Before I went to Antarctica, I was told numerous times that I was crazy. People didn’t understand why I would want to go to one of the coldest, highest, and driest places on earth to see a bunch of ice. But what they also didn’t understand was that, to me, to simply hear the name Antarctica evokes images of great expeditions, astounding landscapes, incredible wildlife, and wild adventures. Antarctica is the Holy Grail for people who love adventure and travel. For me, this was the 7th continent, this was a dream of mine, this was an “earned right” to get to travel to such a remote place… and I actually really like ice.
Traveler’s say you have to earn the Antarctic. After travelling by boat for almost three days to reach the continent, I now know what they mean: You earn getting to Antarctica by sailing across the Drake Passage, the only unhindered flow of ocean on earth.
The Southern Ocean travels in a clockwise direction around the bottom of the planet, picking up momentum, storms, hurricanes, you name it, along the way. The most southernly tip of South America and the most northernly tip of the Antarctic Peninsula reach towards each other like Michelangelo’s angels in the Sistine Chapel, creating a funnel through which the wild currents must then squeeze themselves. This creates enormous swells.
Travelling to Antarctica was as much a mental test as a physical one. From bouts of seasickness across the roughest waters in the world (for me, this was due to drinking the ship’s entire supply of tequila with two friends), to exhausting treks to the top of glaciers and mountains. However, despite the challenges, you are rewarded with a truly unforgettable travel experience. Nowhere in the world can you journey to the world’s last great wilderness.
Top: Leaving the port at Ushuaia, Argentina
As soon as I stepped foot onto the continent of Antarctica, I experienced an array of “firsts.” Never had I seen icebergs and mountains so high and large, blues so blue or whites so blindingly white, smelled air so fresh and pure, seen weather change in literally the blink of an eye, etc.
Each day presented us with something different. The harshness of the elements dictated what we could and couldn’t do, but we were lucky enough to get to do excursions every day until the last afternoon when a huge wind storm hit. Each night, I stayed awake to watch the sunset over the mountains that would never come, seeing that during the summer, the sun never sets. Although this presented some challenges sleeping, since my body is used to waking up with the sun, my energy never seemed to dim.
The wildlife here was amazing as well. Whales circled and dove below us, leopard seals fed in between nearby icebergs, dozens of birds circled overhead, and thousands and thousands of penguins gave birth and nursed their young.
One of my favourite memories was stand-up paddling through the glaciers and icebergs. Being from California and being a surf instructor, I had no idea that this was even possible in a non-warm weather or warm water climate. I was lucky enough to not only paddle around for an entire afternoon, but to participate in the polar plunge afterwards to see how well our bodies would last in the 1 degree Celsius water (that’s only 33 degrees Fahrenheit!).
For me, Antarctica created a new spectrum through which I will view the rest of the world. Antarctica is difficult to describe and impossible to replicate. It is more than a bucket-list destination to be ticked off; it forces you to reevaluate what you know and feel about the planet, giving you a glimpse into pure nature. It is the closest thing to infinity on earth.
Antarctica changed me forever by reminding me that there are places still free and untouched by human impact. I encourage everyone who has this same passion to travel here and experience it.
A Guest Blog by Kaylee Boyle, originally posted here.