Antarctica, the South Pole, is the most lonely and hostile part of our planet. It is every adventurer and explorer's dream. Imagine what it's like to ski on its snow.
I have always believed that with a positive approach, you can trigger a chain reaction of good things. That is exactly what happened after my amazing trip to Alaska. I got even luckier when I was given the chance to explore a new area, a place that I had just seen in books. I was reading books about all the great explorers like Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott and others who were among the very first whose eyes captured the beauty of the white polar environment covered with eternal snow and ice and decorated with crystal icebergs. And I could never have imagined that I would ever touch this unknown land.
Antarctica! There's truly no place on Earth quite like it. It's a land of extremes - the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent. Only 1% of the lucky ones who have ever disembarked there were given the chance to ski on its snow. And I feel incredibly fortunate to be among them. This journey has been a dream come true, and I'm bursting with excitement to share every moment of it.
Our adventure began with a daring trip across the treacherous Drake Passage, a legendary stretch of water known for its fierce weather. It's the ultimate test for any captain, but we braved it, eager for the wonders that awaited us.
On day one, we arrived on Deception Island, the caldera of an active volcano that hosted whaling and sealing stations during the 19th & 20th centuries. Round tanks were once used to store whale oil there. I'm relieved that they are not killing them anymore. The volcanic eruptions destroyed British Base B in 1969. It’s a unique landscape that comprises barren volcanic slopes, steaming beaches and ash-layered glaciers. The atmosphere with the abandoned factory, the black sand, and the fog that day blew me away.
And then, there they were - adorable little penguins waddling along the beach, a sight that filled my heart with joy.
On the second day, we finally approached the untouched beauty of this icy wonderland. My Ripsticks touched the Antarctic ground. That is quite a surreal feeling, there are no words that will ever describe the exquisite beauty and charm of this place. I felt free in the middle of icebergs and mountains. Nature is breathtaking. We ski toured up the mountains each day. Before we got off the boat, we took great care to respect this fragile ecosystem, cleaning and disinfecting our gear to leave no trace behind.
Each day, I was excited to be awakened by the alarm on the boat at 7 a.m., eager to see what awaited outside. I always started with a cup of coffee, put my warmest clothes on, and headed out onto the deck to behold the breathtaking landscape. Each day, my eyes sparkled with wonder and a smile never left my face. My soul felt truly content on this side of the planet.
I cherished these moments even more because there was no Wi-Fi connection or any kind of network throughout the entire trip. Being disconnected from the world felt incredibly liberating and peaceful. After the trip I decided to turn off my phone for at least 10 days once a year and retreat to a solitary place to reconnect with myself. There is something profoundly fulfilling about being fully present, especially in such a remarkable setting.
On the third day, we arrived in Wilhelmina Bay which was surrounded by swirling snowflakes and towering icebergs. I felt truly humbled by the sheer grandeur of this frozen wilderness. It's a rare privilege to witness such raw beauty, cruising in the Zodiacs far from everything.
It is normally too cold and too dry to snow, which is why everything stays frozen! It's super rare to see snow fall and have fresh powder like that. We were lucky to experience this kind of weather. We went up Nansen Island that foggy day. Everything was white and magical as well.
Before getting off the boat and into the Zodiac and then to Antarctica ground, we had to wash and disinfect all our equipment daily. To preserve the land, we had several restrictions: no food, no drinks when leaving the boat. Antarctica is another world, a white polar and it should stay that way. It's magical, everything is gigantic, icy, and white. It must be kept as is and not destroyed.
Day 4 started with a bluebird day on the Wiencke Island. It was snowing for a day and a half before blue sky returned. The whole team was super excited; we went up and down the island the entire day. We were lucky with this kind of weather, and on top of that there was no wind. That means the big faces and couloirs were not affected by wind and the snow sticks to the mountains.
For the end of the day, we decided to go on a mission and ski a big couloir that we saw with Marion Hearty from far. We made sure with our guide that the snow was stable. All perfect, the green light is on. We boot packed for the last 200 meters. The snow was so deep, we struggled to reach the top. The mountains can be very steep there too, that couloir was about 45 degrees. It reminds me of the mountains in Chamonix where I live. I didn’t think the mountains in Antarctica could be like that. And that was so special.
The fifth day we crossed the Lemaire Channel by boat to reach another island. The wildlife in Antarctica is unreal, while on the boat we saw lots of whales and even killer whales. They are truly huge creatures. There were plenty of penguins and seals on the islands as well. It is the experience of a lifetime.
On the sixth day an intense storm was coming towards us. We had to shorten our trip to be able to cross the Drake passage. For three days we were trying to get back to Ushuaïa. The waves were so big that it got me out of bed while sleeping. I couldn’t sleep because it was moving too much in every direction. That was a crazy experience, I thought we were all going to die there. When it was time to eat we had to hold our plate and glass all the time. Sometimes after a huge wave we heard things falling and breaking on the ground. 50 plates on the ground at the same time. But after three eventful days we finally managed to make it back to Argentina.
During the trip I was surrounded by a team who didn't know each other before putting our boots on. But we managed to express our creativity in this environment. And all those different situations helped us get to know each other a little better every day. We shared unique experiences while watching over each other in a place where the closest help is two days sailing away.
I had the chance to ride magnificent mountains in the company of beautiful people, full of humility. I have learned a lot in such a brief time. We laughed, we cheered, and we weathered storms together, forming bonds that will last forever. I never wanted to leave Antarctica. It showed me something special. I will never forget this adventure. I'm grateful to have seen and skied Antarctica. It was a life-changing experience. I'm thankful to be able to travel the world and experience such amazing places. This place has left an indelible mark on my soul, igniting a passion for exploration that will never fade. I’m grateful beyond words for this extraordinary experience, and I carry its spirit with me wherever I go. I float with the vibration and energy of life. There are so many beautiful places to discover. But that was my favorite adventure so far.
Thank you, Antarctica, you have stolen my heart forever!
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