Remote

I want to set the scene. Imagine… Extreme low temperatures, limited food, limited fuel, tents, blizzards, wet clothing and bedding. This all sounds bad enough. But imagine if this is all experienced on a journey in darkness. “The Worst Journey in the World” was written by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. In it he shares with us his experiences during Scott’s Last Expedition during the years 1910 to 1913. I have to admit, before reading the book, I thought that the name of…

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The time of departure is fast approaching, and I am getting excited. As my preparation tasks are being completed one-by-one, there is, however, still an ocean of reading which I would like to wade through before I go. I am now in the middle of reading Roland Huntford’s biography of Shackleton. After the last few books which were written by the explorers themselves, reading an account of someone else’s life is a totally different experience. In any case, I feel…

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(And how I made sure it was waterproof) When I mentioned to a friend that I would be wearing Glen’s heavy duty sailing gear on my trip, he suggested that I might want to test that it was still fully waterproof. Apparently, over time, and after much use, it is possible that the material may perish. So, I came up with a plan. And I needed an assistant with just the right amount of recklessness, tinted with some serious commitment,…

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The ice of the Antarctic continent consists of the grounded ice sheet (layers of ice on top of bedrock), floating ice shelves, glaciers and frozen streams. The grounded ice contains by far the majority of the Antarctic ice. However, it is in one particular ice shelf that I am most interested (for obvious reasons!): The Ross Ice Shelf, or “The Barrier” as it used to be called. “As we approached the land under all studding-sails, we perceived a low white…

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I have just finished reading “The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, and the title of this post is a quote from this book.  I confess that it has brought tears to my eyes. I already have two other half-finished posts, just waiting on some final research and editing, but I can’t wait to share the emotions which this book has inspired in me. This is absolutely due to Cherry-Garrard’s writings, and the insight he has given to…

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The fact that I embrace in my life, wholeheartedly, the mighty importance of the humble list, is standing me in good stead for this trip. And technology has taken list-making to a whole new level. Imagine the power this gives to a person striving to reach excellence in organising. It is an art form, with endless creative possibilities. Folders. Sub-lists. Links. Oops, I digress. My next challenge is to gather together all the clothing I will need. And surprise, surprise…

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“The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action” Huxley (quoted in “The Worst Journey in the World” ) I have a long list of books to read. I have already read four. And each one adds to my awe of what these men achieved. From…

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Well, I have been thoroughly enjoying the preparation so far. That is the fantastic thing about a trip of this kind. You usually need to book so far in advance, that there are unending opportunities to revel in the anticipation and the planning, not to mention the research and discovery, which surround a destination like the Antarctic. I am running the risk of boring my friends and family with my constant prattle about interesting things I have learned and what…

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I can imagine that travelling to Antarctica might be on most people’s lists of things they want to do. But what is it which makes someone actually book the trip, and which part of the Antarctic do they choose? For my part, there are a number of reasons why I have chosen to travel to the Ross sea region of the Antarctic. The first is that I am in need of an adventure! For those of you who already know…

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