Jaunted

Still, that didn't stop our expedition mates from exploring the broken-down wooden buildings left behind from an old whaling station, checking out fur seals that made a home in the remnants of an abandoned rendering tank or climbing a steep slope up to the break in the caldera wall known as Neptune's Window.

Sulfurous clouds lingered above the shoreline as evidence that hot lava flowed beneath our feet. And so the debauchery began: The expedition team dug a hot-water pool on the beach as voyagers peeled away seemingly endless layers of snow pants, fleece jackets, long johns, wool socks and rubber boots.

Jumping into the frigid ocean was enough to make your heart stop, and going underwater was required in order for the Antarctic plunge to "count." Sprinting into the hot-water pool afterwards surprisingly burnt our toes.

While most took the plunge in bathing suits or underwear, two brave souls actually stripped down naked. Besides bragging rights, we'd scored a surefire conversation starter: Nothing beats a story about a brisk Antarctic skinny dip at a dinner party.

--Holly Corbett

Related Stories:
· Antarctica Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Field Trips [Jaunted]

Tags: Jaunted Field Trips / Jaunted in Antarctica / Antarctica Travel / Active Travel / Holly Corbett / Animals

by pbb