"There are a number of success stories in the history of the United States involvement in Antarctic research and logistics, and this is certainly one of them worth telling. . . . The word ‘Pioneering’ in the subtitle of the book is meaningful, for there are few pioneering feats remaining in Antarctica. This book will appeal to anyone with Antarctic experience as well as a general audience, the key attraction being that of adventure and an example of the concept of an idea that evolved into a major success."—John Slpettstoesser, Polar Times
“Nowhere in Antarctic literature is there another piece of exploration writing like Blazing Ice. It’s a firsthand account of a remarkable modern achievement but also a beautiful and profound meditation on the often disastrous conjunction of institutional culture with fieldwork. Everyone who plans to work in places wild and woolly should sit up and take notice.”—William Fox, Antarctic veteran and author of Terra Antarctica
“John Wright and his team’s mission raised the challenge of reaching the South Pole to a huge scale, well beyond that of past explorers. Wright’s rare combination of strong will and steady focus, coupled with his background in the science of geology, provides a near-perfect perspective from which to tell this story. To that mix, add humor, irony, and insight.”—Ted Scambos, lead scientist, National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, and Antarctic field glaciologist
“Blazing Ice is a tale of great accomplishment, and John Wright tells it well. He and his team faced danger, yet succeeded in their effort, not with stupid heroics or grandstanding, but with meticulous planning and step-by-step refinement of equipment, technique, and psychology. They drew on true courage, whose hallmark is a clear understanding of the danger, and a determination to accomplish the mission anyway.”—Tom Sawyer, senior editor, Engineering News-Record
“The day the traverse team arrived, the entire South Pole Station population anxiously scanned the horizon. A big U.S. flag flew above their lead tractor. They had just proved a route never before traveled, a monumental benchmark in Polar history. In Blazing Ice, Wright tells the story of this historic achievement with the same attention to detail that he applied to the project. His tale is laced with earthy humor that puts the reader right there in his crew.”—Jerry W. Marty, NSF Representative South Pole Station (retired), Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation