Adventure Network International Works Behind the Scenes of Bancroft, Arnesen Antarctica Crossing.

Business Editors & Travel Writers

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2001

After making history by becoming the first women to cross Antarctica on skis, Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen ended their 95-day expedition on Feb. 16 when an Adventure Network International ski plane transported them off the Ross Ice Shelf to a ship waiting to carry them homeward.

Adventure Network International (ANI), a Grand Expeditions company and the only travel provider to Antarctica's interior, served as expedition support for the duration of the groundbreaking journey.

"There are a lot of factors in an expedition like this that can't be controlled," said Anne Kershaw, managing director, Adventure Network International. "But everything really fell into place to make it a successful crossing - the weather, the equipment, and of course, Ann and Liv's experience and expertise are unmatched. They have a lot to be proud of, and we're thrilled to have been a part of it."

After officially crossing the Antarctica land mass on Feb. 11, the explorers intended to ski and parasail an additional 450 miles across the ice shelf to McMurdo Station. However, they were able to travel just 30 miles in the few days after reaching the frozen ocean due to lack of wind for their sails. With winter weather arriving, the explorers consulted with their expedition office in Minneapolis, Minn. and ANI, and decided to end the journey.

On Feb. 15, ANI's Twin Otter ski plane flew about seven hours from its Patriot Hills base to the explorers' location. After waiting out some bad weather, the plane transported them to McMurdo Station, a U.S. government base, where Bancroft and Arnesen boarded a ship to take them home.

"The temperature was getting colder, winds were picking up and Ann and Liv were down to a five-day food supply," Kershaw said. "It becomes much more difficult to fly this time of year, and the waters around the continent are beginning to freeze up. It was the best decision possible for everyone's safety."

The Journey's Start

ANI flew Bancroft and Arnesen and their equipment from Capetown, South Africa on Nov. 13, 2000 to the start of their proposed 2,400-mile journey on the northeast corner of Antarctica. ANI, which had staff at two stations in Antarctica and one in Chile, monitored the explorers' progress and communicated daily with the expedition office throughout the trek. If a problem had arisen - injury, sickness, equipment failure, or dangerous weather conditions - ANI's three planes, field staff and medical team was ready to be called into action.

ANI's search-and-rescue expertise was tested early in the expedition. Three days after beginning the trip, Bancroft and Arnesen's emergency beacon was activated, alerting the team's headquarters and ANI that there was trouble. Per procedure, expedition organizers waited 48 hours for communication from the explorers, but after that time elapsed with no contact, ANI began preparing for a rescue.

Within an hour of take-off, however, the explorers called their headquarters - their satellite phone made out-going calls only - to tell them they discovered that snow had penetrated their gear and set off the beacon.

"There were some tense moments as we waited to hear from them," Kershaw said. "We were ready when the rescue decision was made, but we were happy to hear that everything was OK."

ANI also was responsible for re-supplying the explorers at the South Pole, about the halfway point of the journey. There, Bancroft and Arnesen showered, napped, replaced broken equipment and re-stocked their 240-pound sleds with food, film and other supplies. After just a day, the duo re-embarked on the trip's final leg.

Expedition Support

The Antarctica crossing is not the first historic trip ANI has supported for the pair. In 1993, ANI supported Bancroft's four-member attempt at crossing the Antarctic by a shorter route, but the group finished at the South Pole because two members were too ill to continue. ANI also supported Arnesen's solo ski expedition to the South Pole in 1994.

ANI receives about 40 inquiries a year from people around the world wanting to explore Antarctica's interior. Of that number, usually only a half-dozen become reality. The others don't occur because people don't realize the expense, physical preparation and other logistics involved in an Antarctic expedition. During the 2000-2001 travel season (November - February), ANI's guides escorted a blind man from the United States on his summit of Vinson Massif, Antarctica's highest peak at more than 16,000 feet. Among ANI's seven other expeditions last season, the company supported Dutch and Swedish ski expeditions to the South Pole.

Since ANI's start in 1985, it has carried more than 800 passengers to Antarctica. It is the only commercial air company that flies on the continent. Every expedition to Antarctica for mountain climbing, skiing or hiking contracts with ANI for air travel. Prior to the mid-'80s, Antarctica was inaccessible to all but a collection of scientists at government research stations.

1 Million Miles and Counting

But ANI has safely opened up "the last frontier" to civilians. The company, which uses large aircraft operating out of Punta Arenas, Chile, direct to its Patriot Hills camp, has safely completed more than 100 return flights. Its Twin Otter planes have flown more than 3,000 hours, and its Cessna 185 more than 400 hours. By early 1998, the total distance flown over the icy continent by ANI aircraft was about 1 million miles.

Based in Canada with offices in London and Punta Arenas, Chile, ANI was purchased in July 2000 by Grand Expeditions, Inc., an upscale leisure travel company based in Boca Raton, Fla. Grand Expeditions owns seven travel companies that feature upscale vacations to destinations around the world.

About Grand Expeditions, Inc.: Founded in 1998, Grand Expeditions is committed to providing upscale travelers with unforgettable, luxury vacation experiences to destinations around the world. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based company offers soft-adventure, cultural and historical travel products to travelers seeking educational and active vacation alternatives. The Grand Expeditions brands include: Adventure Network International, www.adventure-network.com (http://www.adventure-network.com) , the leader in expeditions to Antarctica and the Northern Arctic; Country Walkers, www.countrywalkers.com (http://www.countrywalkers.com) , specializing in walking tours to destinations around the globe; International Expeditions, www.ietravel.com (http://www.ietravel.com) , the leader in nature and environmental travel; Park East, www.parkeast.com (http://www.parkeast.com) , featuring natural history travel to Africa and other destinations worldwide; TCS Expeditions, www.tcs-expeditions.com (http://www.tcs-expeditions.com) , the world leader in private jet expeditions; Travcoa, www.travcoa.com (http://www.travcoa.com) , the pioneer in escorted luxury tours; and Voyagers International www.voyagers.com (http://www.voyagers.com) , specializing in natural history and photographic travel to destinations throughout the world.