Ontario Man Reaches Antarctica's Centre

[michael_ital]

Ontario man reaches Antarctica's centre

Explorers are first to visit Antarctica's 'Point of Inaccessibility' since '67
January 20, 2007
Canadian Press

Paul Landry travelled for 47 days from the tip of Antarctica to reach the most remote point of its geographic interior, the Pole of Inaccessibility, and when he finally reached it he was greeted by a surprising sight – a giant statue of Vladimir Lenin sticking out two metres above the snow.

"He basically welcomed us here," said Landry. "Lenin was actually placed on this chimney above the base."

The statue of the former Soviet leader was placed there by Russian explorers who built a shelter when they first travelled there in 1958. A second Russian team returned there in 1967, but no one on Earth had returned to the site since.

"The base is buried under about five metres or more of snow," said Landry, in a satellite phone interview Saturday from his camp. ``It's impossible for us to get into the base."

Landry, 51, has travelled to many of the world's most coldest climates and to each of the geographic poles. This time the explorer from Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., is leading a team of three British adventurers who proposed going to the Pole of Inaccessability – the spot that holds the distinction of being the most difficult place to reach on the continent and located at its geographic centre.

After 25 hours of continuous travel, trekking through 250 kilometres – mostly by kiting, a method of travel where giant kite-sails pull attached skiers along snowy trails – before arriving, they set foot on the official location Friday.

They will stay there until Wednesday, when they will be flown to a Russian icebreaker on the continental coast. From there, they will sail for 10 days to Cape Town, South Africa, where they will make their way home.

The only catch is they will have to clear the snow in order to construct a runway for the plane to carry them to the icebreaker.

"It's not over yet," said Landry. "We have succeeded, we're here, (but) now we have to make a runway, hope for good weather, hope the plane comes in and then make our way back."

"It's a great feeling of accomplishment," said Landry, of the month-and-a-half-long trip.

He said this voyage held a number of surprises for him, such as how remote it really is at the centre of the polar continent.

"For me, it's a bit of a hidden paradise – I'm passionate about kiting and I'm passionate about polar travel and when you put the two together, it all kinds of blends into the ideal expedition."

Landry has raised a family who supports him – even his mother, who worries about his activities, is proud of his accomplishments – and who have joined him on his travels.

Landry met up with his son Eric and his daughter Sarah during a trip to Antarctica in 2004. He credits them as being the youngest people – 18 and 20 years old, respectively, at the time of the trip – to ever visit the South Pole.

In fact, they spent Christmas together at the Pole.

"We met up at the South Pole for Christmas, and then we kind of went our own ways," said Sarah McNair-Landry, speaking from Nunavut, where she is an outdoor guide.

"Whenever you get off of one trip, as soon as you get off and you are on the plane to go back home, you're thinking about the next trip," said McNair-Landry. "It's addictive."

It's a desire to explore that also started very young for her explorer-extraordinaire dad.

Growing up in Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., Landry says that it was the natural outdoor climate that helped shape him into the explorer that he would become.

"I grew up in northern Ontario, and I loved the winter," said Landry, who says the colder months of the year are his preferred ones for recreation.

"I used to love playing outside in the snow and as I got older I got passionate about cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and going out camping in the winter."

And yet, he is thinking of hanging up his adventuring and kiting gear.

"This is my ninth trip to one of the poles of the Earth and probably my last," said Landry. "I'm 51 years old and I'm thinking of retiring."

But he doesn't rule out completely the possibility of returning.

"I suspect once we get back to Cape Town, and we've had a good meal and a shower, then people might start talking about what's next."

His daughter remains skeptical of his claim.

"He's said that before that this was his last trip," said McNair-Landry, with a laugh. "I think if a trip comes up and it's something different...he would do it."

[intellex]

so you are basically saying he had sx with your mom micheal ?? she is that deep huh??? : was he reer waqooyi??

[michael_ital]

I don't get it.

[intellex]

[quote="michael_ital"]I don't get it.[/quote


you dont get it ?? habartaa shuunkeed