Sir Ernest Shackleton can be considered one of the greatest leaders and explorers of his time. This letter to Becky tells about his unsuccessful expedition to cross Antarctica. Shackleton and his crew were marooned in the middle of the sea for 18 months and then on Elephant Island for many more.
Shackleton rescued the crew by navigating the frozen weddell sea in a life boat.
Everyone survived this expedition.
Dear Friends and Family,
As most of you know I will be leaving for Antarctica in less than two weeks. On October 6th I will head to Colorado for paperwork and training. Three days later I will begin the long trip to McMurdo station, Antarctica. I should be arriving on about the 13th of October.
I had considered writing a blog about this trip but then came up with this idea I am calling “Letters from Antarctica.” Instead of a cold impersonal blog thrown up on the internets for the masses to read indiscriminately, I will be writing (or making videos) addressed to my close friends and family, thrown on the internets for the masses to read indiscriminately. This letter is addressed to everyone but future letters will be for just one of you. Of course, if there is nothing to stop the entire world from reading it. This is the internet after all.
With only two weeks left before I head out things are relatively calm around here. I have nearly everything in order and only need to buy a few more items of clothes and some odds and ends. All of my paperwork is lined up (for the most part) and I think I’m all set.
For those of you who don’t know, I will be working at McMurdo station as a painter. I will be working in the carpentry shop most of the time but hopefully will have some opportunity to get out and about and see the continent a bit. As for the work I will be doing, I can only assume that I will be preparing and painting parts of prefabricated buildings. As this is my first year I can’t say for sure and will let you know the details when I know them.
I will keep you updated about my whereabouts and goings-on.