| 'NOVA:
Mountain of Ice'
With Liesl Clark
Producer
Conrad Anker Expedition Leader
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003; 1 p.m. ET In January 2001 an eight-person NOVA team stood atop the highest peak in Antarctica, having arrived by a difficult, unexplored route over glaciers that hold clues to the future of Earth's climate. NOVA's Mountain of Ice recounts the thrilling mission -- that included "Into Thin Air" author Jon Krakauer and noted mountaineer Conrad Anker. Producer Liesl Clark and expedition leader Conrad Anker were online to discuss the expedition and the documentary. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Boston, Mass.: What kind of preparation does an expedition like this take? Physically? Psychologically? Financially? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: CA: Physically the best way to prepare is to not get out of shape. A good level of fitness throughout your life. Equipment wise one needs to be confident that the material one brings to Antarctica will be sufficient because if you don't have the right gear you can't go to the store. Antarctica is an expensive place to visit. We were there on behalf of NOVA on a science project which makes things a little easier.
Seattle, Wash.: The Web site and your intro imply that glacial research was conducted on the expedition. What sort of research did you do and what were the results? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: We did an accumulation study which means that we were studying the annual rates of snowfall each year every few thousand feet of elevation we gained. This is information that no one has ever been able to gather in the highest mountains so our team tackled it because we had the technical instruments to go there. Why study this? Because scientists want to know how much snow is gained or lost each year on the continent. This is an indicator for scientists of global climate change.
Boulder, Colo.: In case of injury, what was the plan of evacuation and how far was the closest airstrip? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: CA: In case of injury the first priority would be to stabilize the patient and them move the person to a suitable landing zone. We had three or four options on the glaciers as we climbed. If the situation required a rescue we would be able to call a plane in.
LC: The nearest airstrip is 220 miles away at Patriot Hills, home of two Twin Otters and a Cesna 185 - the only aircraft available for thousands of miles.
CA: The planes are equipped with skis and can land in many places. The challenge is getting fuel for these aircraft. Patriot is the only fuel info.
Somewhere, USA: How did you deal with oxygen depravation? Was it similar to an Everest ascent? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: AC: The altitude of the Vinson Massif is not that high in comparison to Everest. We didn't have any problems with acclimatization.
CL: I don't know about you, but I felt it on summit day.
AC: Even thought the summit of Vinson is 4,897 meters the relative oxygen content would be that of a thousand meters higher due to the fact that oxygen is thicker at the equator than it is at the poles.
Missoula, Mont.: I've read everything in your terrific Web site, and I can't wait to see the show. Mr. Krakauer and Ms. Clark's comments are very enlightening. Clearly this was a world class team that accomplished something extraordinary. But it seems to me that the cameraman and soundman are given short shrift. Krakauer and Clark both express concerns that the camera team's lack of experience might have jeopardized the expedition, but I don't believe anyone had to carry them to the top. They must have had to put one foot in front of the other and gutted it out all the way to the peak just like the others. What's more. the cameraman and the soundman had to have the fortitude to pull out their gear in -35 degree weather and document the trip. In doing so, they have brought back unique, even spectacular, imagery and audio so that the rest of the world can vicariously experience and enjoy Vinson Massif and Antarctica. Are they not every bit as much the heroes of this trip as anyone else? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: No question The camera duo of Rob Raker and John Armstrong deserve the highest credit for what they have done. The problem with filmmaking is that the camera team is behind the camera and, in essence, behind the scenes. Jon Krakauer's comments about the lack of skill of the camera team actually refers to me. Rob Raker is an accomplished mountaineer.
CA: He has climbed the Cassin on Denali
LC: He is a superb rock climber and can climb with the best of them. John Armstrong is and excellent athlete and can take on just about any conditions and also deserves much credit for the cinematography in the film and his perseverance in continuing to Vinson's summit. Conrad however carried the camera to the summit and Andrew McLean carried the tripod. No small feat. So really the entire effort was a team effort.
Washington, D.C.: Why take a new, unchartered route up Vinson? Is it for the adventure of it or was there a research/scientific reason for the new route? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: CA: Our expedition was the first to traverse from the East to the West up the mountain range and while our primary objective was the snow accumulation study, it is also good fun to do new routes.
LC: And the chance to bring back pictures from an unexplored wilderness.
Houston, Tex.: Liesl, as the producer of the program airing tonight, is there anything in particular that you would like us as viewers to know before watching? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: Yes, you will hear Jon Krakauer's voice throughout the film as a first person's narration. As an aside that you might be interested in, this was not recorded in a studio back at sea level but were Jon Krakauer's real words throughout the expedition recorded in a tent kicking back and shooting the breeze. But a very elegant narrative about what motivates people to step into the unknown and an intimate look at the difference between success and failure in Antarctic exploration.
Another hot tip is that Conrad doesn't usually cook the way at home as he does in Antarctica.
Washington, D.C.: Looking forward to the show tonight. I'm curious in how big the jumps are in mountaineering from doing peaks in the Continental US such Rainier or Hood, and larger peaks with more extreme weather such as Vinson, Denali, Aconcagua. Is there a steady progression of difficulty or are their various strata of mountains with large leaps in ability and risk to go to the next stratus? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: CA: The best way to look at climbing these mountains is in a building block type of analogy. The experience from the first climb builds to the next time so with each subsequent climb you are able to try something al little more challenging. I would not recommend trying Vinson or Aconcagua or Denali as one's first climbing objective, as the mountains are very even in their treatment of people. It doesn't matter how good or bad you are as a climber if you make a mistake you will have to pay the consequence.
Rochester, N.Y.: In Antarctica, everyone is concerned about hypothermia, frostbite and other injuries. I have not heard dehydration mentioned. Is dehydration a special concern, since the climate is extremely dry? Does one need to drink substantially more fluids? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: Antarctica is the driest continent on earth so hydration is always an issue. The cold and altitude will also contribute to dehydration.
CA: Hydration is important in any climbing endeavor regardless of where it is.
Champagne, Ill.: Liesl: I read your producer's story on the Web site and am looking forward to tonight's broadcast. I'm curious: do you have some amazing place that you've been thinking about that you'd like to go to to make your next film?
Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: I love the high mountains and I am always looking for new untraveled locations and stories that need to be told. But perhaps the next couple of films will find me closer to sea level. I am however working on a series of mountain science films at the moment on Mont Blanc and Denali.
Denver, Colo.: Mr. Anker. I know you've spent much of your life as a mountaineer. With all of your climbing experience, do you still get nervous at times? Is there anywhere you won't go? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: CA: Good question. Being afraid and nervous and scared is a very good thing. It is our self preservation instinct. We need to be aware of this. Places I won't go in the mountains are slopes that are threatened by either avalanche or serac fall (ice cliff).
Houston, Tex.: In looking at snow accumulations, how does one know if the accumulation is due to new snowfall or snow that has simply blown from a different location? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: My understanding is that most of the snow in Antarctica is not actually from where you found it. It is blown from all over the continent, but it all still adds up to a total mass balance of accumulation from ablation (loss).
Wakefield, Mass.: Did you have voice/data wireless communication during the trip to keep in touch with the media, employers, family, etc.? Is satellite technology available in the same ways it is in other parts of the world? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: We brought a satellite phone strictly for use for family and for rescue/safety purposes. It was a unanimous decision to not conduct a live Web expedition or any media communication because we needed to focus on the task at hand. But Conrad did slip in a quick call to his son Sam's third grade class.
CA: They thought it was cool.
LC: We did too.
Pittsburgh, Pa.: How are the conditions on Vinson similar to and different from those on Everest? Does the body need the same kind of acclimation to tackle Vinson? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: CA: Both mountains are cold mountains. The air is much thinner on Everest and it takes longer to the body to climitize there.
Barre, Mass.: What was the most difficult part of the climb? How many of the summits has Liesl conquered? Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: For me it was the 3000 foot head wall that we faced on the day before our summit day climbing up to high camp. It involved a little technical climbing but mostly climbing underneath huge seracs and a few small crevasses. But the thrill of being able to set up the camera in a few locations on the headwall and shoot high definition video of Conrad and Andrew ascending outweighed any weak knees that I was feeling.
I have climbed Kilimanjaro, an 18,000 foot peak in Peru, 16,000 feet on Denali and 24,000 ft on two routes on Everest but Vinson is the only peak is the only one where I have had the opportunity to try for the summit. All others meant that I had to be lower down making the film.
Liesl Clark and Conrad Anker: LC: We hope you all have a chance to see the film
CA: We are praying for peace.
© Copyright 2003 The Washington Post Company | 
