January 4th - Antarctic Youth Expedition 2012

Students On Ice Antarctic 2011 — 2012

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

To read yesterday's journal entries, please click here:

Daily Journey Update - January 3

Scroll down the page to read today's journals and view photos!

Expedition Update - 4:30pm EST

A quick note to direct you to the Expedition Videos page to view seven new videos! Select a title to link to our Students on Ice Channel on YouTube to view these amazing new productions created by our talented videography team Pascale Otis, Alex Taylor and Grant Redvers!

We have also added new photographs to the January 1 and January 2 Daily Update pages. The ship team will send more photographs and journals for tomorrow.

SOI Headquarters team

Expedition Update - 1:00pm EST

Exciting news! We heard from the ship and they confirmed that the satellite system is re-connected and back online! The media team is in the process of loading new photos and videos. Once we receive these at headquarters, we will post the photos to the appropriate Daily Update Pages and the videos to the Expedition Videos page. We expect to have everything added to the website by end of the day! Stay tuned...

SOI Headquarters team

Expedition Update - 09:00am EST

Good morning! Below is the first update of the day from our Expedition Leader, Geoff:

Wow! What a day yesterday! In the morning our Captain navigated through dense pack and glacier ice. There was ice everywhere - Icebergs, Tabulars, Icefloes, Bergy Bits! We were blessed with blue skies and sun and flat calm seas. It was glorious. In the morning we went south to Snow Hill Island and then turned north towards the Peninsula. On the way we saw a lone Emperor penguin, lots of seals and more Orca whales. By late morning we experienced an incredible landing on a giant ice floe in the Weddell Sea. It took some ingenuity including a rope ladder, but we got all students and staff onto the floe and it was magic.

We had our third pod group meetings and discussed the importance of sea ice as habitat and in relation to modern climate change. We played a game of soccer à la Shackleton, and had 10 minutes of total silence. This was probably the most significant moment. The students are really starting to connect the dots. And lying on that icefloe with 500 metres of ocean below them, then now understand what sea ice is, why it is important to life on earth, and why we need to slow down global warming, and take better care of our environment. We also took our group photo on the icefloe (looking and feeling good in our Canada Goose jackets) and gave a loud shout out to everyone around the world that we must Protect the Poles to Protect the Planet. Did you hear us?

Sublime vistas of more tabular icebergs in Fridjof Channel and Antarctic Sound under sunny blue skies bookended another landing, this time on the continent at Brown Bluff. There we wandered past red-brown tuff cliffs embedded with volcanic bombs, hiked up on top of a glacier and observed an Adélie and Gentoo penguin rookery. We also cruised amongst icebergs and at the foot of the glacier. Throughout the day we saw Minke whales, Antarctic Terns, cormorants, jellyfish, petrels, Weddell and Crabeater seals, skuas, kelp gulls, southern fulmars, plankton, Adélie and Gentoo penguins.

Today we have another beautiful day. We have a well earned morning rest with some presentations and workshops, and then this afternoon we plan to make a few landings on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We are currently moving through a foggy Bransfield Strait and will soon reach the Gerlache Strait. The Gerlache Strait will lead us to Cuverville and Rongé Islands, a spot with incredible panoramic views of surrounding mountains, ice bergs, calving glaciers and wildlife. We usually see Humpback whales in this part of the peninsula, so we will be out on deck surveying the water surface for everything and anything!

When we land at Cuverville and Ronge Islands, we will have our first experience in a true Gentoo penguin rookery and will likely see seals and may even do another hike up to a beautiful lookout point.

The Education Program schedule for today looks like this:

0730 - Yoga (Clare & Danièle)

0800 - Wake-Up!

0830 - Breakfast

0930 - Presentation: Introduction to Antarctic Ice (Jeff)

1030 - Workshops:

           1. Musical journal keeping circle (Elin & Tony)
           2. Antarctic food chain (Garry, Santiago & Sonja)
           3. Antarctic photo assignments (Mike)
           4. Visual art (Pablo)
           5. Backcountry medical care/medical scenarios (Terry & Brenda)
           6. Living in the polar regions (David & Grant)

1230 - Lunch

1400 - Possible Afternoon Landing: Cuverville Island and/or Rongé Island

1800 - Possible Evening Landing: Danco Island

2000 - Asado BBQ Dinner

2130 - Evening Recap & Briefing

The energy, karma and passion on board is contagious. Antarctica is in everyone´s system. We are thankful to be here. And we thank all of you following us for your support and interest.

In the expedition spirit,
Geoff

STUDENT JOURNALS - JANUARY 4

Malaika Vaz

Goa,India.

Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica is a place that epitomizes beauty, tranquility, isolation, serenity and silence. Today when we were on this massive ice flow, each one of us was given ten minutes to reflect on our experiences on this expedition and just listen to or rather experience the pure moment. Never before in my life have I heard such uninterrupted silence.

*****

Stephanie Shimabuku

Astoria, New York, USA

Today we landed on Ronge Island and took a long hike surrounded by colssal mountains and glaciers. The snow was up to my knees and it was very steep and difficult, I struggled. I felt supported by the penguins climbing beside me. The outcome was amazing. The view from the top was stunning. We had a quiet moment and I laid down to look up at the sky and listen to the wind blow. For dinner we had an Argentina Asado. Yum! My day ended with two humpback whales feeding by the side of the ship.

*****

Leah Davidson

Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Bransfield Strait

Antarctica is probably the closest I will get to heaven before I die. Yesterday we awoke to the quiet ripples of perfectly reflective water. Spectacular displays of ice that merged glorious shades of white, green, and blue drifted by, and mountains stood dignified in the background, their snowy summits capturing the sun’s warmth and energy. Later in the morning, we climbed up onto an ice floe and enjoyed moments of solitude as the ship and its associated hum progressed onward. The staff and students could only glance around at the blue skies, blinding brightness, sticky snow crystals, and miles of water in every direction that separated us from life itself. It felt as though we were the last humans on Earth. Away from the ticking of clocks, over-packed schedules, and looming deadlines time slows. You learn to savour beauty when Gentoo penguin chicks meet for the first time and begin communicating in their secret language and when a Weddell seal raises its head to absorb the sight of Zodiacs filled with alien species. I hope that upon my return home I continue to savor these natural wonders. Breathe the fresh air. Watch the trees sway in the wind. Listen to the chirping of birds and the footsteps of squirrels foraging for nuts. Life is too short to be hurried.

*****

Alisha Fredriksson

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Danco Island

Step by step, we lugged our weary bodies further up the volcano. Rocks fell away continuously, pushed aside by our bulky boots. With burning thighs and a few too many pessimistic comments, we continued our trek, climbing higher and higher into the chilly air. As we neared the summit, we were rewarded with breathtaking and ineffable scenery. In every direction, all we could see was the vast Weddell Sea, adorned with numerous islands and countless fragments of ice. Following a display of flags and celebratory remarks, we posed proudly for photos.

Prior to our descent, we chose a quiet place to sit and take a moment of silence. As footsteps died down and the rustle of jackets subsided, I suddenly became aware of the penguins cooing and squawking far below me. My ears filled with the sound of nature, without distractions from someone texting or watching tv or playing a game. While we made our way down the volcano, I began to realize the value of disconnecting. I had not been attached to a phone, computer, or ipod for the past week. I had not been obliged to reply to anyone except for the people here with me. Each member of the SOI team had been fully present at all times (except during the occasional periods of seasickness) and fully devoted to forming friendships with each other. By unplugging from the synthetic world, we had enabled ourselves to form a priceless connection with the natural world.

****

Abhilaksh Sundaram

Sugar Land, Texas, USA

Danger Islands, Antarctica

Today was just amazing and it's only 2:20! We finally arrived at Danger Islands, and the views are to die for; massive icebergs, mountains the size of skyscrapers, and millions of penguins everywhere. We all waited for the ship to make a complete stop so the Zodiacs could be pulled out to cruise in. As soon as we made the stop, we were ready to go, though it took us a good bit of time just to get all the warm clothes on. The weather was much nicer today, and it was not snowing like yesterday. My Zodiac guide was named Santiago and he took us anywhere we wanted! We cruised around many icebergs that had many penguins on them, and around the ice where seals were waiting to feast as the penguins jumped off the ice. As we approached a cliff filled with penguins we encountered a very unfortunate event. Three or four snowy sheath bills attacked a vulnerable baby penguin that had been born just a few days before; they pecked its back and the little bird started to bleed. After bleeding a little, it lost its grip and the little guy tumbled down the hill. After that, there was no hope and the birds took the bird back home to feed its families. After cruising around many icebergs, we finally landed! The first thing everyone noticed was the abundant amount of penguins!!! Thousands of penguins welcomed us as we got off the Zodiacs. We will, however, always remember the obnoxious smell of the little birds. It was sooo fun exploring the island and making little penguin friends. I loved seeing the penguins and it was the best day of my life!

****

Emilie Welles

New York City, New York, USA

Today I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life. This evening we hiked to the top of a snow coverded mountain. It was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do, but also one of the most amazing. A while ago I was in a mass with my school and the priest told us about a thin place. This is a place where one feels close to God or some higher power. I'll tell you what, I found one.

*****

Juliana Zaloom

Staten Island, New York, USA

Today's first landing adventure was my favorite so far. Early in the morning, we were not able to go to Snow Hill Island because of a large amount of pack ice. Instead, while we were heading further south, we arrived at a large ice flow that was thick enough for us to land on. Once we arrived, we actually had to climb a ladder to get on the flow because of its thickness. Over 2 meters of solid ice and snow were above the water with an unknown amount below. The scene of the endless amount of white snow was how I actually pictured Antarctica and seeing that was very satisfying. Once all of the students and chaperones were on the ice, we gathered in pods, talked about our experience, and then laid down in the most beautiful silence I have ever experienced. Not one animal, person, or machine made a noise. That was the highlight of my day because I know that I will never experience something that serene, pure, and beautifully untouched for a long time.

*****

Selin Jessa

Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Approaching Danco Island

Our day in Antarctica was awesome, and it's not done yet - we just got back from our first landing of the day at Ronge Island, where we did a Zodiac cruise around a museum of icebergs carved by the sea and the wind. Then we settled into dry spot in our Antarctic classroom and Lacia taught as about some of the facts behind climate change, and how it's so important that we're able to communicate that to our communities. Planning for TEDxYouth@Antarctica is also well under way, and we've started planning our talks and the format and purpose of the event. It will be held sometime in the next couple days in Antarctica, and so far the enthusiasm has been incredible. Not much time to write today - we're having a snack before making a landing on Danco Island to climb up an ice cap and slide back down in true Antarctic adventure fashion. We'll come back to a traditional Argentine asado BBQ.

****

Alana Krug-MacLeod

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Four Poems:

Penguins

dirty smelly

excreting fighting cackling

messy penguins feisty penguins

swimming tumbling jumping

cute tiny

Penguins

— — — — —

Weddell Sea

endless timeless

inspiring gleaming freeing

soul sea sea soul

calming humbling beconing

forever limitless

Dreamscape

— — — — —

Sun shines

off shining jewels

suspended on

polished mirrors.

Icebergs

— — — — —

Where else?

Where else

does the sky, sea and ice weave together

in an endless dance?

Where else

is exposed rock

an oasis?

Where else

is ice the center of life?

Where else

is beauty, survival, and fragility

pushed to the extreme?

Where else

could it all disappear

in the blink of an eye?

*****

Justine Wild

Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Antarctica is truly incredible. There is so much beauty here. Yesterday was really an amazing day. The sun was shining, the water was clear, and there were many magnificent icebergs! Today has been great! The talk that Jeff gave on glaciology was really compelling and it seems like something I would like to learn more about. I also went to a workshop on living in the polar regions, with David and Grant. And now I'm realizing how many interesting and different careers revolve around the polar regions. I really want to continue learning and seeing as much of Antarctica as I can!

******

Mary Williams

Masterton, New Zealand

Today was AWESOME. We made it to the Danger Islands! We cruised around in the Zodiac and went right up to a small iceberg with a penguin. A leopard seal was circling it. It was TERRIFYING! I still can't believe how close we got to an actual leopard seal! When we went up to the cliffs we also saw Sheathbills attacking and killing a baby penguin. It was so sad and close! I wanted to go and save it, but I couldn't It’s just the circle of life. We went on land soon after that, and that's where the experience got SO much more amazing. We were able to sit on the snow and rocks among half a million penguins just going about their day around us! I couldn't believe how incredible it was. The feeling that I was actually in Antarctica seeing penguins in the wild- it was unreal. This has got to be the best day EVER. I don't want to go home, yet I can’t wait to tell my family all about it!! Bring on the next week!