Laying on my board completely silent, 600 miles from civilization. I can not think of a more spiritual and invigorating feeling. The ice surrounding me crackles as air escapes. I watch a baby penguin chick chase an adult around, begging for food. The adult escape the taunting by diving into the water. It zips around beneath the water’s surface and under my board. In the distance there’s a cracking sound from a glacier slowly creeping forward. No matter how many times I’m out here, it feels surreal and I constantly find myself thinking “wow, am I really here? paddling in Antarctica?”
For most of my life Antarctica was just that white part on the bottom of a map. It wasn’t until I met someone in New Zealand who had worked at a base there as a glacier guide for scientists that it ever crossed my mind as a possible place to work. I quickly realized that a position on a base was beyond my reach as I was not a scientist and had no experience with glaciers. The thought of working in Antarctica slipped away as I accepted I wasn’t qualified. Fast forward four years, and I’m here, in Antarctica… as a stand up paddle board guide. I would have never imagined that stand up paddle boarding would be the skill that landed me a position in Antarctica. …show more content…
The only thing about Antarctica’s summer that resembles a summertime is the long daylight hours. The temperatures hover around freezing and on warm days around 40 degrees, although the sun can make it feel a bit warmer. I made my way to Ushuaia, Argentina with two large duffel bags of gear, including dry suit, booties, hats, gloves, thermals, boots, and a whole bunch of fleece. There I boarded the ship I was to call home for the next three months; the Ocean
For most of my life Antarctica was just that white part on the bottom of a map. It wasn’t until I met someone in New Zealand who had worked at a base there as a glacier guide for scientists that it ever crossed my mind as a possible place to work. I quickly realized that a position on a base was beyond my reach as I was not a scientist and had no experience with glaciers. The thought of working in Antarctica slipped away as I accepted I wasn’t qualified. Fast forward four years, and I’m here, in Antarctica… as a stand up paddle board guide. I would have never imagined that stand up paddle boarding would be the skill that landed me a position in Antarctica. …show more content…
The only thing about Antarctica’s summer that resembles a summertime is the long daylight hours. The temperatures hover around freezing and on warm days around 40 degrees, although the sun can make it feel a bit warmer. I made my way to Ushuaia, Argentina with two large duffel bags of gear, including dry suit, booties, hats, gloves, thermals, boots, and a whole bunch of fleece. There I boarded the ship I was to call home for the next three months; the Ocean