Matt of the Antarctic My year in Antarctica Week 1 - My Antarctic adventure begins! Hi, everyone! Well, here I am at the scientific research station in Antarctica, the coldest, windiest, and driest continent in the world! It's summer right now, so the weather is quite mild - it's 32F today! There are still a lot of gales, though, and of course, the sun never sets in the summer, which is really weird! Despite the freezing cold, the scenery and wildlife here are incredible. There are seals everywhere and yesterday I saw a humpback whale. Everyone is warning me about the winter here! The temperature will drop to about -40°F and the sun won't rise at all. There will only be 20 of us and we won't have any visitors for 7 months. It'll be difficult, but at least I'm going to be very busy. As a marine biologist, I'm going to study the way marine wildlife adapts to extreme temperatures. I'm also going to do a survey of the threatened Emperor Penguin. I can't wait to start! Tomorrow, all the newcomers are going on a survival course for a week with ski-doos and sledges. We're going to camp in the snow and learn things like what to do if we fall down a crevasse*. I hope there won't be a blizzard like the one we had on my first day here. Well, bye for now! I'll tell you all about the course when I'm back at the research station next week. Matt Now a go to said the 3b 1. Wok racing uses a Chinese frying pan, a helmet, and ladles. 2. River bugging requires an inflatable armchair and flippers. 3. Volcano surfing needs a board and protective clothing. 4. Quad racing uses a four-wheel motorbike and a helmet. 5. Bungee jumping requires an elastic rope. 6. Ice climbing needs an ice axe and boots with metal spikes. 7. Kite surfing uses a surfboard connected to a kite. 8. Extreme ironing requires an ironing board and an iron. This is 3c The Appalachian Trail If you want to hike through some of the most stunning scenery in North America, then the Appalachian Trail is for you. It takes over five million steps to walk it and only 1 person in 4 makes it all the way. What is it? The Appalachian Trail is a footpath that runs through 14 states from Mount Katahdin, Maine, in the north to Springer Mountain, Georgia in the south. It follows the Appalachian Mountains through over 2,000 miles of incredible natural beauty. What can I see? The trail passes through forests and valleys, across mountain tops and down rocky paths. It’s home to some wildlife you’ll want to see, and some you’ll want to avoid! There are harmless deer, moose, and raccoons, but there are also dangerous black bears, coyotes and bobcats. Don’t worry about getting lost. Every quarter-mile, there are white signs called ‘blazes’ on trees, rocks, and posts. If you climb above the forest, you’ll see a breathtaking view, but you’ll also see piles of stones called ‘rock cairns’ to guide you. Where can I stay? Most hikers stay at one of the 250 campsites and shelters (huts with an open front) along the trail.