This piece is adapted from an email shared with Aurora Expeditions by long-time passenger Val Jessop. Val has travelled extensively with Aurora over the years, experiencing some of the most remarkable regions of Antarctica and the Ross Sea. Her reflections capture not only the enduring appeal of the polar regions, but also the passion, expertise and care that have made Aurora voyages so memorable for generations of travellers.
My first trip to Antarctica was in 1997/1998 with my 15-year-old daughter, Joanna, who now lives in Ireland.
The voyage travelled from Perth to Hobart via the Australian Antarctic Division bases of Mawson and Davis. Sadly, the ice defeated us that season and we were unable to reach Casey Station. We had a wonderful group on board, including many former Antarctic Division employees. One passenger was the first post officer at Casey, and he was particularly disappointed that we weren't able to revisit the station.
The voyage coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Australian Antarctic Division, and we were privileged to spend time with many fascinating explorers and Antarctic veterans as we made our way through the ice. By the end of the journey, we were thoroughly hooked.
Greg and Margaret Mortimer were the best and most engaging expedition leaders anyone could hope for!
Since then, I have returned to Antarctica many times. I visited the Antarctic Peninsula in March 2000 and again in November 2001. During the first of those voyages, we enjoyed a superb landing on Elephant Island. We spent two hours watching a glacier calve while Margaret read passages from Shackleton's story. It was an unforgettable experience.
As the weather deteriorated, the skill of the expedition team became especially apparent. Crew members stood waist-deep in the water, catching and steadying the Zodiacs against the rocks so that we could step aboard safely and remain completely dry. That is what I call giving 250% effort to ensure guests have an extraordinary experience. To top it all off, shortly after I returned to the ship, a nearby iceberg rolled over. What a day!
In 2003, I travelled to Mawson's Huts with my middle daughter. We were fortunate enough to enjoy both a morning and afternoon landing under glorious conditions, with clear skies and no wind. It was a perfect day to experience one of Antarctica's most historic sites.
My travels continued with a Ross Sea voyage in 2006 and another journey in 2008, when Greg was celebrating the 20th anniversary of his ascent of Mount Minto in 1988.
Needless to say, we are completely hooked on Aurora.
My passion for Antarctica actually began in childhood. My great-aunt married Sir George Simpson, the meteorologist on Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition. Simpson spent much of his life studying why that particular expedition experienced such exceptionally cold conditions. Later research by an American scientist concluded that it had been a one-in-a-hundred-year weather event.
Simpson's grandson kindly sent me a stamp from the expedition along with an official sheet of expedition stationery. Years later, standing inside Scott's Hut and seeing Simpson's workbench and bunk was an incredibly moving experience. I was even able to walk up to the weather station above the hut where he had conducted his observations.
I tell people about Antarctica all the time, but unless you've been there, it's difficult to fully convey how extraordinary it is. I often joke that I was much colder during seventeen years of standing beside children's hockey fields in the Southern Highlands than I ever was in Antarctica. As the Scandinavians say: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."
All of this is a very long way of saying thank you to Greg, Margaret and the entire Aurora team, both onboard and behind the scenes, for the many wonderful experiences and memories they have given us over the years.
Kind regards,
Val Jessop
