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Iced In: Ten Days Trapped on the Edge of Antarctica
-The Antarctic Factor: if anything can go wrong, it will. It's basically Murphy's Law on steroids...- --Chris Turney
On Christmas Eve 2013, off the coast of East Antarctica, an abrupt weather change trapped the Shokalskiy-- the ship carrying earth scientist Chris Turney and seventy-one others involved in the Australian Antarctic Expedition--in a densely packed armada of sea ice, 1400 miles from civilization. With the ship's hull breached and steerage lost, the wind threatened to drive the vessel into the frozen continent, smashing it to pieces. If nearby floating icebergs picked up speed, they could cause a devastating collision, leaving little time to abandon ship and potentially creating an environmental disaster. The forecast offered no relief--a blizzard was headed their way.
As Turney chronicles his modern-day ordeal, he revisits famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's harrowing Antarctic expedition almost a century prior. His ship, Endurance, was trapped and ultimately lost to the ice, forcing Shackleton and his men to fight for survival on a vast and treacherous icescape for two years. Turney also draws inspiration from Douglas Mawson, whose Antarctic explorations were equally legendary. But for Turney the stakes were even higher-- for unlike Shackleton or Mawson, he had his wife and children with him.
Yet there was another key difference: Shackleton and Mawson were completely cut off; Turney's expedition was connected to the outside world through Twitter, YouTube, and Skype. Within hours, the team became the focus of a media storm, and an international rescue effort was launched to reach the stranded ship. But could help arrive in time to avert a tragedy?
A taut 21st-century survival story, Iced In is also an homage to Shackleton, Mawson, and other scientific explorers who embody the human spirit of adventure, joy in discovery, and will to live.
On Christmas Eve 2013, off the coast of East Antarctica, an abrupt weather change trapped the Shokalskiy-- the ship carrying earth scientist Chris Turney and seventy-one others involved in the Australian Antarctic Expedition--in a densely packed armada of sea ice, 1400 miles from civilization. With the ship's hull breached and steerage lost, the wind threatened to drive the vessel into the frozen continent, smashing it to pieces. If nearby floating icebergs picked up speed, they could cause a devastating collision, leaving little time to abandon ship and potentially creating an environmental disaster. The forecast offered no relief--a blizzard was headed their way.
As Turney chronicles his modern-day ordeal, he revisits famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's harrowing Antarctic expedition almost a century prior. His ship, Endurance, was trapped and ultimately lost to the ice, forcing Shackleton and his men to fight for survival on a vast and treacherous icescape for two years. Turney also draws inspiration from Douglas Mawson, whose Antarctic explorations were equally legendary. But for Turney the stakes were even higher-- for unlike Shackleton or Mawson, he had his wife and children with him.
Yet there was another key difference: Shackleton and Mawson were completely cut off; Turney's expedition was connected to the outside world through Twitter, YouTube, and Skype. Within hours, the team became the focus of a media storm, and an international rescue effort was launched to reach the stranded ship. But could help arrive in time to avert a tragedy?
A taut 21st-century survival story, Iced In is also an homage to Shackleton, Mawson, and other scientific explorers who embody the human spirit of adventure, joy in discovery, and will to live.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 26, 2017
99 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Chris Turney
12Ìýbooks22ÌýfollowersProfessor Chris Turney is an Australian and British Earth scientist. He has recently completed a prestigious Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship at the University of New South Wales. He has published over 200 research papers. At 47 years, Chris has been described by The Saturday Times (UK) as ‘the new David Livingstoneâ€�.
In 2013-2014, Chris led the Australasian Antarctic Expedition which aimed to extend over a hundred years of scientific endeavour in the region and communicate the value of science and exploration of this remote and pristine environment (). Chris' latest book 'Iced In' (published in North America by Kensington Press) describes the latest scientific thinking from the frozen continent and the expedition's entrapment by a major breakout of decade-old sea ice during the Christmas period. Chronicling the team's discoveries and experiences, 'Iced In' revisits famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's harrowing Antarctic expedition almost a century before when his ship, Endurance, was trapped and ultimately lost to the ice, forcing his team to fight for survival on a vast and treacherous icescape for two years.
Chris leads a research team at the University of New South Wales and is passionate about science communication. He regularly contributes articles to the media on the discoveries and value of science and has give numerous media interviews. Taking expeditions around the world and using the latest satellite technology, Chris and his team report their discoveries under the banner of 'Intrepid Science'. In 2007, he was awarded The Sir Nicholas Shackleton Medal for outstanding young scientist for pioneering research and in 2014, the Australian Academy of Science's Frederick White Prize for the understanding of natural phenomena.
Chris is the inventor and a founding Director of Carbonscape, a New Zealand carbon refining company that offers a global solution for mitigating the effects of climate change; in 2009, it was selected as the Judges Top Choice in the Financial Times Climate Change Challenge and in 2012 came runner up in the International Dutch Postcode Lottery Green Challenge.
Chris is married and has two gorgeous children.
In 2013-2014, Chris led the Australasian Antarctic Expedition which aimed to extend over a hundred years of scientific endeavour in the region and communicate the value of science and exploration of this remote and pristine environment (). Chris' latest book 'Iced In' (published in North America by Kensington Press) describes the latest scientific thinking from the frozen continent and the expedition's entrapment by a major breakout of decade-old sea ice during the Christmas period. Chronicling the team's discoveries and experiences, 'Iced In' revisits famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's harrowing Antarctic expedition almost a century before when his ship, Endurance, was trapped and ultimately lost to the ice, forcing his team to fight for survival on a vast and treacherous icescape for two years.
Chris leads a research team at the University of New South Wales and is passionate about science communication. He regularly contributes articles to the media on the discoveries and value of science and has give numerous media interviews. Taking expeditions around the world and using the latest satellite technology, Chris and his team report their discoveries under the banner of 'Intrepid Science'. In 2007, he was awarded The Sir Nicholas Shackleton Medal for outstanding young scientist for pioneering research and in 2014, the Australian Academy of Science's Frederick White Prize for the understanding of natural phenomena.
Chris is the inventor and a founding Director of Carbonscape, a New Zealand carbon refining company that offers a global solution for mitigating the effects of climate change; in 2009, it was selected as the Judges Top Choice in the Financial Times Climate Change Challenge and in 2012 came runner up in the International Dutch Postcode Lottery Green Challenge.
Chris is married and has two gorgeous children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 29, 2024
ma ei läheks ise iial ei Arktikasse ega Antarktikasse (mulle ei meeldi lumi ja jää), aga mulle hullult meeldib lugeda reisikirju neist kohtadest.
tavaliselt need reisikirjad on sellised... äparduste jadad otsast lõpuni muidugi. nii et mul läks päris tükk aega, et elada sisse selle suhteliselt värske loo (2013-2014 aastavahetus) suhteliselt lihtsasse laabumisse - tuli teadlastel mõte teha ekspeditsioon Antarktikasse, leiti erarahastus, valiti kaasa sellised teadlased ja vabatahtlikud, kes inimestena kõige toredamad tundusid (isegi mõned korraldajate oma pereliikmed said tulla), kaasati ohtralt avalikkust ja sotsiaalmeediat (selle nimi on "teaduse populariseerimine", aga suht abiks on, kui saab seda teha hiiglasliku tehnoloogiafirma logo all ja raha eest), renditi venelastelt laev koos meeskonnaga ja seilati Uus-Meremaalt minema, ja kõik see juhtus kokkulepitud ajakava ja eelarve piires.
nagu pealkiri lubab ja kohe sissejuhatuses aimu antakse, lõpuks ikka mingi jama juhtub - laev jääb Antarktika ranniku lähedal jäässe kinni ja kümne päeva pärast evakueeritakse kogu rõõmus kamp helikopteriga. no ma saan aru, et see oli kohalolijate jaoks kõige erutavam osa, aga lugejana ausalt öeldes oleks vist tahtnud natuke lühemalt kuulda sellest viimasest nädalast. mu hinne raamatule kukkus viie tärni pealt neljale selles kohas eelviimases peatükis, kus autor mõtiskleb oma perekonda (lapsed 12 ja 15 ehk siis mitte mingid tited) vaadates, et "We've been through one of the most grueling experiences imaginable. It would have broken many people..." nagu, cry me a river. kohe järgmises lõigus räägid meile ise lõpuni selle loo, kuidas samamoodi jäi 1915. aastal jäävangi Ernest Shackletoni ekspeditsioon "Endurance'il" ja kuidas nende laev pressitigi puruks ja nad pidid kuude kaupa jää peal telkima, siis paadiga mitusada miili järgmisele saarele sõitma ja seal veel kuude kaupa päästmist ootama ja kokku võttis see kõik mingi poolteist aastat neil. ja sinu nädal aega 21. sajandi laeval lõputute toiduvarude ja kiire internetiühendusega ja teadaolevalt nelja jäälõhkujaga sinu poole teel on "grueling experience"? ja siis kaks lehekülge hiljem annad Times Square'i uusaastapeolistele (ülekandel 70 miljonit vaatajat) otseintervjuud.
ma muidu sellest osast saan täitsa aru, miks see pidev internetiühendus ja sotsiaalmeediasse postitamine ja otsesaadetes esinemine ja koolilastega videokõnede pidamine oluline oli - raamatu lõpus võetakse see kenasti uuesti kokku, et kliimamuutusega me ei suudagi midagi ära teha, kuni inimesed ei hakka paremini aru saama, kuidas teadus ja loodus toimivad. eraldi äramärkimist saab USA tollane president, kes ei aidanud asjade käigule kaasa tviidiga, et kliimasoojenemist poole olemas, sest vaadake, teadlased on laevaga jääs kinni. (sisurikkuja: ilma kliimasoojenemiseta pooleks see jää selles kohas olnud). see on kõik mõistetav. aga ikkagi tekkis lugedes kohati igatsus selle aja järgi, kus laevad olid puust ja mehed rauast ja kaamerad ei salvestanud vahetpidamata ja kõik polaaruurijad ei kõõlunud kogu aeg sateliitinterneti otsas ja kakaopulber oleks ära söödud, selle asemel, et seda kasutada jää peale helikopteri maandumisplatsi märkimiseks :) (juhtus päriselt!)
tavaliselt need reisikirjad on sellised... äparduste jadad otsast lõpuni muidugi. nii et mul läks päris tükk aega, et elada sisse selle suhteliselt värske loo (2013-2014 aastavahetus) suhteliselt lihtsasse laabumisse - tuli teadlastel mõte teha ekspeditsioon Antarktikasse, leiti erarahastus, valiti kaasa sellised teadlased ja vabatahtlikud, kes inimestena kõige toredamad tundusid (isegi mõned korraldajate oma pereliikmed said tulla), kaasati ohtralt avalikkust ja sotsiaalmeediat (selle nimi on "teaduse populariseerimine", aga suht abiks on, kui saab seda teha hiiglasliku tehnoloogiafirma logo all ja raha eest), renditi venelastelt laev koos meeskonnaga ja seilati Uus-Meremaalt minema, ja kõik see juhtus kokkulepitud ajakava ja eelarve piires.
nagu pealkiri lubab ja kohe sissejuhatuses aimu antakse, lõpuks ikka mingi jama juhtub - laev jääb Antarktika ranniku lähedal jäässe kinni ja kümne päeva pärast evakueeritakse kogu rõõmus kamp helikopteriga. no ma saan aru, et see oli kohalolijate jaoks kõige erutavam osa, aga lugejana ausalt öeldes oleks vist tahtnud natuke lühemalt kuulda sellest viimasest nädalast. mu hinne raamatule kukkus viie tärni pealt neljale selles kohas eelviimases peatükis, kus autor mõtiskleb oma perekonda (lapsed 12 ja 15 ehk siis mitte mingid tited) vaadates, et "We've been through one of the most grueling experiences imaginable. It would have broken many people..." nagu, cry me a river. kohe järgmises lõigus räägid meile ise lõpuni selle loo, kuidas samamoodi jäi 1915. aastal jäävangi Ernest Shackletoni ekspeditsioon "Endurance'il" ja kuidas nende laev pressitigi puruks ja nad pidid kuude kaupa jää peal telkima, siis paadiga mitusada miili järgmisele saarele sõitma ja seal veel kuude kaupa päästmist ootama ja kokku võttis see kõik mingi poolteist aastat neil. ja sinu nädal aega 21. sajandi laeval lõputute toiduvarude ja kiire internetiühendusega ja teadaolevalt nelja jäälõhkujaga sinu poole teel on "grueling experience"? ja siis kaks lehekülge hiljem annad Times Square'i uusaastapeolistele (ülekandel 70 miljonit vaatajat) otseintervjuud.
ma muidu sellest osast saan täitsa aru, miks see pidev internetiühendus ja sotsiaalmeediasse postitamine ja otsesaadetes esinemine ja koolilastega videokõnede pidamine oluline oli - raamatu lõpus võetakse see kenasti uuesti kokku, et kliimamuutusega me ei suudagi midagi ära teha, kuni inimesed ei hakka paremini aru saama, kuidas teadus ja loodus toimivad. eraldi äramärkimist saab USA tollane president, kes ei aidanud asjade käigule kaasa tviidiga, et kliimasoojenemist poole olemas, sest vaadake, teadlased on laevaga jääs kinni. (sisurikkuja: ilma kliimasoojenemiseta pooleks see jää selles kohas olnud). see on kõik mõistetav. aga ikkagi tekkis lugedes kohati igatsus selle aja järgi, kus laevad olid puust ja mehed rauast ja kaamerad ei salvestanud vahetpidamata ja kõik polaaruurijad ei kõõlunud kogu aeg sateliitinterneti otsas ja kakaopulber oleks ära söödud, selle asemel, et seda kasutada jää peale helikopteri maandumisplatsi märkimiseks :) (juhtus päriselt!)
October 4, 2017
I received this book from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.
Iced in: Ten Days Trapped on the Edge of Antarctica is a grand adventure. A true story of ice and steel.
On Christmas eve, 1400 miles from civilization, the Shokalskiy's crew and passengers were celebrating while being held tight in mother nature's cold, ruthless embrace. The holiday's infectious cheer was only mildly dampened by a shadowy unease of their predicament. All was well and warm.
Outside, a bizarre raged.
An armada of colossal icebergs surrounded the vessel, threatening titanic devastation if the current or wind shifted just right.
Zero visibility.
The book starts out slow and easy about the technicality's of making the privately founded research expedition possible. A lot of teamwork, a lot of generous support, and long, long hours on the grind to make it happen. It dwells on the researchers that will be joining the team and all the science, data, and samples they hope to collect. It is heavily stressed that every single thing is reliant- and at the mercy- of Antarctica's finicky, dangerous weather.
Exactly in the smack middle of the book is when the Ice creeps in and traps them and things start to get even more interesting. In my opinion, the story is well worth the wait.
Additionally, Shackleton and Mawson's adventures are included. Which makes it sooo much better.
Two amazing and unbelievable Arctic adventures for one!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am nearly sick with envy. I wish I could've been there- Icebergs and all.
Iced in: Ten Days Trapped on the Edge of Antarctica is a grand adventure. A true story of ice and steel.
On Christmas eve, 1400 miles from civilization, the Shokalskiy's crew and passengers were celebrating while being held tight in mother nature's cold, ruthless embrace. The holiday's infectious cheer was only mildly dampened by a shadowy unease of their predicament. All was well and warm.
Outside, a bizarre raged.
An armada of colossal icebergs surrounded the vessel, threatening titanic devastation if the current or wind shifted just right.
Zero visibility.
The book starts out slow and easy about the technicality's of making the privately founded research expedition possible. A lot of teamwork, a lot of generous support, and long, long hours on the grind to make it happen. It dwells on the researchers that will be joining the team and all the science, data, and samples they hope to collect. It is heavily stressed that every single thing is reliant- and at the mercy- of Antarctica's finicky, dangerous weather.
Exactly in the smack middle of the book is when the Ice creeps in and traps them and things start to get even more interesting. In my opinion, the story is well worth the wait.
Additionally, Shackleton and Mawson's adventures are included. Which makes it sooo much better.
Two amazing and unbelievable Arctic adventures for one!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am nearly sick with envy. I wish I could've been there- Icebergs and all.
December 22, 2019
The author, Chris Turney, gathered together many people in 2013/2014, mostly scientists, to travel to Antarctica to do some research. Antarctica is a dangerous place, as the weather and ice conditions can change in a heartbeat. This group was lucky enough to start off with a number of good weather and ice days, but things quickly changed on Christmas Eve and they ended up locked in by ice.
This was really good. Turney also recounts Ernest Shakleton’s story of being trapped 100 years earlier, so he goes back and forth between his crew and Shakleton’s. As the leader of the expedition, and impressed by how Shakleton had handled things in his time, Turney made decisions based on “what would Shakleton do?�. It’s a different world now, though, as compared to during Shakleton’s time when no one knew what had become of Shakleton and his crew. With Turney’s group, they kept in connection via radio, satellite phone, social media, and were able to call in for help. Even still, there were times where things were dicey, and they really weren’t sure when or if they’d be able to get everyone out safely.
This was really good. Turney also recounts Ernest Shakleton’s story of being trapped 100 years earlier, so he goes back and forth between his crew and Shakleton’s. As the leader of the expedition, and impressed by how Shakleton had handled things in his time, Turney made decisions based on “what would Shakleton do?�. It’s a different world now, though, as compared to during Shakleton’s time when no one knew what had become of Shakleton and his crew. With Turney’s group, they kept in connection via radio, satellite phone, social media, and were able to call in for help. Even still, there were times where things were dicey, and they really weren’t sure when or if they’d be able to get everyone out safely.
January 2, 2018
Good source material, but I wasn't particularly impressed. Draws parallels between their plight as a science vessel stuck in ice and Shackleton's Endurance, but I found myself wishing for more details about the survival and science rather than the importance of posting to youtube.
February 13, 2021
7 years ago in Dec 2013, an Australian Science team, with volunteers from all over the world, headed south to the Antarctica to do some research. Not so much for global warming but to find out what was causing the weather systems to change. in 2009 a huge iceberg had lodged itself next to the coast at Cape Denison and the ecosystem in and around that area was drastically changed. This was the same area that the Australian explorer Douglas Mawson had attempted to explore in 1913. He and his team had built a hut and it was preserved for the future. This new team were more or less following the footsteps of Douglas Mawson.
The science teams Russian ship became stuck in ice and the easterly winds prevented the ice from moving elsewhere (it was pushed up hard against the coast) so after several days, the decision had to be made to issue a distress call.
2 other ships had come to rescue this team. One was chinese and the other was an australian ice breaker. The chinese ship also became stuck in the same ice, thanks to the same prevailing easterly winds. The Australian ice breaker tried, but the pack ice and those winds meant that it could not venture any closer or it too would get stuck.
The chinese ship had a helicopter. The plan was made for the helicopter to rescue the passengers from the russian ship and ferry them to the Australian ice breaker. In the spirit of coordination. This was successfully completed with 4 trips being made on 2nd January 2014. The crew of both the russian and chinese ships stayed on board their respective ships.
The Australian icebreaker then sailed back to Tasmania in Australia.
5 days after the rescue, the winds finally changed and both the russian and chinese ships were finally able to break through the ice and get to open water.
There were concerns that the science team had been careless in even going down to the Antarctica, but the team leader said that nature is not under human control. And the Antarctica weather is unpredictable. There was no way to see or know what would happen. And it could have happened to anyone.
This was an enjoyable book to read, BUT there was also a LOT of comparison between the 2013 science team and Ernest Shackletons trip to the Antarctica 100 years earlier. He had planned to trek to the south pole, but the changing weather ruined that idea. He was lucky that everyone in his team survived, especially after they had to be split up.
I found the parts about the 2013 team interesting, but the parts about Shackleton may be a little boring. I would give this 4 stars.
You only need to read the entire book if you really admire Ernest Shackleton or you can skip the Shackleton parts altogether.
The science teams Russian ship became stuck in ice and the easterly winds prevented the ice from moving elsewhere (it was pushed up hard against the coast) so after several days, the decision had to be made to issue a distress call.
2 other ships had come to rescue this team. One was chinese and the other was an australian ice breaker. The chinese ship also became stuck in the same ice, thanks to the same prevailing easterly winds. The Australian ice breaker tried, but the pack ice and those winds meant that it could not venture any closer or it too would get stuck.
The chinese ship had a helicopter. The plan was made for the helicopter to rescue the passengers from the russian ship and ferry them to the Australian ice breaker. In the spirit of coordination. This was successfully completed with 4 trips being made on 2nd January 2014. The crew of both the russian and chinese ships stayed on board their respective ships.
The Australian icebreaker then sailed back to Tasmania in Australia.
5 days after the rescue, the winds finally changed and both the russian and chinese ships were finally able to break through the ice and get to open water.
There were concerns that the science team had been careless in even going down to the Antarctica, but the team leader said that nature is not under human control. And the Antarctica weather is unpredictable. There was no way to see or know what would happen. And it could have happened to anyone.
This was an enjoyable book to read, BUT there was also a LOT of comparison between the 2013 science team and Ernest Shackletons trip to the Antarctica 100 years earlier. He had planned to trek to the south pole, but the changing weather ruined that idea. He was lucky that everyone in his team survived, especially after they had to be split up.
I found the parts about the 2013 team interesting, but the parts about Shackleton may be a little boring. I would give this 4 stars.
You only need to read the entire book if you really admire Ernest Shackleton or you can skip the Shackleton parts altogether.
October 9, 2017
I have always enjoyed reading accounts of Shackleton and his boat, Endurance, which led me to read this account of Chris Turney' s expedition to Antarctica; that and a co-workers recommendation. I admit I am not much of a non-fiction reader, but this book had me in its grip early on. The Prologue was but a tease for what was to follow.
His personal story was amazing. Comparing and contrasting it to the expeditions before him was enlightening. Antarctica is definitely a continent not to be taken lightly.
Apart from the adventure and adversity of this expedition I also found the scientific part of this expedition quite informative. His explanations for the many procedures they use to date the earth, to study the effects of global warming and the insight into global warming
was quite educational.
Truly worth the read.
And, worth the 5�'s!
His personal story was amazing. Comparing and contrasting it to the expeditions before him was enlightening. Antarctica is definitely a continent not to be taken lightly.
Apart from the adventure and adversity of this expedition I also found the scientific part of this expedition quite informative. His explanations for the many procedures they use to date the earth, to study the effects of global warming and the insight into global warming
was quite educational.
Truly worth the read.
And, worth the 5�'s!
March 31, 2023
I usually don’t read non-fiction but I enjoyed this book and became engrossed in the story. In the first part of the book, author and earth scientist Chris Turney, describes all the action necessary to create the scientific goals of an Australasian Antarctic Expedition, find funding, recruit a mix of scientists and other professionals to go along, and hire a Russian ship, the Shokalskiy, already fitted for polar exploration. Personally, I found that material a little less interesting; it could have been shortened up or more summarized. But the story picked up nicely once the expedition got underway. The experiments got off to a good start, as the title implies, eventually and with no warning, pack ice closed up around the ship. Turney’s account of the 10 days stuck in the ice rapidly became more interesting and dramatic. Interspersed with the current day story, Turney details a fascinating account of the famous Shackleton expedition of 1915, built around quotes from diary entries made by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew of men who were stuck in the ice for months and eventually watched from the ice as their ship was crushed and sank. The Shackleton account was fascinating, very well presented by Turney as he interwove that story with what the members of the Australasian Expedition were going through as they waited, and hoped, for rescue. For the last 2/3 of the book, I give the author high marks.
Shelved as 'physical_to-read_stack'
November 4, 2017I received my copy free through Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Firstreads
October 11, 2017
The author sums up his exploit taking place in the most unforgiving part of our earth in 16 words...
"The Antarctic Factor: if anything can go wrong, it will. It's basically Murphy's Law on steroids..." --Chris Turney
Readers of history will like the way Turney has compared Shackleton, (1914-1917), and Douglas Mawson (1958) experiences in the Antarctic to the ship Shokalskiy's, (2013). We've all heard of Shackleton, but probably not Mawsen. He built huts in eastern Antarctica that are still there today, despite nearly constant blizzards.
The account begins...
On Christmas Eve 2013, off the coast of East Antarctica, an abrupt weather change trapped the Shokalskiy-- the ship carrying earth scientist Chris Turney and seventy-one others involved in the Australian Antarctic Expedition--in a densely packed armada of sea ice, 1400 miles from civilization. (Be sure to look at the amazing photographs at the end of the book.) Especially awing is the picture of the Endurance as it was trapped in ice. The abrupt weather change caused Shokalskiy's hull to be breached and steerage lost. The wind threatened to drive the vessel into the frozen continent, smashing it to pieces. If nearby floating icebergs picked up speed, they would cause a devastating collision, leaving little time to abandon ship and potentially creating an environmental disaster. The weather forecast offered no relief--a blizzard was headed their way.
The Shokalskiy ordeal is compared and contrasted to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's harrowing Antarctic expedition almost a century prior. His ship, Endurance, was trapped and ultimately lost to the ice, forcing Shackleton and his men to fight for survival on a vast and treacherous icescape for two years. Yes two years! Another explorer, one that had never heard of Is included in this account; Douglas Mawson, whose Antarctic explorations were equally legendary. Even though Turney never lost communication with the world through twitter, Facebook, Skype and YouTube, his stakes were higher-- unlike Shackleton or Mawson, he had his wife and two children with him.
Due to this connectivity, within hours, the team became the focus of a media storm, and an international rescue effort was launched to reach the stranded ship. But could help arrive in time to avert a tragedy? The moving icebergs threatened to crush the ship and the weather threatened to cut the rescue process.
This 21st-century survival story is a homage to Shackleton, Mawson, and other scientific explorers who embody the human spirit of adventure.
I enjoyed living the adventure from the warmth and safety of my home. At age 65 I enjoy my adventures by reading quality books like Iced In. Thank you Chris Turney and I'm happy this had a happy and successful ending.
"The Antarctic Factor: if anything can go wrong, it will. It's basically Murphy's Law on steroids..." --Chris Turney
Readers of history will like the way Turney has compared Shackleton, (1914-1917), and Douglas Mawson (1958) experiences in the Antarctic to the ship Shokalskiy's, (2013). We've all heard of Shackleton, but probably not Mawsen. He built huts in eastern Antarctica that are still there today, despite nearly constant blizzards.
The account begins...
On Christmas Eve 2013, off the coast of East Antarctica, an abrupt weather change trapped the Shokalskiy-- the ship carrying earth scientist Chris Turney and seventy-one others involved in the Australian Antarctic Expedition--in a densely packed armada of sea ice, 1400 miles from civilization. (Be sure to look at the amazing photographs at the end of the book.) Especially awing is the picture of the Endurance as it was trapped in ice. The abrupt weather change caused Shokalskiy's hull to be breached and steerage lost. The wind threatened to drive the vessel into the frozen continent, smashing it to pieces. If nearby floating icebergs picked up speed, they would cause a devastating collision, leaving little time to abandon ship and potentially creating an environmental disaster. The weather forecast offered no relief--a blizzard was headed their way.
The Shokalskiy ordeal is compared and contrasted to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's harrowing Antarctic expedition almost a century prior. His ship, Endurance, was trapped and ultimately lost to the ice, forcing Shackleton and his men to fight for survival on a vast and treacherous icescape for two years. Yes two years! Another explorer, one that had never heard of Is included in this account; Douglas Mawson, whose Antarctic explorations were equally legendary. Even though Turney never lost communication with the world through twitter, Facebook, Skype and YouTube, his stakes were higher-- unlike Shackleton or Mawson, he had his wife and two children with him.
Due to this connectivity, within hours, the team became the focus of a media storm, and an international rescue effort was launched to reach the stranded ship. But could help arrive in time to avert a tragedy? The moving icebergs threatened to crush the ship and the weather threatened to cut the rescue process.
This 21st-century survival story is a homage to Shackleton, Mawson, and other scientific explorers who embody the human spirit of adventure.
I enjoyed living the adventure from the warmth and safety of my home. At age 65 I enjoy my adventures by reading quality books like Iced In. Thank you Chris Turney and I'm happy this had a happy and successful ending.
October 21, 2024
I have a tendency to haunt the 919 section of the nonfiction area of various libraries, mostly to see what’s been published about Antartica and various expeditions. My family and I happened to be at a library just north of our hometown, and I found this book. It sounded interesting.
But this book put me off from the first. While I am sure Turney means well, even from the first when he’s describing how he came to be fascinated by polar exploration as a boy, there is quite a bit of chauvinism, and how exciting it is to be a man doing manly things. Even on his own expedition, anyone making real and valued decisions were men, his wife is really just his helpmeet in keeping people’s morale up, and while he waxes lyrical about his 12-year-old son becoming a man on the expedition, he rarely mentions any kind of growth within his daughter aside from her coming out of her shell. Of course, we cannot change the fact that most explorers were men, you would think that a man leading an expedition in 2013 would have had more women as part of his leadership.
I also did not think he had any right to compare his expedition with that of Shackleton. I am no fan of Shackleton, to be sure, but Turney and his expedition were trapped on a modern Russian ship for less than two weeks with food and running water and heat, plus navigational aids, satellite phones, and access to the internet. Shackleton had none of these things and spent nearly a year stuck in the ice, though it was another nine months before Shackleton’s epic rescue was effected. I also found it odd that Turney insisted on only giving the rosiest of pictures to his fellow expedition members; it wouldn’t do to dwell on the negative. But there is dwelling on the negative, and there is being realistic about options and outcomes.
In all honesty, I can’t recommend this book. I am glad Turney and his team were able to carry out important science before they were beset by ice, but this book had issues.
But this book put me off from the first. While I am sure Turney means well, even from the first when he’s describing how he came to be fascinated by polar exploration as a boy, there is quite a bit of chauvinism, and how exciting it is to be a man doing manly things. Even on his own expedition, anyone making real and valued decisions were men, his wife is really just his helpmeet in keeping people’s morale up, and while he waxes lyrical about his 12-year-old son becoming a man on the expedition, he rarely mentions any kind of growth within his daughter aside from her coming out of her shell. Of course, we cannot change the fact that most explorers were men, you would think that a man leading an expedition in 2013 would have had more women as part of his leadership.
I also did not think he had any right to compare his expedition with that of Shackleton. I am no fan of Shackleton, to be sure, but Turney and his expedition were trapped on a modern Russian ship for less than two weeks with food and running water and heat, plus navigational aids, satellite phones, and access to the internet. Shackleton had none of these things and spent nearly a year stuck in the ice, though it was another nine months before Shackleton’s epic rescue was effected. I also found it odd that Turney insisted on only giving the rosiest of pictures to his fellow expedition members; it wouldn’t do to dwell on the negative. But there is dwelling on the negative, and there is being realistic about options and outcomes.
In all honesty, I can’t recommend this book. I am glad Turney and his team were able to carry out important science before they were beset by ice, but this book had issues.
November 3, 2017
I have always been fascinated by the cold places on our planet. They are frightening, and yet things live there. Polar bears in the Arctic. Penguins in the Antarctic. I have always wondered why any living thing would adapt to such a forbidding climate, and yet they do. We humans have tried but are generally sent packing eventually with our tails between or legs. We return to hearth and home. Back to places less wild and forbidding.
This book is about modern explorers, and yet hearkens back to those who have gone before. This crew was trapped for only 10 days and didn't have to abandon ship and trek across the frozen landscape looking for salvation. But still, it makes us realize we are not the boss of nature. It is bigger than we are and we should learn to respect it more than we currently do.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in climate, the wild places still left on this planet, and the things that make people venture forth to learn more about them. My thanks to the author for sharing some history along with his own experiences and thoughts on the subject.
This book was sent to me by the publisher and Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ for review. Thank you.
This book is about modern explorers, and yet hearkens back to those who have gone before. This crew was trapped for only 10 days and didn't have to abandon ship and trek across the frozen landscape looking for salvation. But still, it makes us realize we are not the boss of nature. It is bigger than we are and we should learn to respect it more than we currently do.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in climate, the wild places still left on this planet, and the things that make people venture forth to learn more about them. My thanks to the author for sharing some history along with his own experiences and thoughts on the subject.
This book was sent to me by the publisher and Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ for review. Thank you.
January 10, 2019
ICED IN:TEN DAYS TRAPPED ON THE EDGE OF ANTARCTICA BY CHRIS TURNEY reads like a fictional tale of adventure,but let me assure you, this is NO fictional story. The author , his wife and two teenage children along with a crew, scientists, media and volunteers, encounter some of the most hostile weather on Earth and get stuck in an iceflow for ten harrowing days.
As I read ICED IN , I had to keep telling myself this is no fictional story where the main character breaks the ice with his bare hands and rescues the damsel in distress. This really happened to the team that went into the Antarctic to study and ended up being a world wide media event all thanks to today's internet world. I learned more about Antarctica from this book than any school book I have every read. The author lets you LIVE the expedition, lets the reader be a part of the expedition. A very well done book. I dont as a rule read and review true stories but ICED IN: TEN DAYS TRAPPED ON THE EDGE OF ANTARCTICA BY CHRIS TURNEY is well worth a second or third read.
I recieved this book free from goodreads in exchange for a honest review.
As I read ICED IN , I had to keep telling myself this is no fictional story where the main character breaks the ice with his bare hands and rescues the damsel in distress. This really happened to the team that went into the Antarctic to study and ended up being a world wide media event all thanks to today's internet world. I learned more about Antarctica from this book than any school book I have every read. The author lets you LIVE the expedition, lets the reader be a part of the expedition. A very well done book. I dont as a rule read and review true stories but ICED IN: TEN DAYS TRAPPED ON THE EDGE OF ANTARCTICA BY CHRIS TURNEY is well worth a second or third read.
I recieved this book free from goodreads in exchange for a honest review.
August 14, 2017
I am a huge admirer of Sir Ernest Shackelton, so when I saw this book I was excited to give it a read. I was so thrilled at how much Mr, Turney referenced Sir Shackleton and the voyage of the Endurance. I love how he used what he had learned from Sir Shackleton and used that knowledge to be such an effective leader to those on his expedition. Mr. Turney not only shared about the 10 days they were trapped in the ice, he explained the process of planning for the expedition including how Google helped with their "Doodle4Google" competition. He also shared the first part of the expedition which was 10 days on Snares, Auckland, and Campbell islands. While those parts of the story were not as exciting and intense, I really enjoyed hearing the background of the voyage. I found the knowledge I gained about ice bergs, particularly B09B very intriguing. Mr. Turney is a very gracious man and has nothing but kind words to say about all those who assisted in this expedition. He has Shackelton characteristics, though no one is Sir Ernest. His writing style is enjoyable and while it was not a book I read in one sitting, I enjoyed every moment I was reading this book. I give it a 4.5 star rating rounded up to 5
February 26, 2018
Chris Turney helped lead an Australian expedition of scientists, volunteers and his family to the Antarctic Commonwealth Bay to conduct research on the nearby B9B iceberg and the effect it is having on the east side of the continent. Interspersed with accounts of the famed Shackleton expedition, this book mixes present day adventure with tales from the past. The most eye-opening parts of this book have to do with the effects of climate change and how it has already affected the continent. Since Turney is a scientist, I wish more of the book had pertained to these findings. It is also jarring, the differences between the two expeditions and their prospective dangers. The peril that Shackleton and his contemporaries faced makes Turney’s ten days stuck in the ice, while also precarious, seem fairly light in comparison. I did enjoy this book, though, and gives a really great glimpse of a continent most of us will never visit. I receive a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2020
A scientist who knows the value of a story and can tell one well. Turney tells his own trapped in Antarctica story while interspersing the stories of Mawson and Shackleton. I appreciate his scientific explanations, and why the data and experiments are important to our global community. Being "trapped" in the house, I like his explanations for how to survive: keeping busy, being cooperative, not allowing negative talk/thinking to perpetuate, adapting.
"Start with the story, and then weave in the science." p 23
The boat they used (and really, the only one available in the world at that time) was a Russian vessel. It costs $31,000 a DAY. (p 43)
"[Shackleton] never wasted enery on things he couldn't change: 'A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old one goes to ground.' " (p 215)
Anyone can be a scientist, but conspiracings are more exciting - "make an observation, you test your ideas as honestly as you can, and the simplest explanation is most likely the answer." "Ignoring all this, idiots are publicly celebrating their ignorance..." (P 220)
"Start with the story, and then weave in the science." p 23
The boat they used (and really, the only one available in the world at that time) was a Russian vessel. It costs $31,000 a DAY. (p 43)
"[Shackleton] never wasted enery on things he couldn't change: 'A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old one goes to ground.' " (p 215)
Anyone can be a scientist, but conspiracings are more exciting - "make an observation, you test your ideas as honestly as you can, and the simplest explanation is most likely the answer." "Ignoring all this, idiots are publicly celebrating their ignorance..." (P 220)
August 17, 2023
I have very real mixed emotions about the first half of the book. It was a prolonged explanation of previous scientific forays into Antartica as well as the details of what it took to put the 2014-2015 expedition together. Whaile this background was quite boring, I persevered, and the second half of the book was worth the effort.
In the second half Turney brought the expedition to life and how those trapped in the ice were heroic. Flashing back to some of Shackelton's trials on the ice was interspersed as the current crisis was faced. Shackelton was certainly an inspiration to Turney as he kept panic at bay for the scientists and volunteers, as well as his wife and family, as they faced the uncertainty of what was going to happen to a ship in the Antarctic trapped in ice.
The Epilog was almost the best part as Turney explained how they would use the scientific evidence gathered during their trip.
It is important as a real-life observation of global warming, but I think there was too much background at the beginning, almost half the book.
In the second half Turney brought the expedition to life and how those trapped in the ice were heroic. Flashing back to some of Shackelton's trials on the ice was interspersed as the current crisis was faced. Shackelton was certainly an inspiration to Turney as he kept panic at bay for the scientists and volunteers, as well as his wife and family, as they faced the uncertainty of what was going to happen to a ship in the Antarctic trapped in ice.
The Epilog was almost the best part as Turney explained how they would use the scientific evidence gathered during their trip.
It is important as a real-life observation of global warming, but I think there was too much background at the beginning, almost half the book.
November 4, 2017
I received an advance reader's edition for this review.
The past week I've been preparing for a trip of a life time and I never left my chair. Chris Turney has taken me through the steps it takes to get to the Antarctica. WOW! Amazing amount of work, dreams and research these brave people do to help the rest of us understand our world just a little bit more.
This book also touches parts of the challenges explorers Ernest Shackleton and Douglas Mawson faced years ago. I enjoyed this added story telling though out the book helping bring alive just how dangerous and unforgiving the Antarctica can be.
The past week I've been preparing for a trip of a life time and I never left my chair. Chris Turney has taken me through the steps it takes to get to the Antarctica. WOW! Amazing amount of work, dreams and research these brave people do to help the rest of us understand our world just a little bit more.
This book also touches parts of the challenges explorers Ernest Shackleton and Douglas Mawson faced years ago. I enjoyed this added story telling though out the book helping bring alive just how dangerous and unforgiving the Antarctica can be.
April 16, 2018
I usually like adventure books but couldn’t get excited about this one. The author compares his adventure and his leadership challenges with Shakleton’s experience and it falls way short. Almost 10 days surrounded by modern conveniences, medical care and a solid ship in constant communication with rescuers from several nations hardly makes for a nail biter. Throwing in tales of the historic year-plus the other team spent alone on the ice floe was supposed to make us feel how bad things could get, but instead it just highlighted how little peril they actually faced. Disappointing.
August 10, 2019
A somewhat interesting book about a modern day scientific voyage to Antarctica. The author, Chris Turney, was also the leader of this expedition. The focus of the book as you might expect from the title is the trouble the ship encountered getting stuck in the ice. Turney compares this situation with that of Shackleton’s Endurance voyage but I find that comparison to be faulty at best.
Read the original Shackleton book about his voyage and rescue. It is 10 times more thrilling and exciting.
Read the original Shackleton book about his voyage and rescue. It is 10 times more thrilling and exciting.
September 4, 2017
Oh MYYYYYY, what an interesting book. I have read and enjoyed a few things about Shackleton and his Artic Expedition. This is similar but oh so very different. Turney, family and crew had the hope of rescue that Shackleton and others did not have. This group had Twitter, Facebook etc...
This was a great read that was full of adventure, cold and suspense.
My thanks to Netgalley and Citadel Publishing for providing me with this advanced readers copy
This was a great read that was full of adventure, cold and suspense.
My thanks to Netgalley and Citadel Publishing for providing me with this advanced readers copy
September 27, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a well written account of the questionable adventure of being stranded in Antarctica and the global attempt for rescue of group of scientists. With his family with him, Chris Turney feels as if he is in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton, early Antarctic explorer, trying to survive against the powerful elements of nature. A good read.
This is a well written account of the questionable adventure of being stranded in Antarctica and the global attempt for rescue of group of scientists. With his family with him, Chris Turney feels as if he is in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton, early Antarctic explorer, trying to survive against the powerful elements of nature. A good read.
March 26, 2018
I really liked the way Chris Turney interspersed his experiences with the accounts from Sir Ernest Shackleton and their amazing tale. I found myself wanting more of Shackleton, so that will lead to another book. This was well-written, despite some annoying side conversations written in italics. It was a book that I enjoyed at the beginning, lagged in the middle, then couldn't put down at the end.
April 26, 2018
Chris Turney spends a lot of time on the Shackleton expedition, compared to which, being trapped on a ship for ten days with modern conveniences pales. I would have preferred it if this book spent more time on the modern day expedition that the book was supposed to be about. Although it was interesting some parts of the book dragged for me.
February 21, 2025
An Exciting Science Expedition
This inspirational book has a little bit of everything for everyone. I now feel more knowledgeable about things of which I knew very little or none at all. And I have a new appreciation for our devoted scientists who share their knowledge and discoveries in an intriguing and exciting manner.
This inspirational book has a little bit of everything for everyone. I now feel more knowledgeable about things of which I knew very little or none at all. And I have a new appreciation for our devoted scientists who share their knowledge and discoveries in an intriguing and exciting manner.
September 30, 2020
Shackleton revisited
It was a page turner, not in haste to read on, but to find out if the book was about the entrapment of the research ship or flashbacks of Shackleton 1912, was hoping the next page would bring relief from boredom, was alas it did not.
It was a page turner, not in haste to read on, but to find out if the book was about the entrapment of the research ship or flashbacks of Shackleton 1912, was hoping the next page would bring relief from boredom, was alas it did not.
October 13, 2020
A bit drawn out for what actually happened. There's only so much 'gosh these icebergs might move and crush us' you can read in one book before it becomes a bit tedious. He sounds like a nice guy though and it's definitely good to make science (especially climatology) more accessible.
February 11, 2018
Gave a feeling for the many problems that can be faced by explorers. Liked his comparison of Shackleton's journey and his own.
February 9, 2024
And yet I still want to go to Antarctica. I enjoyed the history lesson along with his individual experience.
April 11, 2024
I enjoyed the juxtaposition of Shackleton's voyage with the authors scientific expedition. I will probably look up the blogs and videos that are referenced in the book.
October 1, 2024
paralleled Schackleton's journey
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