Antarctic Expedition Tangra 2004-2005

Progress update I

For the purposes of its scientific programme on 14 December, 2004 the Expedition Team made the first ascent of Lyaskovets peak (1473m), and on 15 December, 2004 climbed Mount Friesland (1702m), third ascent.

Presently the survey work is focusing eastwards along the main range of Tangra Mountains, and is to expand also to Bowles Ridge and territory further north.

Progress update II

On the Christmas Eve the Tangra Team crossed Bowles ridge and the upper course of Kaliakra Glacier to establish a forward camp at Leslie Hill. During the following days they surveyed the Vidin Heights including summit Miziya Peak (604m, first ascent) in the Northeast extremity of Livingston Island.

Progress update III

On 28 December, 2004 L.Ivanov and D. Vasilev left Leslie Hill and crossed Kaliakra Glacier to reach and survey the eastern part of Bowles Ridge. They climbed Melnik Peak (696 m, first ascent) and crossed Yankov Saddle, Struma Glacier and the pass between Atanasoff Nunatak and Maritsa Peak. Eventually they returned to Camp Academia by way Huron Glacier.

Progress update IV

Following a day of gale winds the Expedition work continued on 31 December, 2004 with survey of geographical features in Tangra Mountains. This included the first ascent of Zograph Peak (1011 m).

Progress update V & Some Thanks

The Tangra Team has completed its field work at Camp Academia, leaving Livingston Island on 4 January 2005 onboard the Russian ship Akademik Sergey Vavilov to reach South America on January 11. On 9 January they visited Half Moon Island situated in Moon Bay, Livingston Island, complementing their photographic documentation of the east extremity of Tangra Mountains and Vidin Heights."

In the process of their field work on the Island, L. Ivanov and D. Vasilev have covered either on ski or on foot an overall distance of some 200 km, mostly in harsh weather conditions and challenging unfamiliar terrain in Tangra Mountains, Bowles Ridge, Vidin Heights and the glaciers Huron, Kaliakra and Perunika.

The results of their work, that is to be processed and made available in the forthcoming months, include the survey of several dozens of geographical features as well as the first passage of new overland routes leading to remote interior areas of eastern Livingston Island now open for further exploration.

This successful effort has been made possible by the participation, material support and services of our partners whom we owe most cordial thanks:

Mitko Sabev and Misho Mihaylov for the major funding by Petrol Holding;

Ivan Vasilev for the transportation of expedition equipment between Sofia and Ushuaia by TNT;

Gerasim Slavov for the invaluable Mtel satellite phone link;

Roumen Yanchev of Bulstrad for the insurance they kindly provided (which we thankfully never used);

Mr. Kosturkov from Polytours;

Boris Bekyarov;

Boris Chernev;

Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Stefan Dodunekov;

Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, Prof. Christo Pimpirev, Dimo Dimov, Yordan Yordanov and all our colleagues and friends at St. Kliment Ohridski base and Juan Carlos Primero base during the 2004/05 Austral summer;

Uruguayan Antarctic Program and the Australian company Peregrine Shipping for their logistic support in Antarctica;

Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and especially Minister Solomon Passy and Deputy Minister Katya Todorova;

Bulgarian Ambassador Atanas Budev in Buenos Aires;

Bulgarian Posts for their office Tangra 1091 operating at Camp Academia;

and all the others who have contributed in one way or another, last but not least Janusz Bugajski in Washington, Ruben Bahntje and Guillermo Alvarez in Ushuaia, prof. Todor Vardjiev and Maya Kostova, Neven Kopandanova, Nikolay Glawinchev, Asen Baramov and Borislava Lalova in Sofia.