"In the tradition of Jane Goodall and Ernest Shackleton, biologist Terrie Williams and seven of her fellow scientists embark on an Antarctic expedition to study one of the world's most mysterious creatures, the Weddell seal." "These are the field notes of an adventurous scientist who travels to the ends of the earth with a dedicated team of explorers to follow the Weddell seal as it plunges to the depths below Antarctica. It is the story of nature and high tech science on ice in the face of whiteout blizzards, persistent frostbite, and bone-chilling temperatures."

"Capturing both Antarctica's grandeur and challenges with a poignant voice, Terrie traces the journey of her team from their cold weather training to their ordeals on the ice. It does not take long to discover the humbling and unforgiving nature of the landscape as each venture outside brings its own set of dangers - from near fatal blizzards to the perpetual threat of the unpredictable sea ice sinking below their boots. The team takes to heart the 100-year-old experiences of past Antarctic explorers including Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton. Survival and success in Antarctica always depends on teamwork."--Jacket.