Booth Island

These photos were taken earlier in the day when it was still calm (although starting to rain).

When we got to Booth Island, the rain had picked up quite a bit. and the wind was howling at 50 mph. On slippery ground, it is difficult to stand in 50 mph wind. Rain and wind-driven sea water are a life threatening situation for a camera. So I have no photos, just the vivid memory that Antarctica can be a dangerous place. And greater perspective about what it must have taken to explore it: Relentless persistence; Obsessive attention to detail; Meticulous planning; and a good deal of courage to face both known and unexpected hazards.

These photos were taken in February 2006 mostly with a Nikon D200.

Here my wife and I are kayaking once again. The devices around our necks are emergency transmitters. In the event our kayak is swamped or we become lost, they will lead rescuers to us. We are exploring Antarctica from the lap of luxury. During one of our kayak expeditions, one of the crew went from kayak to kayak in a zodiac offering hot chocolate laced with Peppermint Schnapps. We were requested not to activate our emergency transmitter to get a second cup chocolate; that doing so would not be welcomed with love or affection.
Later we did some light climbing. Here we are at the top of a 500 foot "rock." Mostly it was covered with ice and snow, and we returned to its base by sliding down backwards on our butts. Great, great fun! It was worth the climb for the view, of course, but worth it a second time for the slide down.
From our perch above, we look down to our ship anchored in the bay. This photo was taken by my wife; the ones above by traveling companions.