There is a lot to be said about The Antarctic: ice melting, icebergs huge as entire nations, Italy abandoning bases for scientific research...

So, when there is curiosity, which better spur for an adventure is there but going by yourself? Maybe with ambitious goals that are both sportive and alpine?

This is what Davide and Marco discussed on returning from conquering the climb up the Aconcagua!

And projects were formed to undergo a very unusual expedition:“ANTARCTIC TOP AND HEART” whose goal is not only to climb the summit of Mount Vinson (the highest peak of The Antarctic), but also one of the “Seven Summits” or “Seven sisters”, a well known alpine destination, then, once down and with a change of equipment, to reach the Geographic South Pole skiing.

Davide Tosolini and Marco Rigobon, albeit being normal middle-aged citizens (the first a master builder and the second a professional) and both with a high level of sport activities in the past in several branches of sports: Davide is still a parachutist instructor, has participated in some editions of the “Maraton du sable”, trekking in the desert and in Tibet on his own, …whereas Marco was a promise in the national swimming, basket player, skier alpinist, diver…

But what has united them over the years has been their passion for climbing and for adventure:They frequented different schools and yet they have reached more then 40 of the “four thousands” in the Alps, and, together, they have climbed four of the “SEVEN SUMMITS”: the KILIMANGIARO in Africa, the ELBRUS (with skis) in Caucasus, which they consider to be “maybe the best ski-alpine descent they have ever done, the MC KINLEY (DENALI) in Alaska and the ACONCAGUA in Argentina. Moreover, they are all always insist on avoiding (at least during the climb up) the “easy ways” often neither greatly solitaire nor so enchanting.

The program begins with the departure on the 20th of November form Punta Arenas in Chile to the Antarctic base of PATRIOT HILLS with a cargo which carries the supply to the base. There the necessary equipment will be split for the two different phases of the expedition. God willing the day after a little Twin Otter will take them upon the glacier right in the site where the base camp will be set up, about 2.000 meters, and the preparation for the climb will begin.

Situated in the massif of ELLWORTS MOUNTAINS the Vinson (almost 5.000 meters) technically is not a peak of a great difficulty, even for this particular route, but the extreme temperatures, that can reach even 50 degrees below zero, together with the quote and the wind could make everything much harder. The desire to face a climb in alpine style, speedy, light, and possibly with only one mid camp, arises quite simply from all these factors. However, should the weather conditions become hostile, the cold too intensive or there is too much fresh snow, the cautious choice will be the alternative one, with much more camps, which will guarantee more security and rest, but in this case it will be necessary to have more material, supplies, gas, etc.

After the summit of the peak and once down, we will return to Patriot Hills in order to change the equipment: some of the ropes, crampons and axes will be replaced with skis, sealskins, sledges, …to begin a long crossing that will bring them to reach, in complete self sufficiency, the Amundsen-Scott base, exactly sited at the Geographic South Pole

As opposed to The Arctic, which is an expanse of ice at sea level, The Antarctic is not only much colder, but is even studded with mountain ranges with glaciers, crevasses and continuous ups and downs. Moreover, the Geographic South Pole is at 3.000 meters: and this means more extreme temperatures (about one degree every 100 meters of drop) and less oxygenation.The Antarctic is considered the hardest desert on the earth, without vegetation and with a percentage of oxygenation below the average.This, despite good athletic preparation and a good season, will make the expedition more complex and will test their abilities.All these factors, together with the logistic difficulties, have always made the South Pole less attractive even for the professional climber.

It will be a slow and hard advance, towing sledges and carrying rucksacks full of heavy things: Tents, sleeping bags, airbeds, camp equipment, supplies and overall gas.Of course, it may seem strange, but without gas (about 40 kg) there is no possibility of survival.With gas you melt the snow to drink the water (4 or 5 litres a day), you cook, and maybe you can also warm yourself. Because cold and wind will be the worst obstacle. Gusts of about 100 km per hour could sweep the glaciers lowering by several degrees the temperature, from the real to the perceived one (statistically it has been calculated in one degree every 10 km per hour). The weights at the beginning will be between 80 and 90 kg for each person: a great deal, although still less than what was used for the Mc Kinley approach, when even the complete alpinist equipment had its weight

Days will roll by slowly, without darkness, step by step for about 8/10 hours a day before the stop to prepare camp, pitch the tents, build the walls to protect tents from the wind, cook the dinner and finally enjoy the deserved rest. And then it is time to take down the camp, reassemble the equipment and restart… And so for days, crossing uncontaminated and breathtaking sceneries in absolute peace, till they reach the desired goal: AMUNDSEN-SCOTT’s base with the ANTARCTIC DOME, the semi sphere shaped like a mirror, symbol of the South Pole. From there a flight, that will also take home some of the researchers, which will bring them to Patriot Hills and then to Punta Arenas in Chile.

The expedition, promoted by “Seven Summits A.S.D.”, is organized by FOCUS WORLD EXPEDITIONS (with the assistance of a correspondent). FOCUS (www.focus-italia.com) has already supported them in other adventures and is an operator specialized in the preparation of higher level enterprises: last but not the least we can call to mind the climb of K2 for the 50 years of the “Montagna degli Italiani” or the fly across Everest by Angelo D’Arrigo’s hang gliding. During the expedition a documentary will be produced which will be broadcasted on a well known cable tv channel.