The first was camping on the continent of Antarctica. We dug a hole in the snow and set up our triple-layered sleeping bag. It was actually very cozy. A glacier nearby "calved" (broke off) at the end, so there was a loud crack in the middle of the night that woke me up.
The second activity was a polar plunge, where we jumped into the water of the Southern Ocean. It was 31 degrees, which is below freezing! It only didn't freeze because of the salt in the water. To compare, a pool is usually heated to 80 degrees, and the Pacific Ocean off California is usually about 68 degrees. I had to get out of the water right away and quickly build up my body heat again.
I read "Endurance" by Alfred Lansing, which tells the story of Ernest Shackleton and his incredible journey of survival across Antarctica over the course of 17 months. It's a tragic story with a happy ending!
I played poker with other travelers on the boat, but on land we just hiked and looked at the scenery.
