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Read one alum's travel experience -- Voyage to the Bottom of the World

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Background

Antarctica remains as ready for exploration and adventure as when the first Europeans reached its icy shores two centuries ago, or when Laurence McKinley Gould explored this continent more than 70 years ago. Twice the size of Australia and surrounded by frozen seas, Antarctica is home to an amazing concentration of wildlife.

Adventure

Taking advantage of the long days, you will explore vast colonies of penguins, observe some of the great whales, watch hundreds of seals resting lazily on ice floes, and marvel at the extraordinary variety of shapes, sizes, and colors of icebergs. The vistas are magnificent, with towering glaciers and dramatic cliffs that drop vertically into the sea. During the voyage, Shelby Boardman will present a geological and environmental perspective on the landscape. Eric Hillemann will discuss Gould’s life, his scientific achievements, and his adventures in Antarctica in the 1930s. In addition, scientists on board the ship will give seminars on Antarctica and its wildlife.

Ports of Call

You will sail from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, through Drake’s Passage to the South Shetland Islands, and on to the Antarctic Peninsula. Possible landings will include Peterman Island, King George Island, Port Lockroy, and the Danco coast.

Accommodations

A 100-passenger ship with a reinforced hull suitable for Antarctic sailing.

Faculty

Shelby Boardman, dean of the college and Charles L. Denison Professor of Geology, came to Carleton in 1971. Boardman has been involved in numerous geology field programs, as well as directing field research projects with more than 200 undergraduates.

College archivist Eric Hillemann came to Carleton in 1990 and holds master’s degrees in library science and American history. He has since written and lectured on various aspects of Carleton’s history and has coached the College’s academic quiz team, a perennial powerhouse in the world of academic knowledge competitions.

Endorsement

An actual card by Larry Gould endorsing Lindblad Expeditions as the "best" can be viewed in the right margin.