Year of the Cock Expedition - Queen Maud Land, Antarctica

In October 2005 renowned climber Mike Libecki traveled alone to Queen Maud Land, Antarctica to attempt the first ascent of its remote and unclimbed walls, towers, and spires. Striving for man-powered, self-supported travel, he solo kite-skied across the frozen landscape to reach his climbing destination, towers of treacherous granite.

As the gales of November whipped and thrashed my fragile nylon tether I felt like a lone sailor out at sea. But the sea I came to explore was clear-blue solid ice, and my sail was connected not to a mast but to a kite tethered to skis and sled. I came here to reconnoiter and climb amongst massive clusters of granite walls - remote, rocky islands, both threatening and magnificent, encased in the icecap of Antarctica. These small islands of pure granite are bouquets of the most uniquely shaped walls and towers blooming out of vases of ice.

I arrived in what would be considered early season to climb stone here. I flew from Cape Town to the Russian base Novolazarevskaya Station. When I stepped onto the ice tarmac it was October 31st - Halloween. The sun was below the horizon and the temperature was minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit without factoring in 60 mph winds. I hoped the early season would be better – warmer – than I had anticipated. Before my sixth step onto the frozen continent my face was numb and my nostril hair had turned to ice.