January, 8.
Alex Abramov - the leader of the Seven Summits Club expedition to Antarctica:
Today at three o`clock in the afternoon representative ALE has called us and have informed, that in one hour we shall try to take off for Antarctica. At this time we sat, had dinner and have decided to not hasten, that all the same nothing it will turn out. And nevertheless, have gone to hotel, have paid and have taken away things. Soon we have sat in the plane of IL - 76 and exactly in five hours we were on Patriot Hills. There we have been informed, that in one hour we take off for base camp of Mount Vinson. Such speed never happened in my practice. When we arrived in the evening starts were postponed till morning. We again have not believed, but planes Twin Otters have got started engines. And still in one hour we have landed in base camp of Mount Vinson.
So from the table of restaurant we have got for 12 hours to the heart of the Antarctic mountains. And, now at five mornings, we have put tents, had a drink tea, and have gone to bed. Weather in area is bad, the summit it is not visible almost. Even small snow began. By our plan, tomorrow in eleven we want to wake up, leave and by three o`clock in the afternoon we should reach the following camp.
Such joyful message. All was very unexpected and sharp. Tomorrow`s morning will show …..
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Meanwhile:
SOUTH POLE, January, 7./ITAR-TASS/.
For the first time in a history two Russian helicopters Mi-8 have reached today the South Pole. At 09:00 they have made landing in the centre of Antarctica at height of 2 835 meters. Vice-president of Association of polar explorers of Russia Vladimir Strugatsky has informed ITAR-TASS that so one of the major stages of special air expedition which passes within the framework of 52-nd Russian Antarctic expedition was completed.
Helicopters which have made flight from South America through Drake belong to Federal Security Service. They have overcome 4 thousand kilometers and have made landing in a point where all terrestrial meridians converge, in the neighbourhood with American Antarctic station "Amundsen-Scott ".
The head of expedition - the deputy of State Duma Artur Chilingarov, with him there were high-posted persons: the director of FSB Nikolay Patrushev, his first assistant and the head of Boundary Service of FSB Vladimir Pronichev, and also the Head of the World meteorological organization Alexander Bednitsky.
Probably, it is the most representative delegation in a history of the South Pole and Antarctica !
