There are few travel destinations with a more dramatic allure than the Earth’s northernmost and southernmost points. The Poles have regularly received the bravest of explorers — few others would conquer their vast, icy terrain, so far removed from the populated world. Decades have passed since those first heart-stopping expeditions, and the “edges of the earth,” as the Poles are sometimes called, are now much easier to reach and enjoy than they once were. This week, together with Quark Expeditions, we want to take your temperature (pun intended) on polar travel — what its greatest charm is, what makes you hesitate, and how it might change in the coming years. This Thursday 10/15, at 2pm EST, we’ll be joined by our friends at Quark (@QuarkExpedition), who make polar travel by boat effortless, and co-hosts who have ventured into the cold and lived to tell the tale:
Pei Ketron (@pketron): photographer focused on travel and humanitarian work
Dave and Deb (@theplanetd): travel couple, bloggers, & adventurers
Maji Bransfield (@Captain_Maji): traveler, photographer and videographer
Courtesy of our friends at Quark, two lucky chat participants will also win a Polaroid Cube — perfect for shots on the go.
If you are unavailable during the chat time but would still like to participate, feel free to schedule your tweets according to the times listed below:
Q1 – 2:00pm EST
Welcome to our #PassionPassport Twitter Chat on Polar Travel with @QuarkExpedition! Where are you joining us from today?
Q2 – 2:05pm EST
What is the furthest North or South that you’ve traveled before? How’d you get there? Share a photo!
Q3 – 2:10pm EST
What polar destination are you eager to explore? Why?
Q4 – 2:15pm EST
Our friends @QuarkExpedition, with their Explorers’ Collection, travel to the world’s most remote places. Where is the most remote place you’ve visited?
Q5 – 2:20pm EST
The Arctic or the Antarctic? Which would you visit and why?
Q6 – 2:25pm EST
What are a few of your packing essentials for cold weather? Share a photo!
Q7 – 2:30pm EST
What would you be most excited to see at the poles? Wildlife, weather, something else?
Q8 – 2:35pm EST
What’s your biggest hesitation about traveling into the polar regions?
Q9 – 2:40pm EST
Climate change is an issue that affects the poles considerably. How do you think travel in those places might adjust accordingly?
Q10 – 2:45pm EST
How do you protect your photo or video gear in extreme conditions like cold, wind, and water?
Q11 – 2:50pm EST
Many people reach the poles via ship. Have you traveled by boat before? Would you be up for it?
Q12 – 2:55pm EST
Have you published any photos or stories from your remote or polar travels? Share a link!