A frozen in Antarctica

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ATICA
Frozen in
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Frozen in Antarctica
January Issue 2014

2. Guide to travel
to AntarcticaDISCOVER the extraordinary wildlife and landscapes of Antarctica
and the islands of South Georgia, as bewitching now as they were
in the days of the early explorers.
Antarctica is a land of extremes: it is the coldest and driest continent on Earth and has the highest average elevation. As the fifth largest
continent in the world, Antartica is also the most Southern, overlying the “South Pole”. Scarcely touched by humans, the frozen land
boasts breathtaking scenery, broken by only a handful of scientific bases and a “permanent” population of scientists numbering only a few
thousand. Visitors to Antarctica generally must brave rough sea crossings aboard ice-strengthened vessels, but those who do are rewarded
with amazing scenery and tremendous and unique wildlife.
Getting there: Practically all visitors to Antarctica arrive as part of an organised
tour and almost always on a ship.The Antarctic Peninsula is the most regularly
visited part of the continent, with boats departing from Ushuaia in Tierra del
Fuego in Argentina.From Ushuaia, it takes roughly two days to reach the Antarc-
tic Peninsula, depending on the sea conditions.
When should I go? Most boats set sail to Antarctica from November to March,
during the Antarctic summer. January and February can be a good time to see
penguins’ eggs hatching, while March is peakseason for whale watching.
How do I pick a tour? Meals, transport and accommodation are normally includ-
ed in Antarctic tours but travel to the continent is expensive. Sharing a cabin or
nabbing a last-minute berth in person at Ushuaiacan be a way of reducing costs.
See if your tour operator is a member of IAATO an industry group that promotes
responsible travel to the continent. Check iaato.org for a list of member tour
companies. Ice Tracks Expeditions, run by Frank Wild expert Angie Butler, offers
a number of trips to the continent (from about $5000 a person; ice-tracks.com).
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3. 4­Emperor Penguins and chicks, Ross Sea,Antarctica
What is life like on board? Sailing to Antarctica isn’t like travelling on a luxury cruise ship seas
can be infamously choppy, and passengers are advised to keep one hand free should the boat roll
suddenly. Lectures, screenings and workshops often take place on board during the daytime while
sailing to and around Antarctica and ships will often have a library. Many guests choose to entertain
themselves by birdwatching or spotting icebergs. Days can be long, with as many as 20 hours of
summer sunlight in the Antarctic Peninsula.
Respect: Antarctica has a very fragile environment. Pollution should be avoided if at all possible.
Expeditions should anticipate the need to remove all waste from the continent when they leave.
Waste disposal and sewage facilities on the continent are severely limited and restricted to perma-
nent installations. Of particular concern to tourists is the danger of introducing foreign organisms
into the fragile Antarctic environment. Many tour operators will require visitors to do a boot wash
after every landing to avoid carrying seeds or other items from one location to another. In addition,
visitors should examine all clothing prior to embarking to avoid bringing any plant or animal mate-
rial to the Antarctic; invasive species have devastated many regions of the planet, so it is particularly
important to protect Antarctica from this danger. The International Association of Antarctica Tour
Operators (IAATO) is a voluntary organization of tour operators which promotes safe and environ-
mentally responsible tourism in Antarctica. It publishes standards for member tour operators on
responsible practices for private visitors to Antarctica.
Stay healthy: Antarctica has an extreme environment. The cold is a
major health hazard. In the Northern Hemisphere, several home-
less people die from hypothermia every winter. Visitors should
be properly prepared and equipped for any visit. Waterproof and
windproof gloves, coat, pants, and boots are an absolute necessity.
Other necessities that are often overlooked include sunscreen and
sunglasses - summertime visitors will be exposed to the sun’s rays
from above and from reflections off of snow, ice, and water. Addi-
tionally, for those arriving by boat, seasickness medicine is strongly
encouraged - even the most seaworthy individual will feel queasy in
a severe storm; check with your doctor before visiting to determine
what medicine is appropriate.
Stay safe: Weather on the continent is equally
extreme, although most visitors pack appropriate
gear. For expeditions there are limited search-
and-rescue options, so expeditions must plan for
all contingencies. There is no formal government
or legal system in Antarctica, but the laws of the
country of origin or departure as well as those of a
claimant government may apply. Rules regarding
protection of the environment and of historical
sites will be strictly enforced, and fines can be ex-
treme. Also note that when visiting Antarctica that
a hospital is usually days away. Most ships and re-
search stations have a doctor, but facilities are lim-
ited. In cases where evacuation is required (if even
possible), costs can run into the tens of thousands
of dollars. Those with pre-existing conditions
should strongly consider the risks of venturing into
a land where medical help may not be available
prior to embarking on an Antarctic journey.
USA 41.6% (3,769 ppl)
United Kingdom 17.3% (1,569 ppl)
Canada 11.2% (1,020 ppl)
Australia 4.9% (444 ppl)
Germany 4.8% (432 ppl)
Netherlands 2.0% (179 ppl)
Switzerland 1.9% (176 ppl)
Argentina 1.7% (150 ppl)
Brazil 1.7% (150 ppl)
Others 13.0% (1,181 ppl)
Total: 100.0% (9,070 ppl)
2012-2013 TOURISTS BY NATIONALITY
Air Overflights and Cruise Only
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Layering for comfort Expeditioner rule of thumb:You can always take it off but
you cannot always put it on – particularly if you do not have it with you
I
t is important to understand the principle of layering. Layered
clothing is the appropriate way to dress for your days in the
Antarctic. By all accounts, weather in the Antarcticis constantly
changing and anything can happen at any time. Typically,
temperatures may vary between –10 degrees and +10 degrees.
Layering is the concept of wearing multiple layers of clothing
when it’s cold and removing items when you’re warm. There are
three essential layers: underwear, insulation, and shell. These
can be combined to achieve maximum warmt when needed, or
used separately or in different combinations, depending on the
temperature and weather conditions.
The first part of a good layering system is your
underwear. Underwear provides you with basic insulation and pulls the moisture
away from your skin. Moisture against your skin can cause chills. The type of
underwear you need as your first layer in the Antarctic is light-­to-­medium weight
thermal top and bottoms made of synthetic fabrics. Wool and wool blend is also
suitable. Cotton is a less acceptable fabric as it keeps the moisture next to your
skin, instead of wicking it away. Polypropylene and Capilene are great fabrics for
underwear and can be purchased in any outdoor store.
Insulating clothing provides additional warmth. There
are two cate gories of fibers available—natural fibers such as wool and down,
and synthetic fibers such as fleece. Down is a great insulator, lightweight and
extremely warm. This is a wonderful layer for chilly Antarctic evenings. Wool is
also good and has the added advantage of remaining efficient when wet (unlike
down). Synthetics are widely used because they work well when wet, keep you
warm, and dry quickly. Fleece is probably the most commonly used synthetic
and easy to find in any outdoor store.
You need a water-­proof jacket an pants. This outer
layer is the final step in insulating you against the cold and wind. These layers
are used to combat the elements, and in the Antarctic, the predominant element
is often wind. Since your first two layers are providing your “warmth” layers, this
outer layer does not need to be big and bulky. A good Goretex jacket with a
hood and pants that are breathable are preferable.
Layer #2
Layer #3
Layer #1
Insulated base layer top
Down
Polar parka Synthetic insulation suit
Moleskin pants
Insulated base layer bottoms

5. R
Audubon Nature Odysseys trip to Antarctica.
For more information & up comming trips from our program please visit
http://getoutside.audubon.org/upcoming-trips