18.01.04
A Special Tribute to the Expedition Support Team
Torsten - torsten@breaking-the-ice.de @ 20:17:17
We have crossed the seas and been to the top of the mountain. Now we, the members of the Breaking the Ice Antarctic expedition team, wish to express our deepest gratitude to the people whose help and encouragement made it possible for us to achieve our goals and whose patience and emotional support were invaluable during our long journey from home. In alphabetical order, we salute:
1. Kim Bodin, from Chamonix, France, the Mountain Guide whose Alpine skills are only rivalled by his culinary talents and whose warmth and humor seemed to make his hair even redder than it is.
2. Mario Dieringer, our News Editor and video director from Germany, who stayed awake long after the rest of us had escaped into the comfort of our sleeping bags and whose nocturnal efforts ensured that the world could share each day’s expedition images.
3. Denis Ducroz, our Lead Mountain Guide from Chamonix France. It’s not possible to adequately express our gratitude to this wise, caring and daring man who led us safely and surely to the summit of the Mountain of Israeli-Palestinian Friendship, guided us through the most difficult moments of the climb and captured everything with his video camera.
4. Dr. Catrin Ellis Jones from Wales in the UK, the First Mate of the yacht “Pelagic”, whose smile and sense of humor made even our most difficult moments more pleasant and whose sketches and painting captured the wild beauty of our surroundings.
5. Michael Greenspan, our Correspondent and video editor from Israel, who documented the expedition in words and in pictures and interrogated us repeatedly until we were finally ready to tell him everything.
6. Richard Howarth from the UK, the skipper of the yacht “Pelagic”, who kept our smaller sister ship on course with us and gave us the feeling that “Pelagic Australis” was never alone. He is the very model of an Englishman at sea and we salute him.
7. Nadav Khalifa from Israel, the all-around Mountain Guide, Alpine Rescue Specialist and Camp Master, who was everywhere, all the time, helping everyone, so much so that it sometimes seemed there was more than one of him.
8. Skip Novak from the USA, the Commodore of the “Pelagic” fleet, the finest ocean going yachts in any latitude, and an inspiring mountain guide. This firm, fair and funny man was constantly at the helm and always ready to help.
9. Nicolas (Nico) Pichelin from France, the “movie star” of the “Pelagic” and “Pelagic Australis” crews, who was even ready to jump into the freezing waters of Antarctica to ensure that we would win our battle over the ice and who makes the best apple crumble cake on any continent.
10. Anthony Robinson from the UK, our Communication Specialist and good will ambassador, who always seemed to have a smile on his face and the can of beer in his hand. Wherever and whenever, he kept us in touch with the world. Thank you Tony !
11. Colin Rosin, our Director of Photography from Israel, who seemed to be glued to his cameras (three of them, in fact) and who observed every move we made and every word we said. He will always be the gentleman behind the viewfinder and our friend in front of it.
12. Dr. Arik Shechter, our physician from Israel, who carried an entire hospital on his back. Wherever we went, no matter what hurt, Arik was always there, ready to soothe our pain and get us back on our feet.
13. And finally, but far from last, Stephen Wilkins from Australia, skipper of “Pelagic Australis”, who knows his boat better than anyone else in the world, never feels the cold and warms his surroundings with sunshine. The prince of charm.
Thank you God bless you !
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