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Audio Blog

This page contains a list of the audio messages and photos Lorenzo has sent to date using the satellite phone and SoMo 650 PDA; the voice recordings are MP3-encoded and use an embedded player to play them back.

Note that the images are small due to the very low data rate of the Iridium satellite system - even this size takes 3 minutes to transmit and we dare not try to send larger images in case the call is interrupted (even more than it is now). Once Lorenzo returns, we will post a gallery of larger versions taken from the camera's memory card.

Torres del Paine National Park transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Mon 12 Jan 2009 21:30 UK time
File size 15 kB
The horizion transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Mon 12 Jan 2009 21:30 UK time
File size 17 kB
The view transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Mon 12 Jan 2009 21:15 UK time
File size 22 kB
Glaciokarst transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Mon 12 Jan 2009 21:15 UK time
File size 15 kB
Two steppe transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Mon 12 Jan 2009 21:15 UK time
File size 25 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 11 Jan 2009 03:56 UK time
File size 4024 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 11 Jan 2009 03:35 UK time
File size 2099 kB

Continuation of final recording from Punta Arenas to thank the sponsors.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 11 Jan 2009 03:26 UK time
File size 936 kB

Final recordings from Punta Arenas to thank the sponsors that Lorenzo is very grateful to for their help over the 12 years of his Seven Summits challenge. Messages breaks off at the end.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 10 Jan 2009 15:20 UK time
File size 1176 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 10 Jan 2009 15:17 UK time
File size 1132 kB

Poor recording from Punta Arenas. Lorenzo is going to visit a few places before setting off for home.
Listen to Lorenzo. Recorded Wed 07 Jan 2009 21:41 UK time
File size 1138 kB

Poor recording from Patriot Hills.
Lorenzo celebrating transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Wed 7 Jan 2009 20:30 UK time
File size 17 kB
The sun transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Wed 7 Jan 2009 20:30 UK time
File size 10 kB
Lorenzo with the plane transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Wed 7 Jan 2009 20:30 UK time
File size 21 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Wed 07 Jan 2009 18:05 UK time
File size 1127 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Mon 05 Jan 2009 23:29 UK time
File size 2013 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Mon 05 Jan 2009 23:24 UK time
File size 1829 kB

Still at Vinson Base Camp, 2000m. Low fog preventing a flight back to Patriot Hills; will have to change his flight home from Chile to Italy.
Lorenzos blisters transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sun 4 Jan 2009 20:57 UK time
File size 13 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 04 Jan 2009 02:25 UK time
File size 2198 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 04 Jan 2009 02:20 UK time
File size 2052 kB

Recording from Vinson Base Camp, after more than 3000m of descent. Weather has gotten a lot worse; another group of climbers now at High Camp. Descent was difficult - see the photo of his blisters! Waiting now for a Cessna flight back to Patriot Hill.
Lorenzo and his group transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sat 3 Jan 2009 22:07 UK time
File size 12 kB
The view from the top of Mount Vinson transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Fri 2 Jan 2009 21:38 UK time
File size 12 kB
Lorenzo celebrating at the top of Mount Vinson transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Fri 2 Jan 2009 21:13 UK time
File size 13 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Fri 02 Jan 2009 20:28 UK time
File size 443 kB

Message from the summit! Lorenzo has finally completed the Seven Summits - only the second Italian in history to have done so.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Fri 02 Jan 2009 20:25 UK time
File size 338 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Lorenzo at High Camp transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Fri 2 Jan 2009 19:09 UK time
File size 16 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Fri 02 Jan 2009 00:12 UK time
File size 1259 kB

From High Camp at 3700m. Extremely cold - possibly -40 deg.C plus wind chill. The sun is shining through the sleet, so although cold, the weather isn't bad. Other climbers have arrived; hoping to summit tomorrow. Celebrating New Year rather bizarely with the other climbers from six different time zones.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Fri 02 Jan 2009 00:08 UK time
File size 1492 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Thu 01 Jan 2009 22:18 UK time
File size 353 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Wed 31 Dec 2008 19:27 UK time
File size 478 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Wed 31 Dec 2008 19:22 UK time
File size 1459 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Wed 31 Dec 2008 19:17 UK time
File size 1611 kB

New year greetings from Low Camp. They did an acclimatization climb to High Camp yesterday. Weather still very clear with low wind. High Camp tomorrow.
Lorenzo lying with some balloons at Vision Low Camp transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Wed 31 Dec 2008 19:13 UK time
File size 16 kB
Lorenzo with a peak transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Tue 30 Dec 2008 23:54 UK time
File size 16 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Tue 30 Dec 2008 16:49 UK time
File size 1248 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Tue 30 Dec 2008 16:43 UK time
File size 1381 kB

Recording from Vinson Low Camp. Weather still 'brilliant' - so good they were able to cook and eat 'al fresco!' Height now 2700m; GPS location 78 deg. South, 85 deg. West.
Lorenzo hiking up Vision transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Mon 29 Dec 2008 21:49 UK time
File size 15 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Mon 29 Dec 2008 16:20 UK time
File size 2047 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Mon 29 Dec 2008 16:15 UK time
File size 1797 kB

This message is unintelligable until about 1 1/2 minutes in. Recording from Vinson Base Camp - the first of three camps for the main climb. The weather is very clear and bright but as soon as the sun goes low in the sky, the temperature plummets. Location from GPS: 78 deg. South, 86 deg. West
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 28 Dec 2008 08:25 UK time
File size 1947 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 28 Dec 2008 08:12 UK time
File size 2047 kB

Lorenzo has been off on his own for a bit of an acclimatization climbing. Weather very fickle - currently windy but sunny - bright sunlight 24 hours a day. Distances difficult to measure - cannot judge distances by eye. Awaiting for good weather to fly to the base camp location for the climb. Location from GPS: 80.18 deg. South, 81.20 deg. West
Lorenzo arriving in Antarctica transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sun 28 Dec 2008 07:52 UK time
File size 13 kB
Antartica transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sun 28 Dec 2008 07:28 UK time
File size 15 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 27 Dec 2008 22:13 UK time
File size 2299 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 27 Dec 2008 22:12 UK time
File size 2499 kB

First recording from Antarctica. Lorenzo tries to describe his first experience of the white continent.
Some tents during a snow storm transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sat 27 Dec 2008 17:15 UK time
File size 11 kB
Lorenzo and his tent transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sat 27 Dec 2008 05:52 UK time
File size 19 kB
Lorenzo inside transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sat 27 Dec 2008 00:58 UK time
File size 20 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 27 Dec 2008 00:44 UK time
File size 616 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 27 Dec 2008 00:43 UK time
File size 624 kB

Lorenzo from Punta Arenas - but about to leave for Patriot Hills!
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Wed 24 Dec 2008 23:22 UK time
File size 1385 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Wed 24 Dec 2008 23:21 UK time
File size 1461 kB

Lorenzo still - unfortunately - not on his way to Patriot Hills yet. Winds very variable and gusty for a safe landing. Tierra del Fuego living up to its name - the land of wind and fire!
A boat wreckage transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Tue 23 Dec 2008 16:50 UK time
File size 16 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 21 Dec 2008 18:38 UK time
File size 850 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sun 21 Dec 2008 18:37 UK time
File size 845 kB

Lorenzo still in Punta Arenas after waiting 7 hours in the airport. Still too windy at Patriot Hills.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Thu 18 Dec 2008 21:51 UK time
File size 913 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Thu 18 Dec 2008 21:49 UK time
File size 975 kB

Lorenzo still in Punta Arenas due to poor weather at Patriot hills. Has been to the Island of Magdalena and Marta Island today, seeing more penguins and sealions.
Lorenzos selfie with some penguins transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Thu 18 Dec 2008 17:56 UK time
File size 18 kB
Lorenzo with a pack of penguins transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Thu 18 Dec 2008 17:56 UK time
File size 16 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Wed 17 Dec 2008 15:19 UK time
File size 470 kB

Lorenzo's flight to Patriot Hills delayed due to the weather - apparently its very windy and too dangerous to land on ice.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Mon 15 Dec 2008 20:54 UK time
File size 772 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Mon 15 Dec 2008 20:36 UK time
File size 995 kB

Very windy - makes it difficult to understand! Clearance has been given from the Antarctic expedition so Lorenzo is leaving shortly for Antarctica - equipment has gone on ahead.
A penguin transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sun 14 Dec 2008 17:09 UK time
File size 26 kB
The penguin hideout transmitted by Lorenzo via satellite phone Taken Sun 14 Dec 2008 17:04 UK time
File size 27 kB
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 13 Dec 2008 22:38 UK time
File size 631 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 13 Dec 2008 22:34 UK time
File size 197 kB

Messaggio in italiano.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 13 Dec 2008 22:33 UK time
File size 671 kB

Thanks to sponsors continued. Unfortunately its not uncommon for these satellite calls to be cut off part-way through!
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Sat 13 Dec 2008 22:29 UK time
File size 1463 kB

First message from Punta Arenas in Chile, South America, after his long voyage via Milan, Madrid and Santiago. Some of the other team members arrive tomorrow.
Listen to Lorenzo Recorded Wed 10 Dec 2008 20:27 UK time
File size 323 kB

Lorenzo's last recording before setting off for South America.

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Audio files converted using Audio Converter from AC Productions Ltd.
MP3 ID3 tags applied using GetID3.
Images batched processed by Pocket Phojo running on a Socket Mobile SoMo650, and transmitted via an Iridium handset.
Unless otherwise stated, all recordings and photos are Copyright © Lorenzo Gariano 2008 and are not to be used without prior consent.

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These pages are the personal responsibility of Lorenzo Gariano and the members of KMi who are supporting him. The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of the Open University. The University takes no responsibility for any material on these pages.