Tag Archives: IAE2013

Antarctica: Land Ahoy!

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Land ahoy! Just on the horizon is Smith Island. Also caught sight of our first iceberg. Not long now before we arrive and make our first landing on the Antarctic Peninsula. Continue reading

Our First Glimpse of Orcas

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What a rush! A few minutes ago we heard a message over the intercom system – “We’ve just been told orca have been spotted at 11 o’clock, port side. ” I was napping at the time, but as soon as I heard the announcement I put on a hat and raced outside. Sure enough, the orcas were there, and I managed to get just one picture before they disappeared into the water (above). I’ve seen orcas at water parks before, but the experience is completely different when seeing them in the wild.

The usual scene whenever whale sightings were announced – it was always a race to see who could get the best view

The usual scene whenever whale sightings were announced

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Sailing Through the Drake Passage: No Turning Back

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Throughout the night, I could hear doors slamming shut and large items falling to the ground, but it wasn’t too bad. The drawers in my closet kept opening, and I could hear the hangers in the closet moving from one end to the other.

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Standing out on the deck, for as far as the eye could see, it was open water – no turning back now.  Continue reading

Journey into the Unknown: Life on the Sea Spirit

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One last team photo, just before we left for Antarctica

The time has finally arrived! As the Sea Spirit pushed away from the dock, there was an initial cheering from everyone on the expedition, but then, it was almost as if the weight of knowing what leaving Ushuaia meant hit everyone all at once; there was a moment of silence and reflection. The view from the Beagle Channel was spectacular though. Continue reading

Training and Team Building for IAE2013: Martial Glacier Hike

Good morning, Ushuaia!

What an exhilarating morning! Woke up to another beautiful sunrise, and after a quick breakfast, Team Malcolm* was up an out the door for our Martial Glacier hike. Weather conditions were perfect, and although there were a lot of small loose rocks and a steep climb, we all made it to the top without incident. Go team!

Team Malcolm on the Martial Glacier hike

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Waking Up in the Southernmost City in the World: Ushuaia, Argentina

Waking up in Ushuaia this morning, the sky was just glowing. The view from our room was absolutely breathtaking – all the hours spent traveling here (plus all the stress) was worth it. Continue reading

White Wilderness: Antarctica

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Two years ago at the end of February, I found myself on an adventure to the south. And when I say south, I mean waaaaay down south. I packed up my bags and traveled thousands of kilometers, eventually ending up in the pristine environment of Antarctica. In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more of my journey, based mostly from journal entries written while I was sitting out on the ice. Stay tuned!