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 Expedition Update
7:30pm, December 30th
We are presently 35,000 feet above the Andes Mountains, about to land in Santiago, Chile. Our arrival to Buenos Aires was a fast and furious one. And a hot one! It was a shocker to walk out into the 32 degree Celsius (90 degree Fahrenheit) weather. A very tight connection meant some running was in order to catch our flight, but we all made it.
Our group is now a bit smaller. In Ushuaia, we said goodbye to Frances, Fletch, Scobie, Santiago, Cecilia, Martina, Juliet, Howie and the Captain and crew of the Polar Star. In Buenos Aires, we bid farewell to Adelina, Mark, Ashley and Daniel who were either staying in Argentina or moving on overseas.
So here we come! Heading north with mixed emotions. It was definitely hard to leave the clear big skies, mountains and fresh air of Patagonia this morning. We will be arriving to Miami at 5:00am on Dec.31st, and from there getting students to their connecting flights home. If you are picking your son or daughter up at the Miami airport, please meet us at the American Airlines departure check-in area between 7:00am-9:00am. If you need to reach us please call my cell phone at 1-613-297-3142.
The expedition has been a tremendous success. So many highlights. So many moments. And each a privilege to experience. Although it is the end of our trip, I think most of the students realize that this is just the beginning of their much longer journey… The journey of life. A journey where they will hopefully follow their passions and dreams. A journey in which as individuals they will live well, and make a difference. And I hope that this experience will help them with their navigation on the road ahead.
Thank you for sharing our Antarctic Expedition with us. I hope you have enjoyed and gained some new knowledge and understanding as well. Please stay tuned in the days ahead as we update the website with lots of photos and information.
In the expedition spirit,
Geoff Green
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An earlier entry, just arrived ...
December 27, 2004 After leaving our protected anchorage we made our way towards Danco Island for first landing of the day. An overcast sky and light snowfall added to the mood Antarctica was displaying. Antarctic is a place of many moods, and you soon learn that they can change quickly.
Our surreal morning was disturbed when we got a call on the radio from a large passenger ship to inform us that they were in our vicinity. Sure enough about 30 minutes later we saw this giant cruise liner emerge from the Errera Channel and pass us by. The disturbing part of seeing this ship is that very fact that it is here in the Antarctica. It has only been in recent years that large cruise ships have started making trips to the Antarctic. This particular one carries 1,300 passengers on board. They do not make landings with their passengers but instead simply cruise around the Antarctic channels and bays for a few days before heading back to South America. The concern with these big ships is that they are not ice-class vessels, and if and when an accident occurs, it could potentially have a major impact on the Antarctic environment. Not to mention the challenge of rescuing 1,300 passengers. It is my opinion that only small ice-class vessels should be allowed in the Antarctic. I mean what if a 1,300 passenger, non-class vessel gets stuck in the ice? The Polar Star will not be able to come to the rescue, that's for sure.
Our landing at Danco Island included a visit to a Gentoo penguin rookery, a hike to the top of the island, and an encounter with our first Fur seal. On the way back to the ship we went on Zodiac tours amongst the many icebergs that dotted the Errera Channel.
Back to the ship for lunch, and then we repositioned to our afternoon landing site at Neko Harbour. This was to be the final landing of our expedition and we could not have picked a better spot then this magical corner of the Antarctic. It was a great place for everyone to stroll along the rocky beach, find a place to themselves and just observe, absorb and reflect. A place to feel and listen to the Antarctic. Neko Harbour is surrounded by a dynamic and towering glacial wall, backdropped by sheer cliffs and mountain peaks. A colony of Gentoo penguins and a lone Weddell seal also added to the wonder and power of the site. Our entire team of Students on Ice climbed to the top of a glacial ridge for our group photo, and then everyone proceeded to slide down (some two or three times!) back to the beach. I cannot really do justice to the view, the feeling or the energy that we experienced that afternoon, but suffice to say nobody wanted to leave. For many it was the moment went Antarctica and the expedition experience was starting to really sink in….It was a moment were many were connecting with the natural world…
That evening we began our northward journey. It was hard to believe our time in Antarctica was over. But at the same time, we bid Antarctica farewell, knowing that we had seen and experienced more than we had ever hoped for.
3:00am, December 30th
We are sailing along the Beagle Channel towards Ushuaia. Later this morning we will board our flight back to Buenos Aires and begin our long journeys home. What an expedition it has been! The last two days spent sailing across the Drake Passage, have been filled with lectures, workshops, meetings and much more. It's been a great time to wrap up the education program and to look at ways of using the expedition experience as a springboard for the future. We've addressed the issues of Climate Change and Sustainable Living, as well as more specific issues facing Antarctica. Today during a panel discussion on Climate Change, we had a fantastic exchange of ideas and viewpoints. It was great to see that the focus of conversation was not on whether or not we have a problem, but instead on what are the solutions!
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Posted: 9:30 am ET
Good morning from Ushuaia!
We are back! It is a gorgeous morning. Mixed feelings for sure. The excitement of heading home, but the sadness that our adventure is ending. We survived the Drake and had a very full program of education activities and wrap-up projects. In particular we looked at how we are losing touch with the natural world around us, and how threats like Climate Change need to be addressed asap in order to protect and conserve the ecosystems that sustain life on our beautiful planet. The students are definitely charged and inspired as they head north back to the "real" world. So look out families and world! We've got some future and present leaders here. You may find there is some pressure on you to live more sustainably, sell your SUV, use more energy efficent technologies, and much, much more! The students have committed to several initiatives such as the One-Tonne Challenge, our Carbon Neutral initiative with the Tree Canada Foundation, and the Recognition of Responsibility promise which is part of the Skyfish Project.
Last night was a great celebration of our journey! Many thank yous, speeches and presentations from staff, crew and students, songs, stories, laughs and sharing... The energy was charged, positive and fun. It was a great final evening. And it all ended with a great view of the southern cross in the night sky as we sailed down the Beagle Channel...
Unfortunately, I cannot write more right now, because our buses are rolling to the airport. I will send more from Buenos Aires airport!
In the expedition spirit!
Geoff
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Expedition Journals
This trip has been such a wonderful experience for me and all of my fellow peers. We have all done so many activities in the past two weeks. We've done everything from sledding down glaciers to watching Orca whales hunt a seal on an ice float. We have also done things like dodging icebergs, cruising around in bays, hiking up mountains, etc. One day we spent rescuing a Russian ship stuck in sea ice. That was fun to experience. Anyway, this trip was like no other trip I will ever go on. Not many people get to go to the Antarctic, and I'm very fortunate to be able to have gone. I've made many friends and we have all shared the same experiences that I will never forget. This trip will change my life forever. It will change the way I interact with people and the way I look at things happening in our world. I hope to take something away from this exciting expedition to use in my life. I also hope to come again to the Antarctic.
-Jonathan Leff
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It was sad to think that yesterday would be our last day in this magical place. I know it will be an experience I will never forget. These 5 days have been the best. I have seen a place where it has remained untouched by human kind for hundreds of years. To see animals in their natural habitat and shining blue icebergs in the clearest waters were images that will be kept in my mind for as long as I live. I am so grateful for having this opportunity that I know will be cherish because it made me see the world in a different perspective. Being able to sit on top of a mountain, covered with snow to listen, to feel, to breathe, and to see that peacefulness makes me feel so lucky. This amazing journey has opened my mind and allowed me to grow. I thank God and all those who allowed me to be part of it. Thank you!
Yesenia Esguerra
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Hi everyone!
Right now, most of the other students are out on the deck, looking for southern cross in the deep blue sky. In a few minutes I'll join them, but right now I want to take advantage of my last opportunity to write a journal entry. I don't have very long to write this, as it is already almost midnight, but after all the words of inspiration I just heard at our closing ceremonies tonight, I definitely feel like I have to write something. This trip has been a true adventure, and I think that it lived up to everyone's expectations. We have walked beside penguins, slid down glaciers, hiked up a volcano, swum in the cold waters of the Antarctic, rescued a struggling ship, and have seen a double rainbow over the Beagle Channel. We have all also had the opportunity to meet other students and teachers from around the world. I think everyone on this trip should be proud of themselves. There are a lot of people in the world who would either be too scared to go to Antarctica with a bunch of strangers, or who would be to close-minded to see the point. By coming to the South Pole, I think we have all proved that we are adventurous and open-minded people. I know some people called me crazy when I said I wanted to come here, and maybe they have a point. Maybe all of us are a little crazy for wanting to go to the bottom of the Earth. But you know what? I hope we are crazy. Crazy people make the world go round. They're the ones that come up with new ideas and who have the spirit to carry them out. So, crazy people, please stay that way, the world has enough normal people. Keep on dreaming everybody! And now, I'm going to head outside and look at the stars and the mountains of South America. Good night and good bye!
Katie King
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When I reflect back over the last few days and search for a change that has occurred within me, I find that I have lost touch with time. I no longer check my watch absentmindedly or even wear one for that matter. What need do I have for time anyway? With all meal and meeting commencements announced, time has no purpose. I don't need to be on time for school or catch a television program. I thought I would miss reading newspapers and following their stories, but I truly hadn't given them a second thought until now. I can just sit and be still.
Then I've thought about my distant home. I used to hate the boring, humdrum life, but now I am dreading a return to that loud life filled with people who don't know the power of this southern land or indeed that of their own natural surroundings.
Andrew Terwilliger
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Tonight is our last night on the M.V. Polar Star; it has been a peaceful home away from home - no television, internet or telephone use. Some might say this detachment is one from reality; however, we were engaged in our own reality - the one of nature. The theme of this trip, are we losing touch with nature, has made us all contemplate the actions we have taken in our lives. Everyone should have a trip like this in some point of their life; it awakens a new understanding and appreciation for all of nature, and a feeling of disapproval for how society treats it. On this trip, there has been an abundance of support from those who are working to help nature, contrary to the magnitude of those who destroy it back at home. It has definitely been nice to see so many people working to change our society into a more nature-friendly place.
Genevieve Fontanier, Texas
As we are completing our second crossing of the Drake Passage, the majority of us are beginning to feel less seasick and more excited about what lies ahead. I think that many people felt so poorly yesterday not because of the powerful swells that toy with our ship, but rather because they were upset about having to leave the majestic mystery of the Antarctic for their dreary existences back home. Today, though, many of our meetings have been about bringing what we have learned back to our homes and teaching those at home the importance of living with nature. As a result, many of us have been able to get up out of bed as our minds and hearts are sparked by ideas of what sort of a difference we can make. Tossing seas seem insignificant when revolution is in the works. Although the sky outside is grey, the atmosphere inside the ship is becoming charged with action and possibility.
-James Burgess, Sarasota, Florida
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Today I realized that it was my last chance to consume and remember that this great experience is coming to an end. I woke up at 6:15 and started walking around the ship. I never thought that this trip would end so fast. As I think throughout the day I also hang out with my friends gathering all I can before we leave even though we'll be with each other tomorrow and we can even instant message each other after the trip. I kind of got a great sense of feeling that this trip was right for me. When I heard Moe say that he feels that he belongs in Antarctica, I felt enjoyment of how he cares about this place. As I attended lectures and heard different perspectives of how we are losing connection with nature, I think of a way how I can reduce greenhouse gases from changing our environment. This whole day I felt like I was going to pass out soon. I didn't feel tired at all. It's just the way I felt. As I write this I get closer and closer to home. I can't wait to see my mom, sister, and my grandmother, who I feel thankful to have, and see their reactions on their faces when they see me. As I now retire to end the day I await the arrival home.
Kael Gil
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Our last day and night at sea will bring us into the beautifully scenic Beagle Channel. Flights home will not compare to our journey through the vibrant, mysterious and challenging Antarctic land and seascapes.
Last night being gently rocked to sleep by the rolling waves of the Drake Passage was soothingly comforting. For some it created queasy tummy rolling, sleepy eyes and the kind of head nodding that wakes one up quickly.
This morning I can safely report many of us are feeling much more alive and well!!!
Fletch began the morning with wild tales of life at sea and the many attempts by hundreds of sailing vessels to sail through the turbulent Cape Horn waters. Hundreds of brave men lost their lives in the deep cold sea waves while striving for adventure and a wage. Imagine being crew member signed on to a wooden sailing vessel with waves sweeping over the deck day and night, always being wet and cold, little rest as often all hands had to be on deck. Images of scenes from the film "Master and Commander" came to mind!!
Our passage could not in one instance compare to the hardships they endured.
Beware the mariners' tales you may hear as you greet your tired sailor[s] coming ashore as our hardships occurred while living in a cozy warm and dry and caring environment…aboard the Polar Star!!!!
Being able to experience the Antarctic was a Christmas gift I will want to savor time and time again just like a piece of my favorite candy!!!
Trudy Lum Chaperone
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Greetings to one and all,
I cannot believe it is already the last day of the voyage. It seems as though it was only yesterday we first caught a glance of the Polar Star from Ushuaia. This truly has been a remarkable trip. Everyday there is something new to see and discover. The days pass with surprising speed, filled with lectures, landings, zodiac cruises and hours out on deck just surveying the scenery. The time passes we see a different mood of the continent, from the time we left Ushuaia we say the rough seas of the Drake, the different penguin rookeries, bases, islands, peninsula, whales, seals….I could take pages just naming everything we saw. I don't think words or pictures could even start to give justice to this wonderful land.
For the past couple days everyone has been asking what our highlights were. This trip was a highlight that could not be broken in my mind. Everyday holds a new adventure and wondrous sighting that is so different from the last that they could not even be in the same category. The singing seal on the ice berg, the attack of the orca whales on the seal, the hike over Deception Island, swimming in the hot springs, the rescue of the other passenger ship… the list goes on forever. Also the absolutely remarkable people that I never would have met if I did go on such an adventure. Everyone with different interests, reasons for being here, personalities and lifestyles brought together.
I have not been writing journals very often, though for good reason, I have nothing to say. Even the greatest poets, in my opinion, could not paint an image of great accuracy in the mind. The masters have never painted a picture of the wind and ice accurate to its beauty. This land is indescribable; the only way to actually get an accurate glimpse is to experience it for yourself.
In my spare time, in between lectures, workshops, eating, sleeping and landings, I try to spend as much time as I can on the decks. I was out just a few minutes ago trying for the last time to soak in the beauty, when unexpectedly a wave crashed over the sides and soaked me down.
Another lecture is about to begin on climate change so I must depart. Farewell for now…
Jesse
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Today is our last full day on the boat. We've spent an odd nine days on the boat, coming in and out through Zodiacs, and I wouldn't trade one single moment for the world. I have been less than a foot away from a penguin in the wild and have seen a seal waddle into the sea with my own two eyes. Pictures couldn't suffice for the sights I've seen, and there is no way the scenery I've witnessed could be reproduced. The wind howling past my ear and the brutal snow blowing at my face can only be remembered in my mind. Brutally dragging myself up Deception Island was something I dreaded at the time but now I think how many people in the world will have that kind of experience. During one of my own personal rest stops, I sat and simply listened. I had never experienced such tranquil peace until that moment. I then believed I knew everything of what I thought the world was supposed to be; an undisturbed paradise. Human industrialization has ruined the world, but I suppose there must be sacrifice for progress.
I've made great memories with friends that I wouldn't have been able to find any where else than in this icy final frontier. I knew here I would be isolated from technology that I am accustomed to. During our visit to the Esperanza Base, I saw that families can survive here year round. I thought that they found amusement in simply the beauty of their surroundings, but I noticed they had a satellite dish for television. I was disgusted at this fact, but I thought if I were in their situation, I would need a TV once in a while. It's almost pathetic that we've become so dependent on technological advancements.
As this trip comes to a close, I dread yet anticipate my return to the media saturated world. Perhaps I will have the privilege to return to this paradise.
-Kelly Cheung
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Beginnings and Endings
Everything that has a beginning has an end.
How is that true?
We make all the advances in science and math,
but still cannot find a cure for the common cold?
People die every day, but politicians say that everything is going their way.
What can the world offer if people are constantly dying?
People's dreams live on, and then expire.
How can we change the world if we ourselves do not last long enough to live out our own lives?
That is why our life is full of beginnings and endings
Written By: Malcolm Alexander
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REFLECTIONS ...
You don't measure your life by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.
What is life without experience and people to share it with?
Antarctica gives us the wings we lack.
Never has the surreal been more real. Never has something made me feel the things you all made me feel in ten days. I wish you all nothing less than your every dreams to come true, love, and luck.
The loudest day in Antarctica is more powerful than the quietist day anyone else.
And some more photos ...
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