A unique friendship has seen two budding thrill-seekers, aged 40 and 72, embark across Antarctica in the trip and challenge of a lifetime.
Unlikely friends Michael Steel, 40 and Pauline Bisson, 72, are on a mission to raise awareness of the devastating effects climate change is having on our planet.
Great-granny Pauline is ‘addicted’ to adrenaline-pumping adventures and has previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, completed the Everest Base Camp challenge and braved a parachute jump in a bid to feed her daredevil side.
Now she and Michael, both from Hampshire, have undertaken a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to discover Antarctica.
For Pauline, who is a mum-of-six and a great-grandmother-of-one, this adventure has been her most thrilling to date. While there, she took part in a Polar Plunge amongst the ice caps even thought she is scared of water.
‘I jumped and went right under, I drank half of the sea, it tasted salty and it was freezing,’ Pauline said.
‘I’m terrified of water, so I wasn’t going to do the Polar Plunge – I didn’t even take a bathing costume but it was absolutely amazing.’
The pair started their trip in March 2023 and set off from Punta Arenas, Chile, before flying across the Southern Ocean to Antarctica.
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Guided by a team of polar experts, marine biologists and historians, they sailed the icy waters and witnessed the most spectacular sights, including penguins and falling glaciers.
While in awe at the natural world, the melting glaciers – which could lead to issues within our ecosystem – played on their minds throughout.
Michael said: ‘Much of the marine life feeds on krill, which live under the ice and if there’s little-to-no ice, they can’t fill up. This impacts the rest of the ecosystem and there’s a lot of concern that marine animals will starve.
‘Adélie, Emperor and Chinstrap penguins are the most at risk of these effects of climate change, as the ice is their breeding and resting ground. The mission for me was to learn about the impact of [this issue] and we got a sense of how special this continent is.’
Other aspects of their trip included seeing glacial volcanoes, humpback whales and scenic landscapes of the mountains. However, one of their most surreal moments included a trip to Deception Island.
While there, they sailed past Neptune’s Bellow, a narrow entrance to the active volcano and discovered the remains of a whaling station forgotten-in-time.
Michael, who is managing director of national training provider Kiwi Education, explained: ‘It’s like going to a different planet, a completely surreal place. The geology expert told us that when the first explorers visited 150 years ago, they saw what we saw, so you’re in a time capsule.’
For Pauline, the trip has also helped her to learn more about climate change and the issues it presents – as well as allowing her to get out of her comfort zone.
The inseparable pair first met back in 2004 at their previous job. Despite their closeness now, they initially didn’t get on very well. Yet, during a trip to the aforementioned Mount Kilimanjaro in 2008, Micheal and Pauline bonded over their passion for adventure.
Pauline, who used to be a ‘woman of luxury,’ has now switched up her lifestyle for a more natural approach.
‘I never thought I’d do challenges like I have,’ she noted. ‘I was a person of luxury, but I was feeling sorry for myself after my husband left me when I was 51. A friend suggested I do a 100km trek across the Great Wall of China and it all started there.
‘When I was married, I was used to luxury hotels and flying business class – but now I sleep on rocks and I couldn’t be happier.’
The intrepid great-gran says her friendship with Micheal ‘means everything’ to her, as he encourages her to try new things.
‘He’s made me more adventurous and our relationship is so unique because of our age gap,’ continued Pauline.
‘He brings me back down to earth and makes me realise not everything is from the 60s or 70s. I never think about doing something else and I say: ‘I’m too old now” – but then a new challenge crops up and I sign up because my mouth moves before I speak.’
Michael admits he is awe of Pauline’s spirit, commenting: ‘We’re an unlikely pairing, but sometimes those are the best ones. I admire her tenacity and determination.’
Meanwhile, Pauline wants people to know that age doesn’t matter – you can do whatever you set your mind too.
‘It’s about your mindset,’ she added. ‘My children know I’m mad, but I’d rather be mad and happy, than sad and sane.’
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