by Seb Coulthard
Ice Tracks badly kept secret is that adventurer, sailor, engineer and Shackleton aficionado Seb Coulthard is joining us on the Shackleton Centenary Voyage in 2016. We hope you enjoy the following article he kindly wrote for us.
“When the advent of radio communication and satellite navigation consigned the heroic age of Polar Exploration to the history books, it looked terminal – then came a resurgence of interest in one of the most inspiring protagonists of the period.
Countless explorers have stood on the shores of the remote Argentinian port of Ushuaia, tucked away amongst the beautifully picturesque mountains of Patagonia. Commonly referred to as the ‘Last Port to the Antarctic’ anyone boarding a ship here can expect an adventure of a lifetime. On route to the Antarctic Peninsula you will be faced with the world’s largest weather factory – an overwhelming reminder that Mother Nature is vast in comparison to the minute force of your ice strengthened ship carving a path through the mighty Southern Ocean.
At the age of 16 whilst sailing as a ‘boy before the mast’ a fresh faced Ernest Shackleton encountered the furious seas below 50 degrees latitude. Looking at the Admiralty charts of the period, it would have been difficult to miss the fact that only a few degrees further south lay a ‘blank nothing’. All the lines of longitude converged on one point with nothing in there to interrupt them for over two thousand miles across the vast frozen continent. It was no wonder that this sight stirred a young Shackleton to write:
“I felt strangely drawn towards the mysterious South. I vowed that someday I would go to the region of ice and snow and go on and on till I came to one of the poles of the Earth, the end of the axis upon which this great round ball turns.”
Be inspired and take heart of the journey you will be undertaking, because the legacy and heritage we celebrate by visiting these regions now belongs to all of us. The desire to know more about our world is a contagious feeling – and it’s important we inspire this tradition in others. It is the duty of every explorer. Just as it was for Shackleton and those before him.
You are in good hands.
The staff of Ice Tracks Expeditions will equip you with the knowledge and responsibilities you need to begin your journey to this pristine environment. Stepping ashore on a remote Antarctic island is the culmination of a great journey however, following the footsteps of great polar explorers comes with responsibility. Under the watchful eye of expedition staff, you will be equipped with awareness on how to approach wildlife, an understanding of the events which unfolded on those shores, and overcome fear (if any) when confronted with the extremes of Antarctica. But most importantly, you will have fun! You will be embarking on a journey of a lifetime, to shores seldom visited by human beings. You will encounter huge icebergs of cobalt blue ice, mountains which resemble the Himalayas rising out of the sea, and wildlife so exotic you will be humbled by their existence.
Chasing Shackleton
In February 2013, I was a member of the ‘Shackleton Epic Expedition’ team, which was set up at the behest of Shackleton’s grand daughter Alexandra Shackleton. The expedition was the first to re-enact Sir Ernest Shackleton’s boat journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia – to the astonishment of many, done using precisely the same equipment as Shackleton himself. From the clothing to the boat, the charts, the nautical almanac, the sextant and of course the diet. Every detail was faithfully recreated. It was a unique opportunity to explore history but also explore the mentality of hardy men who went before us. It was an incredibly humbling experience to step ashore at Peggoty Bluff after 12 days at sea, pick up a pebble, and kiss it!.
I’m delighted to join Ice-Tracks in order to share my experiences with guests either on-board ship or ashore amongst the mountains of South Georgia. I consider myself to be an empirical historian, a physical reenactor of the past – my speciality is Shackleton history. The Voyage of James Caird and crossing of South Georgia are two moments in Shackleton history which forged his greatness, in fact they leave one wondering “how on earth was all that achievable?”. I will do my best to impart my unique insight into what it may have been like to be in the company of ‘The Boss’. My experience of polar exploration changed my life, and I hope it enriches that of all guests who accompany the Shackleton Centenary Voyage”.
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