We’ve had varying reactions when we tell people we are going to Antarctica. Some – particularly my scientist friends and others active in the environmental community – respond with excitement and jealousy. Others stare blankly and ask why we’d ever want to go there.
So how did we decide to go to Antarctica? Well, Dad and Mom were on a cruise last winter that went around Cape Horn at the bottom of South America. They had an opportunity to take a very expensive flight over Antarctica, and while they opted not to do it, some of their friends did take the flight. It sounded like their stories were enticing (the views) yet harrowing (the flight). When my parents got back to Vegas, we started having daydreamy conversations about Antarctica – when would we all be able to go, would other friends want to go, where do we even start looking for a tour company. Mom pretty quickly decided she did not want to go, given the potentially harsh conditions both on the ice and on the ship (we’ll be crossing the Drake Passage – one of the most notoriously dangerous stretches of sea in the world). I decided that this last year of graduate school was probably the most likely time for me to take a trip of this kind, given that I will (hopefully!) be in a real job starting next year and may not have this kind of flexibility. Dad started looking into tour companies with the help of a travel agent friend. Based on several good recommendations, we had mostly narrowed it down to Lindblad Expeditions. I started checking out their website and quickly found my new procrastination tool:
http://www.expeditions.com/Itineraries45.asp?Expedition=128&Destination=283
For a while, I couldn’t stop daydreaming about it. And then Dad made the reservation and I had to pinch myself to remind me that we were going to Antarctica! I feel so grateful and privileged to get to go on this journey, for several reasons. As a scientist who studies climate change, I feel it is important for me to see a region of the world that is changing rapidly, as polar temperatures are increasing more quickly than those in other parts of the world. As a traveler, Antarctica is intriguing because so few people on earth ever get to see it, and it’s sort of the ultimate adventure. And as a wildlife enthusiast, I can’t wait to see penguins, whales, seals, and lots and lots of ice. Lindblad Expeditions partners with National Geographic for their Antarctic expeditions, which means there will be scientists and naturalists on board, along with observation equipment, to help us learn more about the ecosystem and natural history. I’m already predicting that I’ll be the annoying guest who asks too many questions.
Both Dad and I have been gathering our gear in the last few weeks. While my extensive collection of gear from my REI days meant that I did not need to buy much, I was quite excited to purchase the #1 item on Lindblad’s packing list: Wellington boots. And not only are they Wellies, but they’re ice blue (how cool is that??!):
We leave in less than two weeks (expedition dates: December 9-23). The first leg of the journey is a very long flight to Santiago, Chile, via Atlanta. The next day we fly to Ushuaia, Argentina, where we board the ship and start across the Drake. My intention is to update this blog as often as possible, especially with pictures, but Dad also warned me that Internet access may be very spotty. We’ll do our best, though, as I feel it’s important to share our experiences with others. Next time...from the ice!
