Antarctica doubles in size every winter, adding approximately 20 million square kilometers of ice to its original land mass---the equivalent of one and half USA's, two Australia's, or 50 UK's worth of glacier melt each year. Think about that. It's almost too immense to imagine.

Before this statistic, the great white continent was just ice at the bottom of the world. Now my mind is abuzz with facts I've pulled from every resource available. No Antarctica-related publication is safe from my curiosity.

Knowledge, however, is not a noble King penguin emerging from pristine waters. Facts cannot replace sunsets over glaciers, exploring rocky fjords in kayaks, herds of walruses lounging without worry.

Knowing a majestic place such as Antarctica exists in this modern world makes me happy beyond words. Before I was content to daydream in polar silence. But now this contest has changed my passive attitude. In fact, Quark Expeditions forever ruined my warm-fuzzy maybe-someday outlook. As it turns out, knowledge is power only when put into action. I want to act. I want to tread the great white continent. I want to visit the bottom of the world and compare it to my dreams. I want my five senses to make my current knowledge tangible while learning new information from Quark Expeditions' experienced staff. Then I want to share what I discover with the world via my blog.

Currently I'm on a 15+ month self-sustained bike tour through South America. Start: Colombia. Destination: Argentina. Side-trip: Antarctica? Due to a lack of finances I'm unable to explore Ecuador's Galapagos islands. Please vote for me---so I don't also miss this incredible opportunity to see Antarctica.

My brother will accompany me should I win. He and I would be forever grateful for your support. Please choose me and tell everyone you know to do the same!

Sincerely,

Trevor Wright