1) The South Pole team share their 'first step' experiences
19 November 1999, Friday
Singapore's first expedition team to the Antarctic share their 'first step' experiences via a 'live' telephone conference. Read more about it here
2) The South Pole team reached Antarctica
November 4, 1999, Thursday
A moment of history, as Singapore's First Expedition to Antarctica finally reached Antarctica at 11.50am (Singapore time) today. Read more abt it here
Team members with staff of ANI ready to fly to Patriot Hills in Antarctica
3) The South Pole team left for the Antarctica en-route Chile
October 14, 1999, Thursday
The members of the South Pole team from the 1st Singapore Antarctica Expedition left for the Antarctica en-route Chile, in high spirit and ready to face their arduous 65 days trek on "the worst and last journey on earth". Read about it here
South Pole Team with Cpt Gabriel Toledo our Chilean Airforce Liason officer 18 Oct 99 with C-130 in background
4) Compaq plays a key role in the 1st ever Singapore Antarctica Expedition's Communications Network
Find out how Compaq plays a key role in the 1st ever Singapore Antarctica Expedition's Communications Network.
Read about Compaq's CustomSystems and Solutions and Rugged Handheld Computers
5) "To the Ends of the Earth" - Presentation by Peter Hillary, Singapore
June 14, 1999
Most adventurers would agree that the three pinnacles of adventuring achievement are to reach the North Pole, the summit of Mt Everest and to go overland to the South Pole.
To the Ends of the Earth traces Peter Hillary’s journey to these three great points on the globe:
The North Pole: an aviation adventure in the company of two of this century’s great explorers;
The summit of Mt Everest: in which Peter Hillary accomplished what his father, Sir Edmund Hillary, had achieved 37 years before, making history as the first father and son to climb the world’s highest mountain; and finally
The South Pole:
In January 1999, Peter Hillary accomplished the final feat in this trio of adventuring highlights, when he reached the South Pole from the coast of Antarctica. In this, Peter’s most recent journey, he and his two companions made the first ever ascent of the Shackleton Glacier, forging a new route to the South Pole. The IceTrek team dragged sleds of up to 200 kgs for 1500 kms, battling blizzards, frostbite and illness.
It was a gripping saga of human endeavour, transmitted live by iridium satellite telephone from the icy wastes of Antarctica.
Using exclusive video and slide footage of these various expeditions, Peter Hillary will take you on an inspiring, poignant, amusing, and dramatic journey To the Ends of the Earth.
Media release
6) Antarctica Launch at the Istana
March 12, 1999
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong hosted a function for members of the Antarctica 2000 Expedition team and the expedition's sponsors at the Istana last night.
PM Goh agreed to be the expedition's patron when the concept of the first Singapore expedition to the Antarctic was launched at the beginning of this year.
In his patronage acceptance letter to expedition leader Khoo Swee Chiow, PM Goh said the team deserved support from Singaporeans because the expedition's goal to reach the South Pole on foot and to climb the summit of Antarctica's highest peak Vinson Massif was both ambitious and challenging.
He stated the expedition warranted support because he wanted Singaporeans to be rugged and adventurous and 'conquer the wilds'.
"You and your team have already inspired Singaporeans with your success in climbing Mount Everest. You have shown with careful planning, strenuous training, discipline and mental toughness, risks can be minimised and great odds overcome," said the Prime Minister in his letter.
These sentiments that were reiterated in the PM's speech last night.
The event at the Istana not only celebrated the PM's support in the form of his patronage but it also acknowledged the role of the sponsors who were supporting the expedition both financially and with in kind support.
Equipment, access to training venues and transportation for the team have been donated by various companies and organisations.
"Flights to Antarctica demand exhaustive planning," said Jasmine Lee, the expedition team manager from Imark Communications, "Transportation is the single biggest component of the expedition's cost."
The expedition is being wholly funded by sponsorship.
The importance of the sponsors' role in this expedition was reiterated by Khoo Swee Chiow, who spoke at the Istana to thank them.
"They have all helped to pave a clear path to our ultimate destination," he said of the sponsors. "In this venture we look for moral support and a belief in what we are doing."
"We also hope that Singaporeans take on the message this expedition holds as a mission statement - to go out and conquer the wilds. Not just the physical wilds of a mountain or a barren desert but also the wilds within our everyday lives," he said.
The first Singapore expedition to Antarctica leaves for the continent at the end of the year. The expedition comprises of two teams, one will walk to the South Pole pulling all their equipment on sledges. The other team will scale the icy peak of Vinson Massif, the continent's highest peak and one of the world's seven summits.
This expedition is a celebration of the human spirit and endeavour. Reaching their dual goals on January 1, 2000 will be the perfect way to greet the new Millennium.
This achievement will be part of the nationwide millennium celebration - Celebrations of a Lifetime - which is co-ordinated by the Millennium 2000 Co-ordinating Committee, Ministry of Information and the Arts.
Issued by Imark Communications
Jasmine Lee, Expedition Manager
Tel: 3739218
7) Two Women Join Antarctica 2000 Expedition
February 25, 1999
Singapore's first expedition to the Antarctic has been joined this week by two women members - a nurse and a teacher.
Ang Geok Ling, a 23-year-old nurse and Lee Ling Yen, a 28-year-old physical education teacher, have joined the expedition team. Geok Ling, who currently works at the Gleneagles Hospital Nippon Medical Centre, said she is looking forward to the challenges of pushing herself to personal limits as well as being part of such a strong team.
"Mountaineering is not about reaching as many summits as you can in your life time," she says, "I enjoy the challenge and teamwork it takes to get there."
Geok Ling has had expedition and mountaineering experience in Southeast Asia and Canada where she completed a technical snow and ice climbing and rescue mountaineering course.
Ling Yen a qualified physical education teacher, who also has mountaineering experience in the region, is looking forward to the new set of challenges the Antarctic environment will provide.
"Most of my climbing has been in a tropical climate," says Ling Yen, "I am looking forward to the formidable challenges the snow and ice will provide."
The announcement that the two women were joining the Antarctica 2000 Expedition was made by deputy team leader, Robert Goh on Thursday.
The team now consists of the following members:
Team Leader - Khoo Swee Chiow
Co-leader - Robert Goh
Expedition Manager - Jasmine LeeTeam Members:
Ang Geok Ling
Ang Yau Choon
Kang Tian Tzer
Steven Wong
Dr. Mok Ying JangKuak Nam Jin
Lee Ling Yen
David Lim
Mohd Salleh Hj Ali
Edwin Siew
"Thanks to the greater public awareness created by the launch of the expedition in January, more women came forward to show their interest in joining the team," said Mr Goh.
Faced with time constraints, the expedition team required the most efficient method to find individuals to join the team who met the minimum standards in terms of fitness, skills and experience.
The selection process was conducted with the six women who expressed interest in joining the expedition. Participants were eliminated as the process progressed.
"Because they are joining the team at such a late stage," says Robert, Antarctica 2000 expedition team co-leader, "we needed to make sure their fitness level was equal to the other team members who have already undergone the first stage of fitness training."
Over several weeks, the women underwent a VO2 Max test which measures their aerobic fitness. A strength test with gym weights was also conducted. The selection process culminated in a 24 hour outdoor test during which the women's team work, leadership qualities and motorskills were tested. "When people are physically exhausted, their rational thinking and behaviour changes.
As the trek to the Pole and to the summit of Vinson Massif will push each team member to their physical limits, it is important they are mentally able to handle difficult and potentially life threatening situations," says Robert.
The women were joined in this 24 hour test by the rest of the team in order to judge how the women got on with the other expedition members. "Ling Yen and Geok Ling have come on board the team as equals to the rest of us, said Robert, "they are aware of the dangers and challenges that they will face as they climb to the summit of Vinson Massif. "They will be expected to pull their weight as much as their team mates.
The success of this expedition does not rest on individuals but on individual strengths pulled towards a unified objective," he said. From here, the two new female additions will become full time members of the team, participating in the arduous daily training sessions.
The team is planning to go to Greenland and the Swiss Alps in May to gain both ice and snow travel skills on the Greenland Glacier, there they will spend about a month ice walking and studying ice terrain, which can be dangerous and ever-changing. They will also learn climbing skills in the Alps. They also plan to train in the Mt. Cook area, during New Zealand's coldest winter month, June. Physical training will continue through out the year in Singapore.
Issued by: Imark Communications
For further information, please contact:
Jasmine Lee Expedition
Manager Antarctica 2000
Tel: 3739218 Fax: 2759116
8) Antarctica 2000 Concept Launch
January 8, 1999
TREKKING TEAM FROM SINGAPORE HEADS FOR THE SOUTH POLE
Singapore, 8 January 1999 - Singapore is set to make exploration history once more at the beginning of the new millennium.
After successfully reaching the summit of Mt Everest last year, team leader, Khoo Swee Chiow, is gathering a team of about 10 to 12 explorers, this time to trek to the Southernmost part of the earth - Antarctica.
The expedition to Antarctica poses a double challenge - reaching the South Pole on foot and scaling the continent’s highest peak, Vinson Massif.
Two teams will take part in the expedition. One team will walk an estimated 1,100 km to the South Pole and the other will climb Vinson Massif which lies 4,897 metres above sea level.
The Expedition Team
Everest heroes Khoo Swee Chiow and Edwin Siew, are in the team on this ambitious expedition to the Antarctic. Two members of the same Everest team, Robert Goh and Dr Mok Ying Jang, are also on the team. The other members of the Antarctica 2000 team include: Kang Tian Tzer, Ang Yau Choon, David Lim Chee Wai, Johann Annuar, Kuak Nam Jin, Mohd Salleh Haji Ali and Steven Wong. The Antarctica 2000 team will also be identifying women to join the team.
"Eventually only about 10 to 12 individuals will comprise the team. The selection will be based on fitness levels, mental endurance, ice and snow climbing skills and commitment to the team and team work during the expedition," said Swee Chiow.
The team to reach South Pole will depart in mid October while the team to scale Vinson Massif will leave in early December. The team is considering two routes to reach the South Pole. They will either depart from a base camp at Patriot Hills or a base camp at McMurdo Sound. The final choice of the staging point will be confirmed later in the year. Both teams are expected to reach their final destinations on 1 January 2000, making them the first people to witness the Millennial sun.
The expedition is therefore aptly named "Antarctica 2000" and has received the support of the National Youth Council and the Singapore Sports Council.
Mr David Lim, Minister of State for Defence and Chairman of the National Youth Council, said "This expedition is the stuff that dreams are made of. Lofty goals, which take us beyond what we think we can do. Seemingly impossible aims, that propel us to conquer greater heights, and venture beyond the safety of familiar boundaries. Great feats begin not with great plans, but with great dreams."
"We hope that their courage, passion, and "dare to dream" spirit will inspire all youths in Singapore to follow their own dreams, and in their own way climb their own mountains, cross their own seas, walk their own continents", he said.
Prime Minster Goh Chok Tong, who is patron of the Antarctica Expedition team, said in his letter to team leader Swee Chiow that the expedition deserved support for another reason.
"I want Singaporeans to be rugged and adventurous and "conquer the wilds". You and your team have already inspired Singaporeans with your success in climbing Mount Everest. You have shown that with careful planning, strenuous training, discipline and mental toughness, risks can be minimised and great odds overcome," said PM Goh.
"The Antarctica expedition poses very different challenges compared to Everest. The continent is known for freezing temperatures and high-speed winds that are unprecedented", said Swee Chiow. "The terrain can also be treacherous and unpredictable - it requires us to be extremely well-prepared and highly alert to any sign of impending danger."
Expedition Cost
Imark communications, the expedition manager, will play an important role in managing the expedition and raising the necessary funds.
"The expedition is a costly undertaking. We are appealing to all companies here for their support. The Antarctica team will return the favour by successfully completing the expedition, and planting the Singapore flag at the South Pole and on the summit of Vinson Massif," says Jasmine Lee, Managing Director of Imark
Communications.
So far, Antarctica 2000 expedition has received funds from the Singapore Sports Council, National Youth Council, National Geographic Channel and NTUC Income.
Training
It is estimated that only 70 people have reached the South Pole on foot, a feat which has never been achieved by any explorer from a South East Asian nation making this Singapore expedition unique in the history of the frozen continent.
The expedition members have begun a rigorous year of mental and physical training and an essential programme of climatic adaptation to the freezing Antarctic environment where the temperature can reach lows of -60 C and wind speeds of up to 300 km/h.
Training has already begun in Singapore and will continue in Greenland later in the year where they will spend a month ice walking and the studying ice terrain which can be dangerous and ever-changing. They also plan to train in the Mt Cook area, during New Zealand’s coldest winter month, July.
The Antarctic environment will confront the expedition members with deep crevasses, ice storms and large sastrugi. Technical skills training such as navigation, sled pulling, cross-country skiing, glacier crossing, crevasse rescue, snow and ice climbing and mountaineering skills will ensure the team’s survival and success in reaching their goals.
The monotonous journey trekking to the pole usually takes an estimated 60 days. Each team member will haul their equipment on sleds weighing about 160 kgs.
The route to the summit of Vinson Massif is a very long snow climb and usually takes about two weeks to reach the top.
Issued by: Imark Communications
For further information, please contact:
Jasmine Lee
Managing Director
Imark Communications
Tel: 3739218
Fax: 2759116
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