Antarctica Clothing (always a curiosity!)
It's makes me grin to see famous or extreme adventurers still talk about their clothing. it remains quite a feat to weather the Antarctic terrain. In this BBC video, The UK team set out for Captain Scott Antarctic trek the phrase "technology is still quite basic" for the continent with the harshest climate. Thanks to @AntarcticaNews for the great posts.
Full Solar Eclipse and New Moon Today!
I'm watching it live in Australia now. Beautiful beach, just passed the peak. It's probably seen over Antarctica too. Finishes about 500 miles west of Chile. Celebrating celestial events helps me connect with nature. The cats are both sunning themselves in unlikely spots as if they are soaking up the energy of this planetary experience.
Here's a post with a beautiful pic.
Magnificent To Behold
Here's a post with a beautiful pic.
I just got down from the helicopter and we are downloading images now.
From 8000 feet, above the 7000-foot cloud deck, the corona plus the diamond rings were impressive. All too quick but magnificent to behold.
--Dr. Jay M. Pasachoff, director, Hopkins Observatory, Williams College
From 8000 feet, above the 7000-foot cloud deck, the corona plus the diamond rings were impressive. All too quick but magnificent to behold.
--Dr. Jay M. Pasachoff, director, Hopkins Observatory, Williams College
Wikipedia for George W. Gibbs, Jr.
I'd love to thank the person who initiated the page for Gibbs on Wikipedia. She lives in Rochester, MN and said in a public forum that such an important historical figure needs to be in Wikipedia.
If anyone knows how to make sure this an approved page in Wikipedia, please let me know. The last time I checked, they had taken it down, saying the information couldn't be validated. It appears to be up now. Thanks to the community for making this happen!
Historic Elections
In 2000, my father voted absentee ballot, while in hospice. On election night, November 7th, my mother hosts a birthday/election night party for him. It's his 84th birthday. One of his favorite things in life is democracy, so this is a perfect way to spend time in hospice.
As it turns, George Washington Gibbs, Jr passes away peacefully in his sleep that night. He was surrounded by friends of all ages. He died happy, thinking Al Gore won. We've been through a lot George, since 2000. Happy Birthday. Congrats to President Barack Obama
and this historic election.
I look forward to new levels of bipartisan cooperation in all levels of politics. Forward!
and this historic election.
I look forward to new levels of bipartisan cooperation in all levels of politics. Forward!
Link Between Life and Water
I didn't think there was any doubt about the link between life and water. This article poses the question: what if we don't see any life in this 500,000 year old lake in West Antarctica?
It's also exciting that the title of the article is Probe of Antarctica's hidden lakes may yield clues to extraterrestrial life. The scientists will be consulting sci-fi writers to imagine different scenarios.
To me, Antarctica is still one of the most intriguing places on earth. Even though I've taken long breaks from this blog, I look for clues daily that will help my father's story comes to life.
Thanks for your interest!
It's also exciting that the title of the article is Probe of Antarctica's hidden lakes may yield clues to extraterrestrial life. The scientists will be consulting sci-fi writers to imagine different scenarios.
To me, Antarctica is still one of the most intriguing places on earth. Even though I've taken long breaks from this blog, I look for clues daily that will help my father's story comes to life.
Thanks for your interest!
Ecosytem Changes in Antarctica
Peter Rejcek
@poliepete
What happens to an ecosystem when an ice shelf disappears? A team of scientists attempts to find out.
Article in the Mountain Connection Today
The Mountain Connection only has hard copies of my short article. If you live in our community, it's on page 8. Their online site is www.mtnconnection.com.(but the article isn't posted) I'll scan and post it later.
I love their tagline "Building Community Through Conversation"
If you are reading my blog for the first time, the beginning posts of Antarctica are during last half of February. When I started blogging, I wasn't working very much. Now, I'm consistently traveling for other work. I find it challenging to research and blog.
My next radio show on KGNU Denver Boulder 8:30am MDT
(kgnu.org, 1390am and 88.5 FM) is on August 31st with Polar Historian Glenn Marty Stein. I hope you're having a great summer in the northern hemisphere!
I love their tagline "Building Community Through Conversation"
If you are reading my blog for the first time, the beginning posts of Antarctica are during last half of February. When I started blogging, I wasn't working very much. Now, I'm consistently traveling for other work. I find it challenging to research and blog.
My next radio show on KGNU Denver Boulder 8:30am MDT
(kgnu.org, 1390am and 88.5 FM) is on August 31st with Polar Historian Glenn Marty Stein. I hope you're having a great summer in the northern hemisphere!
24th Polar Libraries Colloquy
What a thrill to meet a global polar community, dedicated to preserving
past, present and future of our polar regions! I did the closing keynote last week for 24th Polar Libraries Colloquy. They bring together librarians, archivists, researchers and others interested in the cold regions of our planet.
I'm making plans for the next conference in Cambridge UK, 2014.
past, present and future of our polar regions! I did the closing keynote last week for 24th Polar Libraries Colloquy. They bring together librarians, archivists, researchers and others interested in the cold regions of our planet.
I'm making plans for the next conference in Cambridge UK, 2014.
John Stewart, author of Antarctica; An Encyclopedia
I was delighted to speak with John Stewart on my radio show 6/15/ on KGNU. It's archived here. Have you ever been introduced to anyone who's written an encyclopedia? This is volume II. The first book had over 20,000 entries and over one million words. Not only that, John has written 2 more books, since last fall. He's featured on Everett Wiggins's blog post, a reference librarian.
Great show. John's wonderful storyteller.
Great show. John's wonderful storyteller.
Antarctica is Important for Many Things.
On the flight back from Antarctica to Chile, I spoke with a scientist from Spain. His job is to find rocks from Mars for study. "Why do you look for rocks from other planets here, I asked?" He replies, "They may fall elsewhere on earth, but It's easier to see them here!"
I found this link -Meteorites found in Antarctica and Australia make scientists believe that the building blocks of DNA exist in space. My conclusion: Antarctica is important for many things!
I found this link -Meteorites found in Antarctica and Australia make scientists believe that the building blocks of DNA exist in space. My conclusion: Antarctica is important for many things!
No More Dogs in Antarctica
I'm preparing to speak to Gibbs Elementary first graders this morning. I've been thinking about the Antarctic Treaty and it's importance on the world's stage. I didn't realize that since 1993, the Antartic Treaty bans dogs.
According to USA Today, "This action was taken because of evidence that the canine disease distemper was spreading to Antarctica’s seals." There may be other reasons not stated, but expeditions with dogs are a thing of the past. George W Gibbs, Jr., spoke fondly of the dogs and the dog drivers on his trip. They were essential to pull gear and help f ind crevasses for the ice party. We chose the picture ( at the top of this blog) of my father with dogs for this reason.
According to USA Today, "This action was taken because of evidence that the canine disease distemper was spreading to Antarctica’s seals." There may be other reasons not stated, but expeditions with dogs are a thing of the past. George W Gibbs, Jr., spoke fondly of the dogs and the dog drivers on his trip. They were essential to pull gear and help f ind crevasses for the ice party. We chose the picture ( at the top of this blog) of my father with dogs for this reason.
Travel the World for Free
This is not my style (thanks to all my donors!), but very interesting story.
Here's a man who went to Antarctica from Europe for free and barter.
30,000 tourists go to the continent per year. 10K from Germany, 10K from USA and 10K from UK. According to the Frozen Planet series, it's the holy grail for those of Anglo heritage. That makes George W Gibbs Jr. story, as a person of African heritage, even more unique.
Here's a man who went to Antarctica from Europe for free and barter.
30,000 tourists go to the continent per year. 10K from Germany, 10K from USA and 10K from UK. According to the Frozen Planet series, it's the holy grail for those of Anglo heritage. That makes George W Gibbs Jr. story, as a person of African heritage, even more unique.
One of the last Survivors from the USAS Expedition
Here are some articles about his story. Tony remembers my father as a very nice man, who served the crew well from the galley.
Snow Crusier
I'm posting again -George W Gibbs Jr standing in front of the infamous Snow Crusier, at Litlle America III, 1940. Dr. Thomas Poultier was the designer. His grandchildren contacted me after seeing the Denver Post article.
A Post from Another Expedition Antarctica: Penguins, Finally!
Christine Dell'Amore of National Geographic News wrote a great post on 1/15/11.Expedition Antarctica: Penguins, Finally!
It's a different experience when you do to McMurdo ( more the interior of Antarctica). It's possible to go all the way there and not see penguins if you don't go to the coast. This is a great post. My father stayed close to the coast, so he saw much wildlife!
Weird and Wild: 5 Weirdest Antarctica species
Hello! We think of penguins, birds and seals when speaking about Antarctica. Check these!
Oh and enjoy the eclipse later today.
Oh and enjoy the eclipse later today.
Cold as Ice
I found this documentary,- Cold as Ice about 3 kayakers who paddled 700 miles down the coast of the peninsula. It captures the beauty and adventure very well. It makes me think of the USS Bear and how dangerous and exciting it was to be in the area. I also laughed about their contact with seals because they walked right by them and put up their tent! Makes me understand my desire to make contact.
Antarctic Glacier Retreat
This is the theme for the week- ice melting! I'm grateful to have seen a
portion of Antarctica. Everything I see now, is amazing in the context
of what it was like 70 to 100 years ago. The hardships people endured
to see it! Here's another look at the melting.
More on How Much Antarctica has Changed
More on how Antarctica has changed. Ice shelf in Antarctica has shrunk by 85% -
Images taken by a satellite show that the Larsen B ice shelf decreased from 4,373 square miles in 1995 to only 634 miles today- from Mother Nature Network
Also,this looks like a compelling film by Polar explorer Eric Larsen from Boulder, CO. He's saying similar things that I say about climate change- let's at least have the conversation about what we're learning.
When asked about his polar adventures-Why do this? He says "Because it might not be here (any more)"
Antarctica is Melting
I keep saying that which ever side you're on regarding climate change is fine, as long as we have deep dialogue about what we are learning and what we wish to create for the future. It's critical, I believe to have authentic conversation about we what we learn and feel about climate change. Here is a link in the Christian Science Monitor that shows Antarctic melting. Also posted on Twitter by @Antarcticnews : Polar explorer Eric Larsen uses expeditions to talk about climate change - Boulder Weekly.
Finally, the ocean is changing near Antartica-Researchers in Hawaii discover king crabs threaten seafloor life near Antarctica
Finally, the ocean is changing near Antartica-Researchers in Hawaii discover king crabs threaten seafloor life near Antarctica