Not sure if I’m typically like this (you can tell me if you know me) but on this trip, I was pretty much up for any opportunity to viscerally experience whatever was on offer.
Example #1 – Camping.
Yup. There was an opportunity to camp for a night. On Antarctica. In a sleeping bag (no tent). On the ice (no platform like I had in Patagonia).
To be specific, sleeping in a bivouac (or bivvy for those-in-the-know) in a hole I dug out of the ice (~ 3 feet deep so you’re out of the wind).
That’s me in the blue sweater (I took off our supplied green coat so I wouldn’t overheat while digging the crispy snow that had never been touched by humans . . . heating up eventually leads to getting cold, a recipe for a not-pleasant sleeping experience).
Educational video for those who are curious about how to dig your little hole. And yes, you can make a hole big enough for 2 or 3, or even make a castle with snow bricks (!) as some of our camping companions did (those crazy Auzzies).
To prepare, there was much forewarning by the Expedition Leaders this would be uncomfortable, we really had to want to do it, etc.
- There were about twenty of us who went for the adventure: age range from ~20-72 years old, younger and older couples, a group of guy friends from Vegas (who brought pillows from the ship, o brother), singles (like me), mom and daughter combo (who were from Florida, had booked the expedition specifically to do this, and had never camped before).
- Sure it was cold . . . we were on Antarctica! Whaddya think?
- I must’ve fallen asleep at some point because I missed the humpback whale who kept us company, circling around the ship in the bay out front of us.
- Some people slept really well (the Vegas guys had their little hole beside me and they were snoring through the night . . . I guess the pillows really mattered).
- There was a latrine setup (but I don’t think anybody used it since we had to walk down from our little sleeping holes to the shore where it was placed, in full view of the ship).
- The sun didn’t set. I woke up ~ 3am and the moon was out in the twilight.
- When we were done we filled in our little holes to restore things as much as possible.
- And Yes, IT. WAS. FANTASTIC!!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Vista while I was snug-as-a-bug in my little hole.
Example #2 – Full Immersion.
The Polar Plunge i.e. the South Pole Plunge.
It’s apparently a thing one does. So I did it. A little like that “if somebody jumped off a bridge would you follow them?” but a little more mindful.
When I shared this video with my husband and daughter (who had no interest in coming to Antarctica) their response was “why?” to which I replied “and that’s why I’m here and you’re not”.
Yes, it was cold. Really cold. I was surprised because everyone before me had said “it’s not that bad! It’s refreshing!” But something funny happened after I came back in (there was a whole team to give us our robe, footwear, hot drink) and went up the stairs — instead of shivering my body started to feel really good. Maybe those cold-water-immersion people are onto something.
Example #3 – Kayaking.
Being self-propelled on the water is pretty great anytime, but doing it alongside icebergs, penguins, seals, spectacular scenery, and whales? UNBELIEVABLE!!!
All right. Stay tuned. One more Antarctica post before heading back to South America.
Leave a Reply