Damien Gildea
Encyclopedia
Damien Gildea is an Australian mountaineer and Antarctic explorer who climbed extensively in Antarctica, Nepal, Tibet
, Pakistan, Bolivia
, Alaska
, New Zealand and elsewhere. His Antarctic ascents include Mount Vinson, Mount Shinn
, Mount Craddock
, Mount Gardner
, Mount Bentley, Mount Anderson
(first ascent), Mount Press
(first ascent), and several other peaks in Vinson Massif
, Craddock Massif
and northern Sentinel Range
in 2001–2007, as well as Mount Friesland
and Mount Bowles
on Livingston Island in 2003. The high precision GPS data collected by his team was used in subsequent American and Bulgarian mapping.
In 2007 Gildea published the new 1:50,000 color topographical map Vinson Massif & The Sentinel Range including a number of new features named by the USGS.
In November 2010 published Gildea's new book Mountaineering In Antarctica: Climbing In The Frozen South.
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, Pakistan, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, New Zealand and elsewhere. His Antarctic ascents include Mount Vinson, Mount Shinn
Mount Shinn
Mount Shinn is a mountain 4660m in altitude, standing 4 miles southeast of Mount Tyree in the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Discovered on IGY reconnaissance flights in January 1958, and named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Commander Conrad S. Shinn, U.S....
, Mount Craddock
Mount Craddock
Mount Craddock is a large, bold mountain forming the south extremity of Craddock Massif in Sentinel Range, the highest mountain in Antarctica. It is linked by Karnare Col to Mount Strybing in the southern Sentinel Range...
, Mount Gardner
Mount Gardner
Mount Gardner is a mountain standing 1.5 nautical miles west of Mount Tyree in the W-central part of the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Discovered by the Marie Byrd Land Traverse party, 1957–58, under C.R. Bentley. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Harvey L....
, Mount Bentley, Mount Anderson
Mount Anderson (Antarctica)
Mount Anderson is a high mountain in the northern part of the Sentinel Range in Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica. Probuda Ridge is trending northeast of the peak, and Ellen Glacier and Embree Glacier drain its eastern and northeastern slopes respectively...
(first ascent), Mount Press
Mount Press
Mount Press is a peak rising to 3,760 m in the north-central Sentinel Range in Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica. It is linked to Eyer Peak by Zvegor Saddle, and surmounts Embree Glacier to the north and Ellen Glacier to the southeast...
(first ascent), and several other peaks in Vinson Massif
Vinson Massif
Vinson Massif is the highest mountain of Antarctica, lying in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, which stand above the Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. The massif is located about from the South Pole and is about long and wide. At the highest point is Mount...
, Craddock Massif
Craddock Massif
Craddock Massif is a mountain massif in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, in the Chilean claim of West Antarctica.-Location and highest point:...
and northern Sentinel Range
Sentinel Range
The Sentinel Range is a major mountain range situated northward of Minnesota Glacier and forming the northern half of the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica. The range trends NNW-SSE for about and is 24 to 48 km wide...
in 2001–2007, as well as Mount Friesland
Mount Friesland
Mount Friesland is the summit of Tangra Mountains on Livingston Island, in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The peak is rising to 1700 m sharp, and is heavily glaciated and crevassed. Situated 12.5 km northeast of Barnard Point, 9.7 km east-southeast of St...
and Mount Bowles
Mount Bowles
Mount Bowles is an ice-covered mountain of elevation 822 m, the summit of Bowles Ridge in eastern Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands. Situated 3 mi north of Mount Friesland to which it is linked by Wörner Gap. Coordinates and elevation given according to 2003 Australian GPS survey...
on Livingston Island in 2003. The high precision GPS data collected by his team was used in subsequent American and Bulgarian mapping.
In 2007 Gildea published the new 1:50,000 color topographical map Vinson Massif & The Sentinel Range including a number of new features named by the USGS.
In November 2010 published Gildea's new book Mountaineering In Antarctica: Climbing In The Frozen South.
Publications
- Mountaineering In Antarctica: Climbing In The Frozen South. 192 pages, 200 images, new maps, lists.
- Antarctic Mountaineering Chronology. New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, 1998. 110 pp. ISBN 978-0646361291
- Information on Ice: Seven years of first ascents and data collection in Antarctica. American Alpine Journal, 2007. pp. 98–105.
- Antarctic Peninsula: Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, second ascent of Mt. Friesland and New Altitude. American Alpine Journal, 2004. pp. 329–331.