Antarctica
 

Has anyone recently traveled to Antarctica? I'm looking at taking my bike by plane (cannot disclose how at this point). Has anyone taken a bike. I would be going during the local summer season.

Can't remember the couples name, but on the first Horizons Unlimited DVD there is a couple that have taken their Harley to every country in the world, so I would assume that they have done it somehow. Maybe someone else on hear can tell you who they are (or you could buy the DVD and find out that way :clap:)

Thanks, I'll take a look.

Antarctica ?!!!???????WHY? Just curious.Not exactly:Beach: :palm:territory.
Is there even any road you could ride the bike other than around a few buildings in some of the old whaling stations? Why not take a picture of the bike or a name badge off it with you and call it even.

Your thinking is right along my original thinking. But my stay would be short and as you imply, who would want to do it. I decided that if I can get approval to take the bike, I will. Just because what other fool would do so. Even in the summer, it is still cold. But I'm already riding during winter in Central Illinois. So summer there won't be that much different. Just something to add to my list of places to go. Certainly won't be traveling far on the bike.

The best ride would be to fly to Antarctica, travel a bit, fly to South America, then ride to Prudhoe Bay. A sort of end to end of the world type tour.

When Michael Palin did his trip from the north pole to the south pole (BBC program "Pole to Pole") he flew from Chile to Patriot Hills in Antarctica. Travelling on the same DC-6 and staying at the same camp were some Japanese who were hoping to be the first people to ride motorbikes to the pole. I have no idea whether they made it or not.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), depending on how you look at it, I will not be there long enough to take much of a ride. At best I will only be there a day or so. But at least I would be able to say I rode my bike on that continent.

Check this...

The Antarctic Sun: News about Antarctica - Snowmobile Chopper

And if you want to bring your bike to Antarctica, contact Antarctica Logistics and Expeditions (Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions). They operate the flights from Punta Arenas to Patriot Hills with Illushin transport jets. Return ticket (same day) for one person was 13500 usd about a year ago, so it will cost you a LOT of money if u want to bring your bike! :mchappy:

unurban

I thought I had read that Benka Pulko, a woman from Slovakia, I think, put her bike on a boat and rode a bit on the Antarctic continent. Google her.

And after doing some research I've found that the name of the Japanese man who first rode a motorbike to the south pole was Shinji Kazama.

How on earth will you ride the motorbike in a place with no roads?

Or are you planning on taking one of these?!

Bet you didn't know you needed a motorcycle with a caterpillar track. - Yahoo! Cars

Yes, no roads. Well, I will have to make the best of it won't I. I'm still trying to get the details worked out. By next month, I should know for sure if and when I can go and take the bike. I'm told I can go for free, but the bike is the issue. And of course, I want to go during summer season, which starts next month. It should be interesting.

I am one of the few people who have walked on sastrugi (the mini wave forms of the wind packed Antarctic snow) in every month of the year. I spent 53 consecutive weeks in Antarctica, working at the South Pole Station.

I would have loved to ride on the continent. Coastal areas where the rock pokes through during the Austral summer months would be the best. If you have like hillclimb paddle tires, or uber-wide D606s or similar, you might get better float on the real snow. At Pole, the snow and ice is a mere 10,000 feet deep.

I have ridden a mountain bike, cross country skis, a baking tray, snowmobiles and tracked LMCs (and on a couch being towed behind an LMC) many times on Antarctica. But, never a motorcycle.

There is a story of a guy who worked at Palmer station who had a crated bike shipped as science cargo (exempt from size/weight concerns, unlike Raytheon contractors). He meant to have it stored at the logistics office in Punta Arenas, Chile. Instead, they put it on the vessel and it showed up in Antarctica. So, naturally, they had to take it for a little spin. but, that violates policy and potentially the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, so it is only unsubstantiated rumor.

Posting from the heat of Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, in compensation for all of 2008 on the Ice. Can't say I'm missing it, Bob.
:funmeteryes::Beach::palm::cool4:

Yes, the Treaty. That is one of my questions. Am I allowed to even take the bike? I may not because of the Treaty. :oops2: