Paddling through the Antarctic Archipelago

Traveler’s Journal

When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28

Where: Guy Cole Event Center, 202 N. Blake Ave.

Cost: Suggested $5 donation (adults); 18 and younger, free

Presenter: Jeff Selby

Presentation: ‘Paddling Through the Antarctic Archipelago’

I had been lucky enough to have traveled to the continents of North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia before having the opportunity to plan a trip Antarctica.

Having grown up on the Olympic Peninsula, I spent a great deal of time bike riding around the town and foothills, hiking in the Olympics, skiing at Hurricane Ridge, water skiing on lakes Crescent, Sutherland and Ozette. My father was an outdoorsman and introduced my brother and me to the many outdoor activities, which I continue to enjoy today.

With a desire to check off the last two continents on my bucket list, I began planning my Antarctica trip in 2007. My friend and I began looking for companies that offered a kayaking option with their Antarctica tour. We chose an 11-day trip operated by Mountain Travel Sobek, which runs adventure trips all over the world.

The route of the tour began in the world’s southernmost town of Ushuaia, Argentina, on the island of Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. Stopping at many anchorages, research stations and islands along the way, we would make our way through the protected channels on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula to within a mile of the Antarctic Circle.

We were even able to imbibe some of the locally produced vodka at one of the Russian stations!

Along the way we were able to paddle among many varieties of whales, penguins, seabirds, and seals, always shadowed by a Zodiac run by one of the Russian crew members. The ice formations and glaciers were astounding. The scenery was massive and the wildlife spectacular.

Our weather was generally good throughout the trip, interrupted only by the very predictable wind during the crossing of the Drake Passage from the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego to the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The crossing takes two full days, navigating through some very big water.

At times we were taking green water over the bow or a 400-foot ship. (The dining room and bar were very sparsely visited during this time!)

We were allowed to tour the bridge at any time, which afforded the opportunity to take some great photos.

All in all it was a trip of a lifetime. I would recommend it to anyone with an adventurous nature and a desire to see one of the wildest places on the planet.

About the presenter

Born in Seattle and raised in Port Angeles, Jeff Selby spent much of his childhood biking around the town and county, swimming and skiing on the lakes of the Olympic Peninsula, skiing at Hurricane Ridge and hiking most of the trails in Olympic National Park.

Selby earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in applied mathematics from Santa Clara University.

Selby spent his career in software development and testing with Boeing and Lockheed and spent two-and-a-half years in England on a project for the Ministry of Defence. He also traveled extensively in England and Europe, skiing and hiking.

About the presentations

Traveler’s Journal isa presentation of the Peninsula Trails Coalition with local adventurers sharing their stories and photos with you. All of the money raised is used to buy project supplies and food for the volunteers working on the Olympic Discovery Trail.

Admission is $5 adults, youths 18 and under free. Shows start at 7 p.m. at the Guy Cole Event Center at Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.

Each year the dream of a continuous trail from Port Townsend to Forks gets a little closer. In 2017, about 200 volunteers put in more than 9,000 hours of labor on the trail.

One selected photo enlargement will be given each week as a door prize.

Call Arvo Johnson at 360-301-9359 for more information.