Folkerts tells Rotary about his trip to Antarctica

BROOKINGS — The Brookings Rotary Club heard a compelling program on April 21, 2026, when member John Folkerts shared highlights from his February journey to Antarctica. His presentation, titled “Journey to Antarctica,” offered insights into scientific research, wildlife, and international cooperation in one of the most remote locations on Earth.

Folkerts described Antarctica as a land of extremes, where the ice averages 7,300 feet thick, reaching depths of more than 14,000 feet. If the ice were to melt entirely, global sea levels would rise by about 200 feet. Temperatures can swing from 20 degrees above to 20 degrees below zero in minutes, and the continent has recorded the coldest temperature on Earth at minus 128 degrees Fahrenheit.

Folkerts explained that the Antarctic Treaty, first signed in 1959 by twelve nations and now supported by fifty-nine, prohibits military activity and commercial exploitation while encouraging open scientific exchange. Research stations, the only structures permitted, are often built on stilts or skis to prevent burial beneath blowing snow. Studies focus on meteorites, ice cores, and glaciology, but any minerals discovered are used only for research and not for mining.

Folkerts shared observations of abundant wildlife, including seven whale species, seals, and multiple penguin varieties. He noted that polar bears live only in the Arctic, while Antarctica’s largest land animal is the two-millimeter-long springtail insect. Photographs captured what he described as “a world of glass and light,” with colossal glaciers and icebergs, some as large as states, reflecting vivid blue colors in crystal-clear water.

The presentation also highlighted the history of Antarctic exploration, recounting Ernest Shackleton’s legendary Endurance expedition of 1914–1916. Shackleton’s original recruitment notice openly warned of “hazardous journey, bitter cold, and safe return doubtful,” yet thousands volunteered.

Folkerts’ expedition route began in Buenos Aires and continued along both coasts of Patagonia, then through the Falkland Islands before reaching the Antarctic Peninsula. He described navigating variable conditions that forced them through several “Plan A to D” route changes due to moving ice. The return trip across the Drake Passage—often notorious for rough seas—was calm, earning the nickname “the Drake Lake.”

Folkerts credited the ship’s captain and crew for expert seamanship in navigating 20-foot seas and ice-choked waters, emphasizing safety and wonder throughout the journey.

One unique moment of the voyage was mailing a postcard from Port Lockroy, the southernmost post office in the world. The postcard cost one dollar, the stamp eight dollars, and it took two months to arrive back in the United States.

Looking ahead, Folkerts plans future travels, including a Norway–Iceland–Greenland expedition and, in 2028, a 22-day trip deep into the Amazon River basin.