Part 2: Skiing Antarctica, the End of the World

This is Part 2 of Ambassador Dr. Ira Evans' journey through South America and Antarctica. Read Part I here. 

Ira Evans decided to ski to the end of the world. The journey stretched from Argentina to Patagonia, then from Ushuaia, a town on Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the southernmost tip of South America, to Antarctica. Ira hoped for turns, but he realistically divided the mission into thirds: one part skiing, one part wildlife, and one part taking it all in. 

When the crew hit Paradise Bay, they were rewarded a travel gift: a perfect ski day. Think bluebird skies, six and a half hours on the move, and over 3,600 vertical feet. Temperatures hovered around freezing: not cold, not slushy, just right. “That was the highlight,” Ira said without hesitation.

The team skied long lines above a sea of icebergs, then ended the day standing in the middle of a penguin rookery, taking a team photo surrounded by birds in every direction. There were guano and penguins everywhere—and stoke, too. 

Throughout the crew’s time on land, they quickly had to adapt to Antarctica’s strict policies. There’s no food allowed on land, and no stepping off the skintrack to pee. Boots and skis need to be disinfected, and skins are sprayed and dried before heading out on trails. The goal is to keep anything foreign from entering the ecosystem.

“It’s a pain,” Ira said, “but it makes sense. You’re in one of the last truly wild places.”

The following days blended into a rhythm: steep traverses with ski crampons, long climbs that softened into beautiful snow, slow navigation through crevasse fields, and big rolling descents back toward the water. Through it all, Ira noticed something unexpected: just how much his skis mattered.

“They handled everything,” he said. “Powder, crust, ice, windboard. That versatility mattered more than anything.”

Not every day was perfect. Some days were crusty and awkward. Some lines were abandoned halfway up. But the guides adjusted constantly, chasing better snow and better timing.

“Sometimes the best decision is turning around,” Ira said. “And then finding something better.”

After days of adventure, it was time for the team to depart. That meant once again crossing the Drake passage, and this time they were met with much rougher conditions. Waves crashed over the decks, and no one was allowed outside. Seasickness meds were passed around like candy. And yet, complaints were nonexistent.

This trip wasn’t about bravado or proving anything, a common theme across all of Ira’s favorite trips. “This isn’t ‘look at me,’” he said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience with people I care about.”

His crew, dubbed “Team Boston,” has traveled together for years, spanning across Norway, Greenland, Japan, Chile, and Svalbard. Sometimes they stay in youth hostels or on ships with operating rooms. They focus on community over luxury, and in the process, find adventure along the way. 

“It’s about the people you’re with,” Ira said. “The turns are great. Being on a tiny island in Antarctica is incredible. But it’s about who you’re sharing it with.”

In this instance, the entire trip to Antarctica stemmed from a chairlift conversation about skis. “You learn from other people’s experiences,” Ira said. “It opens doors.”

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