Crossing the Drake Passage

Heading towards the Clipper Adventurer.

Wow, walking out onto the pier yesterday afternoon to board the ship, the energy was amazing and I could literally feel the blood coursing through my veins with excitement. My body was shaking with nervous energy and I think the everyone was feeding off of each other, waiting for the dock hands to pull the ropes and the captain to blow the whistle signaling our departure.

Abandon shop drilling.

After some pre-launch instructions, which included an overview of the ship, an introduction to the staff, as well as evacuation/abandon ship drill, the time finally came and the Clipper Adventurer slowly pushed out of the Ushuaia harbor. Film crews scurried around documenting the event and many of the passengers, myself included, stood in euphoria, finding it hard to believe that we truly were headed to the Antarctic Peninsula.

Peaks of of the Beagle Channel.

Currently, the whole IceAxe Antarctic expedition crew is in the middle of the Drake Passage and from a land locked perspective of someone who lives in Wyoming, I have to say that the seas are quite rough. Plates, glasses and silverware fly off the table at times in the dining room and just walking around can be quite a challenge. Though the swells are only about 15-20′, the ship is pitching and rolling quite a bit and if it wasn’t for the seasick meds that I’m on, I would for sure be praying over the porcelain god.

Moderate seas on the Drake Passage.

I think many of the participants are having their own trouble dealing with motion sickness, indicated by their quick departure from the dining room, as well as their pale facial color, and I swear, there are some that I haven’t even seen since boarding the ship. And most likely, they are curled up in their beds, waiting things out. Getting a good night sleep seems to be challenging for some with all the movement and personally I only slept a few hours last night.

I need one of these flags!

I think we will reach land sometime late tomorrow (Sun the 8th) and then push to our southern most destination and then ski our way north. We are a bit early as far as the season goes and we are hoping that some of the channels and bays will be clear of ice. Of course we really won’t know until we get there. Wish us luck if you can!!!!