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Aussies in Antarctica

THE BACKGROUND
Jonesy’s been my best mate for around half my life – we met at school when we were 15. As the years progressed, we went from bushwalking and climbing and canyoning to bigger trips. A few years ago [2007-8] we paddled in a kayak from Australia to New Zealand. Earlier this year we returned from our biggest trip yet, which was to Antarctica.
Some people operate better alone and prefer their own company. I much prefer being out there with someone else – especially my best mate – and sharing the highs, while also getting through those deep, dark lows together.
At the end of 2007, we pushed out from Forster, on the north coast of NSW, and left for NZ. We’d planned to do the 2,200km expedition in 35 to 40 days. Turns out that wasn’t the case and we ended up paddling 3,318 kays over 62 days. Upon arrival, we were absolutely wasted – and not in the good sense! Sharks had bumped up against the hull, we’d been battered by storms, and faced waves up to 10m high. You can add sleep deprivation and exhaustion to the mix, too.
Adventure leads to adventure, and, for me, Antarctica has always held this starry-eyed fascination. If I put it in the context of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, what chocolate is to Augustus Gloop is what Antarctica is to me in terms of adventure. I used to love reading those stories from the heroic age of adventure – back 100 years or so ago – about pushing the limits in Antarctica, and I knew I’d do it someday. While I loved reading the stories and watching the documentaries, I don’t think you can get a true understanding of the blizzards or the intense cold or what it’s like to cross a bridge over a crevasse unless you do it for yourself.
There’s this appeal that has to do with its remoteness and the fact it’s just so mysterious. It’s completely desolate and the environment is as hostile as you can get on this planet – temperatures are brutally cold; it’s also the windiest and driest place on Earth – so the idea of doing an expedition down there really turns me on. I guess you either get the appeal or you don’t.

For the full feature and images grab the September issue of MAXIM, in stores August 15 – September 19, 2012.

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Ellen Hollman

Bar Refaeli