My Antarctic Adventure

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Antarctica …… that wonderful place at the bottom of the earth. The highest, driest, coldest continent on the planet. The most forbidding, yet the most beautiful. A land of penguins and seabirds, seals and whales, and ice……. lots of ice in shapes and sizes and hues that dazzle the eye and take one’s breath away.

INTRODUCTION

The most frequent question I get when people find out that I am planning a trip to Antarctica is,”Why?”

Generally, my answer is simple, “Why not”?

But really, there is so much more to that answer.   Those who know me well are familiar with my adventurous spirit. From the age of seven, I was ready to leave home and explore.  Circumstances (primarily childhood) prevented me from embarking upon my first real adventure until the ripe old age of 21 when I left my home in Ireland for the USA.  Settling into a career and marriage like most young people filled my days, but “wanderlust” was ever present in my dreams.  Always an avid reader, my desire to know about other people and faraway lands was somewhat satisfied through the myriad of books that lined my shelves. But soon it was not enough. I was consumed with the desire to visit and explore all corners of our planet (and beyond if possible!) and so began my travels in earnest. I had already explored Europe and North America.  Soon, South America, Australia and Asia followed; each continent and country leaving a profound impression on me.  My climb to the summit of Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2007 was not just a physical feat but an emotional and spiritual one for me too. It was also an exciting time here at HRIMS when the children, as part of a fundraising effort, made banners for me to take to the summit.  Upon my return home, I now realized that I had but one more continent to visit before my restless soul could be tamed (if ever).

After several years of research, my partner Jim and I finally chose our expedition vessel - the ice breaker M/V Polar Star. Along with 4 traveling friends we will embark on our journey January 26, 2010 to explore the Patagonia region of Chile before boarding our ship in Ushuaia, Argentina on February 4 for the Antarctic.

We have no idea what adventures await us. We have learned over the years that it is generally the unexpected, the mishaps, and the “off the beaten track” experiences that we most remember about our travels.  The people, especially the children, are the ones that touch our hearts.  We always try to leave some positive impact on the communities we visit, be it school supplies for the children  in Africa, first aid kits for the villagers in the Amazon, a monetary donation to a needy orphanage in Tibet, knowing that it is insufficient compensation for the “riches” we take with us.

AND OFF WE GO…!

HRIMS students will “accompany” me on my journey. Already, the elementary children are busy researching the Antarctic region, learning about the terrain, the wildlife that inhabits the area and the delicate balance that is necessary to sustain life. Antarctica affords us no opportunity to give to a local community, at least of humans! Yet Antarctica has its own challenges.

In 1959, The Antarctic Treaty established Antarctica as a zone of peace and science, its main functions being to protect the wildlife, and respect protected areas and scientific research.   During the next few months the children will have many opportunities to continue their research and to explore how they too can contribute to conservation efforts.