| BSES Footsteps of Shackleton Expedition 2003 |
About BSESBSES, (formerly known as the British Schools Exploring Society, and founded in 1932 by an ex Scott Antarctic Expedition member), is pre-eminently known for its ambitious program of expeditions organised for young people, with an emphasis on science and adventure, in some of the most remote parts of the world. Historically, the society has organised expeditions mainly with an emphasis on cold weather regions, but expeditions can range from six week, mainly summer vacation expeditions to various locations including Greenland, Norway and Alaska, as well as African and other warm climate locations, to more ambitious, gap year, three month, multi location expeditions such as the current Footsteps of Shackleton Expedition. The society has a ‘blue ribbon’ reputation selecting very high calibre ‘Young Explorers’ (YE’s) and is affiliated to the Royal Geographic Society, (RGS) at whose offices its operations are based. The BSES annual gathering, held at the RGS, is normally attended by its Patron, HRH Prince Andrew. For more information on BSES and details on its expeditions, visit its website www.bses.org.uk.The current expedition was planned and is lead by Brigadier David Nicholls, RM (retd), David has spent nearly three years preparing a three location, intensive expedition comprising 21 Young Explorers and nine mature leaders including medical, scientific and mountaineering experts. Mountaineering, Science and Exploration in Chile, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia represent the objectives of the expedition, following in some of the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton who visited all three locations on his epic 1914-16 Trans Antarctic Expedition. In the last eighteen months, the YE’s, ranging from 18 to 24 years of age, underwent an intensive selection process proving their ability to cope with extreme conditions and requiring strong physical fitness to ensure their ability to complete the expedition. They have also had to raise the sizeable sum of nearly £6,000 towards the cost of their participation in such an ambitious project. The expedition has spent five weeks in Southern Chile, just completed three weeks in the Falkland Islands and is currently on board HMS Endurance, the Antarctic Naval patrol vessel on passage to South Georgia for four weeks. In Chile, the success of the expedition in reaching the southern most point of the mainland South American continent, ‘Cabo Froward’ on foot, attracted national media coverage. It is believed that in recent years only the Chilean Marines have been able to achieve this goal due to the extremely tough terrain and conditions faced in undertaking this trek. Whilst in Chile, support for the expedition was provided by the marines including logistics, boat support and guidance throughout the more difficult sections of the period. Other highlights included two weeks exploration and science in the remote Seno Skyring region near to Punta Arenas, and two weeks trekking the national park of Torres del Paine, seeing some of the most spectacular parts of the southern Andes mountains. In the Falkland Islands, the expedition has just completed nearly two weeks scientific work for the Falkland Islands Conservation Trust, including counting penguin nesting densities at Volunteer point, and surveying both fauna and flora on Bleaker Island, work that in both locations has never been systematically undertaken before. The YE’s have also had the opportunity to learn from first hand experience some of the details of the Falkland Islands battles in 1982 with visits to some of the main sites conducted by Brig. Nicholls. During this stage of the expedition, British Forces Falkland Islands have provided enormous support, including transportation on HMS Leeds Castle and use of their RIBS for shore landings and helicopter transfers, together with temporary accommodation at Mount Pleasant Airbase.
Undoubtedly though, the climax of the expedition is the four week visit to South Georgia. HMS Endurance is providing cover throughout the period on this remote and spectacular ‘Antarctic Oasis’ when the expedition above all hopes to locate some of the missing equipment discarded by Shackleton on his famous crossing of the Island in 1916. In addition, it is hoped that some of the unclimbed peaks on the Wilckens range of mountains will be climbed, together with completing various scientific projects that are to be undertaken. For the Expedition members this is the experience of a life time and they are to be commended for their efforts so far not only in being selected, raising the money required, but in demonstrating a tremendous team spirit in some challenging conditions. The whole expedition is enormously grateful for the support provided by various entities in Chile, the Falklands and the current wonderful facilities being provided by the crew of HMS Endurance. The expedition returns to the UK on January 5th, via Santiago. For more information on the progress of the expedition and details of the successes to date see the regularly updated expedition website www.followsteps.org. |
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