Frozen In Time

Behind the scenes on a day trip to one of the most majestic places on Earth

From 31,000 feet Antarctica emerges ambiguously on the horizon. At fi rst one questions whether it is a cloud bank but soon the distinct and jagged profi le of mountains put paid to any queries. As the Boeing 747-400 speeds towards Cape Adare, it is a far cry from the wooden vessels that crept through the frigid waters in 1841 to fi rst sight and name the peninsula. And while the craft may have changed, the landscape that looms ahead has retained its unchanged majesty.

A fascination with a frozen continent

With sea vessels required to cross vast distances through frigid waters and pack ice, fl ight offers both a speedy and comfortable means of commercial transport to view Antarctica. This was recognised more than 60 years ago when, in 1957, the fi rst commercial Antarctic charter fl ight took place with a Pan-American Boeing 377 Stratocruiser landing at McMurdo Sound.