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Hielo Continental 2009 Project
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The Hielo Continental 2009 project is about doing the first entire circumnavigation of the magnificent Hielo Continental glacial mass and make several incursions at the heart of glaciers. A trip to cover more than 2000 km without motor or assistance and take two people at the heart of Patagon grounds, seas and glaciers.
Being 400 km long and 60 km large, the gigantic South American glacier of the Hielo Continental is the largest continental glacial zone and the third glacial territory of the planet after the North and the South poles. For in-depth exploration of Patagonia, we shall for nearly five months and under the most extreme climatic conditions, explore this territory by kayaking on seas, lakes and rivers or by pulling our kayaks on glaciers, through steppes or forests. (See the route).
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Why such a project ?
Since his first discovery of Patagonia and the Tierra del Fuego on foot and by sail in 2002 (see Amerique du Sud) Christian Clot has done three expeditions which are part of the Ultima Cordillera Project. The preparation involved several years of research on the Patagon territory, the men and their legends. He needs intimate knowledge of the Hielo Continental sector (sea and ground) to be able to close the Patagon trilogy.
Both environmentally involved and athletic the Hielo Continental 2009 Project covers extremely varied territories such as Patagon canals and the furious 50s and is a mean to fulfil a dream which is to better understand the heart of Patagonia. This will involve living in the most remote and difficult locations, reach unknown territories only accessible on foot or with kayaks, get an understanding of how the local Indians lived, whether on ground or on sea before becoming extinct less than 60 years ago. This will be a total immersion with in-depth discovery of extreme territories of South America.
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Why two ?
On this expedition, Mélusine Mallender, Adventurer-Geographer and specialist in marine environments will accompany Christian Clot. A man and a woman for a shared perspective on territories to cover. One of the goals of the expedition being to understand why and how these Indians have settled in this part of the world with such conflicting and violent surrounding conditions, more so for Alakalufs who settled in the fjord canals. This desire to discover is not stemmed from ethnological or archaeological curiosity. It is more linked to a need to understand, through total immersion and as simple a living as possible how these people survived and adapted to their environment. To do this it was necessary to be at least two, man and woman. Not to mention of course the obvious pleasure of sharing such an adventure together ...
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Expédition's goal
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> A new, innovative and committed journey in one of the most spectacular territories there is.
> Exploring sectors that are still unknown or have almost never seen Man.
> Performing scientific research for glaciology, climatology, physiology, psychology and entomology.
> Making research on extinct ocean and land Patagon Indians.
Of course, at the heart of it all, the enjoyment of living an adventure that goes beyond the ordinary bounds, in pursuit of one's dreams. A paramount condition for such project that will inevitably stretch the self to the limit !
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Know more about the goal and challenges here |
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