Team members say

Last night I got to do the thing that I had been looking forward to the most on the expedition: camping on Antarctica. We landed at Dorian’s Bay and hiked up to the crest of a glacier to make camp. At first it was all fun and jokes and then we saw the black clouds of a storm fast approaching us from across the bay. Suddenly it was a mad scramble to pitch the tents and make snow walls to act as blocks against the howling wind. When we’d set up our campsites I snuggled into my sleeping bag and bunked down for the night. I was warm and toasty all night in my tent. When I woke up in the morning the sun was just beginning to rise. A little ways off from our camp site there was a huge, craggy mountain that the sun was coming up behind. The first rays of light made gold and pink and purple clouds that seemed to be shooting out from the mountain. The sight was absolutely breathtaking to see. Later this afternoon the expedition members did another landing at the Argentinean base at Paradise Bay. Paradise Bay is supposed to be one of the most beautiful places on the Antarctic continent, and I have to say I that I don’t disagree. Enormous, rocky mountain sloping right into the water and hanging glaciers encircle the entire bay. We had a Leadership on the Edge workshop at the base of a mountain, where we presented our strategies for creating environmentally friendly and sustainable energy programs in our businesses, schools and homes. After the workshop we hiked up the glacier to a snow slide that a few of the leaders had made. I slide all the way down the mountain on my stomach. It was great fun and I successfully managed to pack a large amount of snow down the front of my pants. That’s all for now. All my love to those at home, I’ll be seeing you guys soon!

This has been such an amazing trip so far that I don´t even know where to start. I´ve been trying to describe what I have experienced on this expedition so far, but it just seems like there are no words that could do justice to the beauty of Antarctica. The rawness of this place is what makes it so alluring. I almost feel like we are trespassing, like we were never really meant to see this landscape that is solely ruled by nature. Yesterday I stood out on the deck of our ship and watched the sun break through a slice of the clouds. The far shore was lit up, and it was like the white of the mountains were on fire. I think also that it is the people who I am with that have made this trip as remarkable as it has been. I have met so many unique and wonderful people in the few short days that I have been here. Every day I learn something new from them. The obstacles that these people have overcome to be here and to accomplish their visions to preserve Antarctica´s pristine environment are truly inspiring. I know that I will walk away from this expedition with a new view of the world and myself. My love to everyone at home. I can´t wait to share with you what I have experienced

Today was a day of firsts. In the morning I got to see my first pod of whales. At first only the spray from their blowholes was visible, but they soon came near to the bow of the ship, and I could see them as they came to the surface of the waves. Shortly afterward I got to see my first iceberg. It was truly an awesome sight; a huge, craggy peak of ice rising out of the blue waters of the Antarctic sea. And finally, today, I got my first view of the continent of Antarctica, King George Island. The island seemed very far off, shrouded in mist, almost invisible, but as our ship sailed further inland the beautiful shores and icy cliffs of Antarctica loomed out of the fog. Tomorrow we will go ashore for the first time. I am excited to see what awaits me, and what Antarctica has in store for me. This has been an amazing journey so far, but it has only just begun, and I am sure that there is much more in store to amaze me.