IMPORTANT ANNOUNECMENT to anyone in the vicinity of Copenhagen!
2041 Voyage for Cleaner Energy presents:
Free Lecture by renowned Polar Explorer, Robert Swan O.B.E.
7pm on 15 Dec. @ Tietgen Kollegiet
Rued Langgaards Vej 10-18, Entrance 16
Nearest tube station is Islands Brygge or University.
I was "Inspired by Antarctica" and Robert....go to this and you will be too!
Lauren
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Back to life, back to reality...
As you can tell from the previous posts, I've completed my latest adventure and now am safely back in the concrete jungle of New York City. I think the oddest transition has been adjusting to darkness again. I had become used to 24 hours of daylight. My body clock seems to be confused as I deal with my re-entry into reality and the world.
I'll post more thoughts in the upcoming days. In the meantime, visit the 2041 expedition blog if you'd like to read the day by day account of the expedition.
http://expedition.2041.com/iate
I'll post more thoughts in the upcoming days. In the meantime, visit the 2041 expedition blog if you'd like to read the day by day account of the expedition.
http://expedition.2041.com/iate
Surrounded by the "Iceberg Graveyard" at Charcot Harbour, Antarctica
A Day in Paradise
The following is an excerpt from one of my entries from our expedition blog. The day had special significance for me, as it brought me back to Paradise Bay, where I had scattered some of my father’s ashes the year before. The second landing at Orne Harbour was fantastic as well. It’s not often one has the chance to lie down in the snow and take a catnap on the top of a ridge, with no one in sight, in a blizzard, in total silence, with an occasional penguin passing by.
From November 26th…
We’ve reached a point in this experience where words begin to fail to describe the beauty, emotions and inspiration that we are feeling. Antarctica has become something special to each of us in different ways, but collectively we share the belief that this is a spectacular place beyond conventional description. A poet would find it the ultimate muse.
Above photo courtesy of Jack Robert-Tissot
Today the magic of Antarctica was revealed as we arrived at Paradise Bay. Aptly named, this protected bay has been described as the most beautiful place in the world, and while it certainly was impressive this morning when we woke up, it was hard to see its depth and grandeur through the thick white clouds and falling snow. We dressed warmly for our landing, which was intended to offer us some time for individual reflection, and set out in the zodiacs to Almirante Brown Station, named for the Argentinean hero. About 15 minutes after our landing, Paradise Bay transformed when the sun parted the thick cloud cover and broke through to reveal a bay that reflected majestic mountains in its stillness. The temperature rose dramatically and we switched from goggles to sunglasses to take in the precious warmth and stunning scene. Then, moments later, a portion of the glacier across the water calved, in clear view as we hiked up a mountain above the station, and it was as if Paradise Bay had awoken and decided to welcome us to her shores personally. Appreciating the special gift we had been given, we took time by ourselves to let the magical morning sink in.
Hike above Paradise Bay
After lunch we had an optional landing and hike at Orne Harbor and those who went were treated to a steep climb up a ridge to a chinstrap penguin rookery. We crossed over the ridge to the other side and the silently falling snow was entrancing.
Me & a couple of chinstrap penguins hiding in the flakes of a blizzard at Orne Harbour
Upon our return to the ship, we gathered for Robert’s third Leadership on the Edge installment. We also heard from members of the expedition on various topics. Steven Blumenfeld, a student from Yale University, spoke about how the Antarctic Treaty that was formed 50 years ago can serve as a model for climate policy today, and Ken Townsel of the Ron Clark Academy inspired us all with a motivational speech about seizing each moment of this expedition.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for the Americans on board the ship. The chef will be preparing a special feast and all send their love to families celebrating at home.
From November 26th…
We’ve reached a point in this experience where words begin to fail to describe the beauty, emotions and inspiration that we are feeling. Antarctica has become something special to each of us in different ways, but collectively we share the belief that this is a spectacular place beyond conventional description. A poet would find it the ultimate muse.
Above photo courtesy of Jack Robert-Tissot
Today the magic of Antarctica was revealed as we arrived at Paradise Bay. Aptly named, this protected bay has been described as the most beautiful place in the world, and while it certainly was impressive this morning when we woke up, it was hard to see its depth and grandeur through the thick white clouds and falling snow. We dressed warmly for our landing, which was intended to offer us some time for individual reflection, and set out in the zodiacs to Almirante Brown Station, named for the Argentinean hero. About 15 minutes after our landing, Paradise Bay transformed when the sun parted the thick cloud cover and broke through to reveal a bay that reflected majestic mountains in its stillness. The temperature rose dramatically and we switched from goggles to sunglasses to take in the precious warmth and stunning scene. Then, moments later, a portion of the glacier across the water calved, in clear view as we hiked up a mountain above the station, and it was as if Paradise Bay had awoken and decided to welcome us to her shores personally. Appreciating the special gift we had been given, we took time by ourselves to let the magical morning sink in.
Hike above Paradise Bay
After lunch we had an optional landing and hike at Orne Harbor and those who went were treated to a steep climb up a ridge to a chinstrap penguin rookery. We crossed over the ridge to the other side and the silently falling snow was entrancing.
Me & a couple of chinstrap penguins hiding in the flakes of a blizzard at Orne Harbour
Upon our return to the ship, we gathered for Robert’s third Leadership on the Edge installment. We also heard from members of the expedition on various topics. Steven Blumenfeld, a student from Yale University, spoke about how the Antarctic Treaty that was formed 50 years ago can serve as a model for climate policy today, and Ken Townsel of the Ron Clark Academy inspired us all with a motivational speech about seizing each moment of this expedition.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for the Americans on board the ship. The chef will be preparing a special feast and all send their love to families celebrating at home.
There's a Price for Everything
The following was written on the crossing to Antarctica on November 20th. A different version was posted on the 2041 blog...this was my personal journal entry:
The Drake Passage is a beast. The fact that I knowingly am traveling through it again for a second time speaks to the power of Antarctica. The Drake is like a mental and physical test, not unlike what astronaut must feel going to outer space. Different of course, but in the sense that you are traveling where few have gone before and putting your mind and body through hell to get there, it is pretty similar. We are well past the Antarctic Convergence (where the Atlantic and Pacific waters meet and result in a major temperature drop) and the power of the ocean here cannot even be described. It’s ferocious, and mesmerizing, and beautiful, and frightening. As I type this in my cabin, there are massive waves crashing onto my window, and I’m not even on the bottom level of the ship.
The stabilizers on this little ship, the Clipper Adventurer, have helped. I don’t think I would be very happy on the MV Ushuaia right now. Zero stabilizers in the worst crossing that the captain of that ship had ever seen (March 2008) – that was not fun. It’s been slow-going, therefore, it looks like we are going to head further south and come back to the E-base and Bellingshausen on the way back. We have been radioing the Russian ship that was stuck in the Weddell Sea, to get advice as to what our best path will be to avoid remaining pack ice.
With any luck we’ll be in calmer waters by nightfall. We’ve been rocking and rolling for 2 days now and although I’ve technically avoided getting sea sick (I’m wearing a seasick patch), I’ll be happy to move out of the Drake – at least for a week until we have to do it all over again on the way back!
Only a matter of hours before we see our first iceberg!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I'm off!
I'm about to board the ship and set sail for Antarctica. This will be my final post on this blog until December 1st, but you can follow me from now on at http://expedition.2041.com. I will get comments if you write them on the message board, so please do!
See you on the flip side!
Lauren
See you on the flip side!
Lauren
Publish Post
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Preparing for departure...
I am blown away by the passion of the people on this expedition…and we haven’t even set foot on the boat. There are about 50 people from all over the world here – Vietnam, India, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, United Arab Emirates, Canada, US, UK, Columbia, China, and more - all about to embark on an experience that will change their lives. It’s really amazing to observe their excitement, as I remember the same eager anticipation that I had the night before departing for Antarctica the first time.
Just as with my first expedition, my future shipmates each have amazing stories about what led them to this place at the bottom of the world, and goals that they want to achieve while here. We will be learning about climate change and energy from an expert from Shell, and about the Antarctic Treaty from one of the foremost experts from the British Antarctic Survey, and about the concept of carbon offsets from an advisor from Native Energy. My job on the ship is to help define the ultimate mission for the team’s post-expedition work and to launch the Alumni Program that will give the team the tools to stay connected and inspired. I introduced the program earlier tonight and already have been approached by enthusiastic team members who already have plans for actions when they return home.
We had a fantastic hike up the Martial Glacier today. It was quite a different hike than last year because of the snow, and it was certainly better coming down…we practically floated down the glacier on all the fresh powder! I’m about to have a big traditional Argentinean dinner a good night’s sleep…’cause I’m leaving for Antarctica tomorrow!
Photo taken by Tony Piedade on the way up Martial Glacier early this morning.
Just as with my first expedition, my future shipmates each have amazing stories about what led them to this place at the bottom of the world, and goals that they want to achieve while here. We will be learning about climate change and energy from an expert from Shell, and about the Antarctic Treaty from one of the foremost experts from the British Antarctic Survey, and about the concept of carbon offsets from an advisor from Native Energy. My job on the ship is to help define the ultimate mission for the team’s post-expedition work and to launch the Alumni Program that will give the team the tools to stay connected and inspired. I introduced the program earlier tonight and already have been approached by enthusiastic team members who already have plans for actions when they return home.
We had a fantastic hike up the Martial Glacier today. It was quite a different hike than last year because of the snow, and it was certainly better coming down…we practically floated down the glacier on all the fresh powder! I’m about to have a big traditional Argentinean dinner a good night’s sleep…’cause I’m leaving for Antarctica tomorrow!
Photo taken by Tony Piedade on the way up Martial Glacier early this morning.
Looking down on Ushuaia...
Monday, November 16, 2009
A different look at Ushuaia
When I was last in Ushuaia, it was the middle of March at the end of the summer, and the snow had melted off of most of the Patagonian mountains surrounding the town. In November, the spring snow is still covering the range and tomorrow we'll be hiking in it up to our knees when we climb up towards what is left of the Martial Glacier. Another difference at this time of year is the sunlight. Dawn breaks around 5am, and the sun doesn't go down until about 10:30pm. In Antarctica, the daylight will be even longer.
It's been a pretty relaxing couple of days, and until the expedition members began arriving this afternoon, I spent most of my time hanging out with the other team leaders, discussing the agenda for the leadership program I'll be helping to facilitate on the boat.
Now that everyone is here, it's hit me that this is actually happening. It's also presenting me with moments of déjà vu, and I fondly remember this time only a year and a half ago when I was the one arriving with that look of excitement on my face and meeting strangers that would become my close friends. I still have that excitement, and undoubtedly have already said hello to people today that I will know for the rest of my life.
It's 8:45 and I'm off to dinner…considering whether or not to put on sunscreen.
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