From Middle Earth to the End

Over excited in the Antarctic Center waiting to board

I thought I was ready. I had read the books, seen the pictures, watched movies and asked questions. I knew what to expect. Or at least I thought I did. I had read the accounts of heroic explorers and had painted pictures in my mind. Even though they often used the words “impossible to describe”, in particular when describing the bonds of comradery, I quickly brushed them away as the steady flow of imagery made those statements seem false.

    On the plane ride down I was bursting out of my seat like a rocket to slam my face in to the window so that I might be millimeters closer to my first iceberg looming thousands of miles below.  I then found out what all the accounts I have read meant. I could see the all the great ships breaking their way through the sea ice which imitated cells flowing in blood.  On deck, crates were piled high between the dogs tethered to their posts. The men shuffled about with the wind at their backs, fresh food in their bellies, memories still vivid of their wives as they embarked on a grand adventure. It was all coming alive for me.

pancake ice

     However it was not what you think. I did not have that epiphany to suddenly realize what hardships Scott had endured, or Cherry-Garrard, Shackleton or any of my favorite explorers.  In fact my feelings were the opposite. The indescribable was not described.  I now know that I nor no one else will ever know what Antarctica was like in her youth no matter how well it was depicted.

     So point of the story is just as I will never know what the  Worst Journey In The World was like, you will never know what my 15 days on the ice were like.   There are no words in the English language that can confine Antarctica.  Unless you want to go dig up old Noah Webster and tell him to beef up his dictionary, you’ll have to have a 5 year old self portrait for the Mona Lisa.   

 If you were reading this blog to know what Antarctica is like, I’m sorry, but don’t waste your time any longer reading about it and get down there. If you want to know what kind of shenanigans I’ve been up to, see how life exists in Antarctica today or maybe learn a thing or two, then keep reading. 

 It has been a crazy two weeks filled with successful science experiments, great people and wonderful adventures. Everyone’s experience with the ice will have different descriptions or highlights depending on their interests.  Be patient with me as its been a whirlwind of stimulations and capturing it is a herculean task.

yes thats me at Scott Base

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 4th, 2009 at 2:35 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.