Swida-RINGS

An airborne campaign to map and investigate most of the major outlet glaciers of Antarctica.

Swida-RINGS

Day 17: Mountain Evening > Progress

Current location

After the pause by Twin Otters KBO and DHB at Mountain Evening, the former Belarusian Antarctic station, the journey reached a pivotal moment. For a couple of days, the aircraft remained grounded, awaiting their reunion with the helicopters at Progress Station.

CC-AEK

This stop proved crucial, as it allowed the team to strategically utilize favorable weather windows, enabling steady progress across the vast and unforgiving expanse of East Antarctica.

Coming east of Progres

Despite the immense distances and the challenges of aligning optimal weather conditions across multiple critical points, including a resupply cache, the expedition achieved a remarkable logistical success. This precision ensured they could maintain momentum and make the most of every opportunity during this extraordinary Antarctic circumnavigation.

Russian base Progres

With the team now advancing along the coastline, DHB, outfitted with specialized scientific instruments like the snow radar, continues its vital mission. Its primary focus is mapping Antarctic coastal glaciers, providing invaluable data to improve our understanding of ice dynamics.

Emperor chicks at Amanda rookery near Progress
Chinese base of Zhongshan located next to Progress.
A remote refuel in the middle of nowhere

These insights are essential for contextualizing Antarctica’s role in Earth’s climate system and the long-term implications of its ice mass on global life.

Part of the team camping at Zenith, the local runway.

This expedition highlights the importance of teamwork, careful planning, and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge in one of the most remote and challenging places on Earth.