Important Things to Consider When in Antarctica

Icebergs are not the only association that can be done for Antarctica but penguins, albatrosses, and elephant seals as well. Considering how high, dry, and windy the continent is, it still remains to be one of the most spectacular sights with 10 pound tiny baby fur seals to 3 million tons in ice mounds that hold frozen water in massive amounts amounting to 3.3 billion gallons.

For their Christmas holiday, two well traveled teachers resorted to choosing Antarctica as their destination regardless of how the land has been described to be one of frozen rubbish and voyages that were tragic. Antarctica an unusual spot for a vacation, most would agree, but the only continent not yet visited by the globe trotting teachers. Not only have they devoted much time for such a trip but they also read about the explorer early on in a travel magazine.

Preparedness is something the women found out to be crucial. When you are planning on a day in Antarctica, the basic dress code would be inclusive of three pairs of socks, on wool, worn under 15 pound boots, insulated underwear worn under a regular set of clothes, a parka, and a covering of rubberized pants and slicker that are seamless and waterproof. One waterproof and one regular pair of gloves complete the list of clothes.

From cold feet, the situation can always develop into a case of frostbite. It is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Even though the ice was warming up to about a point above the freezing point and travel could be done on the breaking ice pack still the water was at 32 degrees. When it comes to air temperature, one Antarctic research station had a thermometer measuring it to be at 47 degrees. As nightfall came so did the snowstorms and sleet storms for the Explorer which was far different from its prior exposure to the sun.

Highly unpredictable weather as well as wind directed day to day itineraries were what the women were told about. Throughout their 24 days spent in the southern ice cap not once did they experience the 84 below wind chill that blasted through their hometown last Christmas.

Feared but passed was the Drake Passage. Claiming a lot of ships along the way is this passage going from the tip of South America in Cape Horn to the Antarctic Peninsula. Bunk seat belts were used by the women as they strapped themselves in for sleep during the 48 hour passage of the Explorer. Bruises were in store for one of the ladies.

Probably millions was the penguin count. A lady said that they had access to the penguins and their nests. The daily activity of penguins is fussing. Penguin watching was a fun activity. Plenty of seals were also there. With their open mouths, they scoot around. You may be in for a bite if you get close to them and their babies.

Magnificent is the way to describe the trip. The sky is the most gorgeous blue all the time, it's so clean and the water is so blue. Magnificent were the icebergs that ran up to three stories high and were as big as city blocks as they floated along with penguins. Considering the 1960s treaties, the old whaling stations they saw have been closed for two decades. In the South Pole they were able to see how the early explorers lived with the huts they left behind, a number of them also left old canned goods in these.

As their journey is mapped out, they have gone to Punta Arenas on the south end of Chile, the Shetland Islands, Antarctica, the South Orkneys, South Georgia, and the Falklands before heading back. Both see this as an unorthodox way of spending Christmas.

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