Antarctica Expedition

The Singapore Antarctica Expedition was organized with two main objectives, to climb the highest mountain on that continent and to reach the South Pole. Both objectives were met on 1 Jan 2000 at the dawn of the new millennium. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, the patron of this expedition, praised this endeavour as a "manifestation of the indomitable spirit of the people in Singapore."

Description
The Antarctica team comprised eight members, seven men and one woman, led by Khoo Swee Chiow, one of two Singaporeans who had successfully scaled Mt Everest in 1998.

To achieve the objectives, the expedition was broken up into two teams comprising of four members each. One team would attempt to reach the South Pole while the other targeted the ascent of Mount Vinson Massif, (4,897 m), the highest peak on the continent. Each member was expected to lug a sled weighing 160 kg in the 1,100 km trek to the South Pole, with anticipated temperatures of minus 60 degree Celsius and winds up to 300 km/h.

The South Pole team departed for Chile in October 1999. From their staging point at Patriot Hill, near Punta Arenas, the team began their 1,100 km trek. This team obtained its objective one day earlier than the deadline. The other Vinson Massif team left for Chile in December 1999 and attempted to reach the summit two weeks after establishing high camps. This team, however, missed its objective by a week due to bad weather.

Team members
Khoo Swee Chiow, Expedition Leader, South Pole Team Leader.
Robert Goh Ee Kiat, Expedition Secretary, South Pole Team Co-leader.
Dr Mok Ying Jang, Expedition Doctor, Vinson Team Leader.
Edwin Siew Cheok Wai, Vinson Team Co-leader.
Lee Ling Yen, Vinson Team Member.
David Lim, South Pole Team Member.
Kuak Nam Jin, Vinson Team Menber.
Ang Yau Choon, South Pole Team Member.



Author
Eugene Tan



References  
Eight make it to Antarctica team. (1999, 13 July). The Straits Times, p. 28.

Expedition shows indomitable spirit. (1999, March 13). The Straits Times, p. 3.

First Everest, now the Antarctic. (1999, January 11). The Straits Times, p. 1. 

We salute them. (2000, January 16). The Straits Times, p. 36.



The information in this article is valid as at 2001 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Recreation>>Sports
Events>>Historical Periods>>Independence and Nation-Building (1965-)
Mountaineers--Singapore
Singapore--History
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore
Sports, recreation and travel>>Outdoor life>>Mountaineering