathan for his personal support to the expedition, and to the Lee Foundation. </p> <p>During a dinner event yesterday (5-Oct) hosted by Dr Lee Seng Tee from the Lee Foundation, Dr Lee presented a cheque to Sophia Pang, the Singapore team member and wished her success in the Antarctica expedition. Present at the dinner were President Nathan and Mrs Nathan, who also gave words of encouragement to Sophia to aim for the goal. In appreciation to the support, Sophia presented a collection of photos showing the expedition events to President Nathan, Dr Lee Seng Tee (Lee Foundation) and Professor Su Guaning (Nanyang Technological University).</p> </p> http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/expedition-thanks-singapore-president.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:29 GMT<p><strong><a href="/index.cfm?cf=deployment.permalink&amp;contentID=13">Back to Latest News</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><img id="baseline" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_12.jpg" alt="Pic" title="Pic" class="__mce_add_custom__" /></h2> <h2>19.09.09</h2> <h2>Mrs Lim Hwee Hua announced as Singapore team Patron</h2> <p>Singapore team member, Sophia Pang, is delighted to announce that Mrs Lim Hwee Hua has agreed to be her Patron for the expedition. Mrs Lim Hwee Hua is the Second Minister for Finance and Transport in Singapore and is the first woman in Singapore to be appointed as a full minister.</p> <p>In accepting the invitation to become a Patron of the expedition Mrs Lim Hwee Hua says, ' The Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition is the result of the passion and desire of a few courageous women who share a dream of skiing to the South Pole, a task that will take them through one of the most difficult terrains in the world. For many of these women, it is a personal goal and a great opportunity to develop qualities that define leadership - a willingness to take risks and venture out into the unknown, and most importantly the ability to inspire others to complete their own 'Antarctic Expeditions'.</p> <p>Sophia Pang's spirit, grit and determination to succeed in this quest serves as a beacon of inspiration to all of us and we are proud that she will be the first Singaporean woman to ski to the South Pole. I am confident that Sophia will do Singapore proud and I have great faith that the entire team will reach their destination victoriously.'</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/mrs-lim-hwee-hua-announced-as-singapore-team-patron.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:29 GMT<p><b><a href="index.cfm">Back to Latest News</a></b></p> <p><img class="__mce_add_custom__" title="Pic" alt="Pic" src="http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/resources/clients/6/user/resource_11.jpg" id="baseline" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>15.09.09</strong></p> <p><strong>Kaspersky Lab sponsors the expedition! </strong></p> <p>On Tuesday the expedition was relaunched as the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition to announce the sponsorship of the project by Internet security specialists, Kaspersky Lab. The announcement was made at an impressive media event held in the National Geographic store in Singapore. Expedition leader, Felicity Aston, attended the event along with team members Reena Dharmshaktu (India); Stephanie Solomonides (Cyprus); Era Al Sufri (Brunei); and Sophia Pang (Singapore).</p> <p>During the event, Managing Director of Kaspersky Labs Asia, Mr Harry Cheung, symbolically signed the flag that the expedition team will fly at the South Pole [pictured]. Harry, along with the rest of the Kaspersky Lab team, are now considered part of the family and the expedition is thrilled to have such wonderful support behind them.</p> <p>See more pictures from the event on the Kaspersky Klub website at <a href="http://www.kklub.net/commonwealthexpedition/">www.kklub.net/commonwealthexpedition/</a></p>http://www.kasperskycommonwealthexpedition.com/latest-news/kaspersky-lab-sponsors-the-expedition.cfmWed, 08 Sep 2010 03:06:29 GMT