Last hike in Antarctica

The alarm clock rang at 6.45am. We started getting up. Audrey went to take her shower. At 7.00am, we got a message on the loudspeaker asking us to meet on the roof of the ship immediately. I took a shower and got dressed in 5 minutes because we wouldn’t be given another opportunity to take one before the morning hike.<o:p></o:p>

As we arrived on the top, Robert was waiting for us to show us a tabular iceberg that detached itself from the Larsen B ice shelf that was as big as France, in 2002. What we see above the see measures between 50 and 80 meters high. Below the water level, roughly 700 meters!!! This iceberg is not static because it is now on the rock level. It detached itself between January and March 2002.<o:p></o:p>

After this pretty sight, that the ship circumnavigated, we had breakfast. Just after, we all were to meet in the main conference room for a brief on the next and last hike that we would do this morning. Jason designated me a team leader and I was very proud. Each team leader he designated was to compose their team according to their affinities. I chose at least 3 men on the 8 people that would compose a team;<o:p></o:p>

Arrived on the beach, we had a few minutes to admire a few penguins and seals. We were at Brown Bluff because there were brown volcanic rocks. We were starting the hike and I was able to put in practice what I had revised the night before with Jason on the butterfly knot. I also felt I was more in my element as I was managing to better control my breathing. <o:p></o:p>

This hike was the most dangerous of all because there were crevasses. Everything went well because the 2041 team had sent its mountain guides scouting. We had a little taste of what Robert went through because in addition to the ground, there was a lot of wind that burnt the skin of the face. <o:p></o:p>

When we arrived at the top of the glacier, Jason had a surprise for all of us. He distributed a postcard and an envelope to each of us and asked us to write our goals to ourselves. The cards would be sent to us from Antarctica in one year time to remind us of this moment. I put my parents’ address as I don’t know where I’ll be in one year.<o:p></o:p>

I was ready to continue hiking, but after this pit stop, we had to return to mother ship. Once back in, our warm clothes taken off and put to dry, Robert made another interesting and useful presentation: tips on how to present in public.<o:p></o:p>

The sea was seriously starting to tango and I was not feeling well. During Robert’s presentation, we were split in groups to prepare an “elevator pitch”. I volunteered to present our team’s in front of everyone because no one in the team wanted to do it. I was barely standing strait… I was moving with the ship.<o:p></o:p>

After that, I went to bed… it was preferable. <o:p></o:p>

Audrey brought me dinner.