PACKING FOR ANTARCTICA

If you are remotely thinking about going to Antarctica, don't let anything stand in your way. GO! It is a fantastic trip. And do it while you are young. The older you are, the tougher it is.

After you have made your reservations, the company will send you a list of things to bring with you. I strongly suggest you bring the following:

1. Waterproof pants - take the best you can afford. I thought I could get by with the cheap plastic ones I had on hand. What a mistake! They ripped on almost every zodiac excursion we took. I walked around with electrician's tape in the crotch of my pants - and I was never sure I was protected from the elements. Do take a better pair.

2. Boots - make sure they are the full 14-16 inches that are suggested. I bought a pair at a garage sale for $1.00. My roommate paid over $40.00 for hers. Mine worked just as well and I left them on the ship, didn't have to cart them home again. Make sure you can walk comfortably in them.

3. Binoculars - do bring binoculars if you have them, or can borrow some.

4. Backpack - Absolutely essential. All you need is a simple, small nylon one for holding your camera, gloves, etc., whatever you might want with you when going ashore on a Zodiac excursion. Don't wait to buy one on board ship because they are very expensive and they don't always have enough.

5. Fleece sweat suits - Would have been great to put on after the swim. Also, there were times when it was cool aboard ship and they would have been very comfortable.

6. Flannel shirts - There were many times when I wish I had had flannel or sweat shirts to put on. They would have been much more satisfactory than the sweaters I took.

7. Nylon tights - also would have been good aboard ship.

8. Insulators - I made some insulated footware to wear inside my boots. They truly made a difference. They were much warmer than just wool socks.

9. Seasick patches - or whatever you use. The seas are very rough over the Drake Passage and better to have them than not and wish you had brought them.

10. Camera/video camera/tape recorder - Do bring something to take pictures with. This is such an unusual trip and you probably will never go back. So capture the images with something. I highly recommend a camcorder as you can get the sounds as well as the images. If you are bringing a still camera and have a small tape recorder, bring it. The sounds of the whales, the ship going through ice, the penguins - all are worth having on tape.

11. Everything the company suggests - If you have questions about any item, email me. See below.

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