New discussion group for Wilderness and Expedition Medicine

I've just started a new Facebook group called "Wilderness and Expedition Medicine (de terris ad astra) (From the Earth to the stars!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1617797711879794/. 

This group has been set up to create a community of people who are interested in wilderness and/or expedition medicine and human physiology in extreme environments, whether that be in challenging environments on the Earth, such as the alpine or polar regions, underwater or at high altitude, or in the context of space exploration. 

Its purpose is to share information of interest, including journal articles, updates and courses and conferences, and to engage in relevant discussion.

If this is also an interest of yours, please feel free to join!

Polar Dreams – Antarctica and the Arctic

On 18th July I attended a World Expeditions Adventure Presentation on voyages to the Arctic and Antarctica presented by Greg Mortimer.

From their blurb:
“Greg Mortimer is a pioneer in Polar tourism. Antarctica and the high Arctic have dominated his life for the past three decades. Greg has worked as a geologist in Antarctica, was one of the first Australian’s to climb Minto, the continents highest peak, and has personally led over 80 voyages to the region since 1992. No other Australian has more passion, or knows more about the Polar Regions, than Greg.

Join Greg as he outlines the numerous opportunities available to you to experience the wild untamed magnificence of Antarctica and the high Arctic. Discover what you could be doing in some of the world’s most precious and extreme wilderness landscapes, from South Georgia to the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula to the remote Ross Sea and as far north to Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland.

Greg’s visual voyage will provide you with a deep insight into the wildlife, history, majestic icescapes and of course what it’s like on board our ships and what gear you’ll need to take.”

Greg is a very humble person despite his many and varied achievements and it was a very enjoyable evening as he shared his personal account of what it is like to visit the polar regions.

Having lived and travelled extensively in Norway, including an Expedition Medicine course near Alta in the Norwegian Arctic, and visited Iceland (promptly falling in love with the remarkable landscapes), visiting places like Greenland and Svalbard and seeing polar bears (my favourite animal) up close and personal (but not too close!) is on my “bucket list” and readers of this blog will know that I have long had a hankering to visit and/or work in Antarctica. For a couple of years I have been trying to ‘get a gig’ as a ship’s doctor with one tour company, but no luck so far (keenly competitive as you might imagine – no pay but you get the trip for free!).

Greg shared his stories, personal impressions and some stunning photographs of Svalbard and Spitzbergen, Iceland, Greenland and Franz Josef Land (not a place many of us had heard of before) and some close encounters with polar bears. He also talked about the amazing bird life.

Moving to the other end of the world, he talked about Ushuaia, the setting off point in Argentina, the voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the main Antarctic continent and Macquarie Island and the varied climates, terrains and animal life in these different areas. There was one fun photo of ‘camping out’ in Antarctica under the midnight sun!

Greg told us that he had been to Antarctica 100 times, and holds a wealth of knowledge about the polar regions and its history. He will be leading some of the trips during the 2012-13 season, including a new “Ross Sea Explorer” trip travelling from New Zealand to Antarctica.

Based on what I saw during the presentation, World Expeditions appears to be a reputable, professional and responsible company and would be well worth considering if you are thinking about a trip to the polar regions. As for me, I would still love to go so will have to continue working on trying to find that ‘lucky break’!

For further information see:
www.worldexpeditions.com
info@worldexpeditions.com.au

Antarctic Dreams ...

Thursday 31 March 2011
After a sleepless night and an early start, off to Hobart for the day for an interview with the Australian Antarctic Division. The last time I was in Hobart was two years ago when I attended the Australian Resuscitation Council Conference with a Ski Patrol colleague, who sadly died far too young late last year from a sudden event.

07:00 Leave home by taxi
10:30 Arrive at Antarctic Division
Interviews
15:30 Leave by taxi
18:50 Home

By amazing coincidence, along one edge of the runway perimeter is a row of neat green fir trees, which instantly reminded me of my beloved Oslo (Gardermoen Airport). Our approach to Hobart was over the ocean on a clear morning. A whole forest of fluffy sea fronds was visible below the surface, and the shadow of the 'plane grew larger and larger on the water as we came in to land. In the terminal we all had to present our hand luggage to the cute and industrious sniffer dog seeking out contraband fruit and vegetables (Tasmania being an island). Hobart is very spread-out around the harbor and surrounding hills, but in the centre of town there are still many elegant colonial-era sandstone buildings. There is also the famous Constitution Dock (Sydney to Hobart yacht race) and Salamanca Place (preserved colonial warehouses now shops, restaurants and an outdoor market).

The AAD headquarters in Kingston (about 20mins south of town) comprises a sprawling complex of buildings somewhat like the Tardis - bigger on the inside than the outside, and has an educational centre and library (both watched over by several stuffed huskies) and cafe, with glass cabinets full of jumbled fluffy toy Antarctic animals with their noses pressed up against the glass intently imploring for a quick release.

Australia operates four year-round research bases - Macquarie Island and the Antarctic Casey, Davis and Mawson Stations, each needing at least one resident doctor.