Here's you chance to actually touch something from Antarctica if you haven't been there yet. Of course there's a story behind that.
Before going to Antarctica in January 2019, four people asked me to drop off trackables for them. Knowing that we wouldn't be going near any traditional caches, I prepared a metal ammo can with labels, a Rite in the Rain notebook, pens, pencils and swag, hoping to get permission to place it at the mail stop that was planned on our trip. I even brought a cable and lock to secure it so that penguins wouldn't be able to steal the container.
Plans change. Instead of going to the mail stop, we were given the rare opportunity to visit Danger Islands. This remote location gets an average of one visit a year from any type of vessel due to its remoteness, thick sea ice and treacherous waters. The captain and crew discovered that conditions were unexpectedly perfect to go there. None of them had ever been there before. They met with all of us passengers explaining the pros and cons. There was the excitement of going there, although should anything change, we would head back to where we had started without making any landings. They asked approval from the passengers, and with that given, went back to the bridge to plan the course.
Along the way we saw ice sheets a mile or more in length. In the morning, we took a Zodiac boat trip to one of the ice floes where I gleefully laid down and made a snow angel. On a Zodiac trip around the islands whales, seals, and, of course, penguins were spotted.
Our afternoon shore landing was on Heroina Island, one of the Danger Islands which are home to an estimated 1.5 million Adélie penguins. One of the first things we spotted was a penguin slide. They lined up at the top of an enormous rock and slid down it, splashing into the water. One reluctant penguin stood at the top for a bit, and when he tried to turn around and go back, the others shoved him down!
As a result . . . the ammo can came home with me. It is now one well traveled ammo can that is truly brought to you from Antarctica - in its entirety.
When placed, everything, including container, contents and trackables had been to Antarctica. Over time that will change; however, the ammo can, the log book, and the cable will allow you to say, "I have touched something that has been in Antarctica. (The only things missing are the sounds and the guano odors.)
ohjoy! with some of the 1.5 million penguins on Danger Islands
Answer the questions below to get the location of the start point for this cache. There you will find a container giving the final coordinates and a hint. Parking and other details are in the puzzle checker.
The first stage will get you on the best trail. Find it at N 47° 0A.BCD W 122° 5W.XYZ.
A = _____ The first expedition to reach the South Pole was led by:
- if Shackleton, A = 4; if Amundsen A = 3
B = _____ Antarctica's most abundant land animal is:
- if a bird, B = 4; if a worm, B = 3
C = _____ Antarctica, the largest single mass of ice on Earth, is also the largest desert in the world.
- if false, C = 4; if true, C = 3
D = _____ The average thickness of Antarctic ice sheets is greater than one mile.
- if true, D = 4; if false, D = 3
W = _____ = the number of native reptiles found in Antarctica.
X = _____ The Antarctic Treaty, dedicating the continent of Antarctica to peaceful research activities, was first signed in 195X. Originally signed by 12 countries, almost 50 nations have now signed the treaty.
Y = _____ = the number of species of flowering plants found in Antarctica.
Z = _____ = the number of species of trees and shrubs found in Antarctica.
Bonus fact that intrigues me. There is an entire 750 miles long mountain range, the Gamburtsev Mountains, with peaks rising to 9,000 feet across the interior of the continent. They are completely buried under up to 15,750 feet of ice.
