Garduce is set to leave for Antarctica on Dec. 23 with stopovers in Japan, US mainland, Santiago in Chile before the jumpoff point in Punta Arenas, the southernmost city of South America.
“I feel excited because I haven’t been there,” said the 40-something climber who has been to all seven continents except the one in the arctic region.
The climb from the Antarctic base camp to the top could last a week or two, said Garduce, who has conquered Kilimanjaro in Africa (2002), Aconcagua in South America (2005), Everest in Asia (2006), Elbrus in Europe (2007), Denali Peak in North America (2008), Kosciousko (2008) and Carstenz Pyramid (2011).
“It’s not the climb actually but the weather conditions that is a cause for concern,” said Garduce, noting that he “cannot even afford to expose an inch of skin to avoid frostbite.”
Actually, Garduce has already summited seven but the Kosciousko expedition is sometimes being taken lightly since “kids have been there,” said GMA 7 executive Rikky Escudero, stressing that the path to the top “is paved.”
Vinson Massif has 24-hour sunlight but temperatures in the polar region can hit -30 degrees Celsius even in summer months.
Despite the odds and the risk of either getting killed or severely injured, the University of Santo Tomas alum said he “has learned how to set aside fear and anxiety” whenever he is on an expedition.
“The more you think about it, the more you get affected,” he said. “But fear is good because if you don’t have it, you’d be dead.”
Garduce will be joined by seasoned mountaineer Levi Nayahangan in the trek being supported by GMA and the Primer Group of Companies.
By NICK GIONGCO | mb.com.ph source
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