A radio amateur in France is planning a DXpedition to the Crozet Islands (FT5/W) for mid-December 2022 to mid-March 2023 with the call sign FT5WQ. Thierry Mazel, F6CUK, spent months getting permission to operate from the third most-wanted DXCC entity. TAAF, the agency that administers the French remote islands, is allowing a one-person operation. The Crozet Islands archipelago is divided into east and west. They once were the destination of seal hunters from the US and elsewhere. The last ham radio activity from Crozet was in 2009 by Florentin Bard, F4DYW, also as FT5WQ. The solo DXpedition is anticipated to cost as much as $58,000.

The Twitter account is @Crozet2022, and a website is expected to be online soon. When it's up and running, it will include details of how donated funds will be used, and Thierry pledges that all contributions will be refunded if the operation does not take place.

Crozet Islands, a subantarctic archipelago of small islands in the southern Indian Ocean, form one of the five administrative districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories. It consists of several small uninhabited islands of volcanic origin. The islands cover an area of some 195 square miles. The islands are now a national conservation area. Radio amateurs are not the only ones hoping to visit.

According to a description Thierry posted on the website of the IARU member society REF, "[T]he climate is particularly difficult, the islands of Crozet are strongly committed to the protection of nature (fauna and flora), and the prefect's offices are faced with a significant solicitation of visitor requests."

"Many obstacles had to be overcome," Thierry said.

While people are scarce, the islands boast a broad array of wildlife, including penguins, elephant seals, and giant albatross. In common with other subantarctic islands, the inadvertent or intentional introduction of alien species has proved a problem. Rats and mice arrived accidentally, cats were brought in to control them, and rabbits were introduced as food.

Mazel will release further details as they are available. -- Some information from Discover France