Today, some intrepid travelers still make it to Earth’s southernmost point, though they’re only a small fraction of the approximately 30,000 people who visit Antarctica each year, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/travelnews/2011/11/111214-amundsen-scott-norway-antarctica-explorers-science-history-south-pole-anniversary/

Radar imaging has revealed what Antarctica would really look like if it wasn’t covered in ice. The southern hemisphere’s polar region may look fairly flat, but there are actually 9,000ft-high mountains lurking beneath ice that in places is 12,000ft thick. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2070635/What-Antarctica-look-like-naked–radar-mapping-shows-mountainous-Alps.html#ixzz1gXwBfy34

It’s been 100 years since the first man arrived, so be sure to stop by the gift shop. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/111213/south-pole-gift-shop

Dozens of teams are preparing for or have already launched expeditions to mark the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen’s trip to the earth’s southernmost point. “Tourist time has begun,” proclaims southpolstation.com’s newsletter. Several Norwegian expeditions want to emulate their compatriot Amundsen (1872-1928). Two teams from Norway will follow Amundsen’s every step along the tough route […]

Tonight Angie Butler was awarded a medal for her work in restoring Frank Wild to the pantheon of polar greats – and to return him to his rightful final resting place next to The Boss. The medal was designed for Dr Mike Wain, a collector of polar medals including Frank Wild’s by Angie’s husband. It […]

Antarctica always has a sting in its tail. After the long sail down from South Georgia we were all desperate to get off the ship and go for a walk. It’s great to arrive in Antarctica – after all the magnificent scenery in South Georgia and the wildlife of the Falklands, suddenly we are in […]

I’m writing this as our ship, One Ocean’s Akademik Ioffe, holds position off Point Wild, Elephant Island. The whole island is a lump of rock in the middle of the Drake Passage and, as expected, the swell running is far too big to even attempt to launch a Zodiac. But the fog that was around […]

Another full day at sea. And the sea isn’t letting us go lightly. It was snowing this morning and we have some Australians on board who have never seen snowfall before. There were talks through the day and David, our resident artist, taught a large group of enthusiasts how to draw penguins at afternoon tea […]

Apparently those who have been in it describe war as long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of great excitement. Reverse those ratios to great periods of excitement and some sea days and you have a description of the long Antarctic cruise that includes the Falklands and South Georgia. There’s a sea day to the […]