Blog Archives
Climate Change Is REAL!
The Vanishing Glaciers of Patagonia take readers on an expedition to the glaciers of Patagonia and shares the effect of Climate Change on this landscape. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Following discussions with the Corporación Nacional Forestal’s (CONAF) person in charge of the protected wildlands of the Aysén Province high up on Glacier Benito in 2017, I felt strongly that I should provide the people of Aysén Province of Chile, more information about the history of the exploration of their region from the sea.
Next, I wanted to establish a recent historical timeline for West flowing glaciers in this dynamic region for a further research paper.
Finally, I needed to obtain stories of explorers so that the many untitled photographs that I had found could be identified and labelled. With all this information, an excellent story emerged of a remote place.
Did you find anything in your research of this book that surprised you?
Finding and reading Commander Pringle Stokes (Captain of HMS Beagle in 1828) last journal in the Mitchell Library of New South Wales, Australia was extremely emotional. Here, there was a description of a place I had spent several months in 1972/73 and visited again in 2007, 2011 and 2017.
Viewing the original 1830 Royal Navy chart of the relevant Patagonian coastline was equally exciting as it showed clearly the two prominent glaciers and the associated icefield (for the first time).
Being able to link the grandchildren of the 1920/21 explorers to this part of their grandfathers lives was most rewarding.
Finally finding a photograph from 1920/21 of the edge of the great Glacier San Quintin that showed fresh ‘clean’ rocks intermingling with moss covered rocks which demonstrated that this glacier was experiencing a surge in 1920.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The most important idea to share is that these significant glaciers are thinning fast.
Another idea to share is that we must revisit the stories, photographs and documents from previous explorers to remote areas and revisit their locations to document the changes to our world.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Climate change is REAL!
Author Links: Website | Facebook | GoodReads
About theAuthor / compiler:
Martin Sessions, as a 24 year old Royal Navy Engineer Officer, spent five months in 1972/73, monitoring a west flowing North Patagonian Icefield glacier, one of the tasks of an 11 man British expedition. He next flew over the region in 2006 and was struck by the catastrophic changes. Returning again in 2007, 2011 and 2017, he led expeditions to measure the rapid surface lowering of the study glacier. As a result, he became familiar with the terrain traversed by Nils Pallin and Allan Bäckman and was able to ‘place’ their many uncaptioned photographs.
The Vanishing Glaciers of Patagonia
In The Vanishing Glaciers of Patagonia, Martin Sessions takes us on an expedition where the reader gets to appreciate nature and learn about geography in the most intriguing way. The book is about Glacier San Quintin, the largest glacier of the north Patagonian icefield on the west coast of Chilean Patagonia. With maps and illustrations, Martin Sessions takes the reader on a tour of South America and other parts of the world. When writing about technical, geographical terms, Martin Sessions knew how to make the complex terms and phrases understood by the average reader. The amazing information in this educational book will make you appreciate what the universe offers, be conscious about issues like climate change and different topographies, and be aware of the environment you live in.
When discussing a particular adventure, the author makes the reader feel like they are part of the journey. Each tale the author shares is outstandingly written and makes one wish they are part of the adventure. I like that the author makes the stories attention-grabbing even when writing about tragedies. One can feel the somber mood and still be interested in whatever the author is writing about. The author’s intention in The Vanishing Glaciers of Patagonia is to virtually transport you to different parts of the world as he shares his and other explorers’ experiences while also giving lessons on climate change.
Reading about the explorers, their stories, and their adventures gives one a different perspective. There are also tons of lessons for the reader, one of the primary beings how to plan for a trip and deal with unexpected obstacles. I enjoyed the stories in every chapter and especially loved reading about the San Tadeo Glacier. The narration is flawless, and the explorations, though sometimes a tad risky, were something any daring soul would want to try. I also learned that you cannot fight with nature, and despite man thinking that he is always in control, nature can humble you. I could picture the locations and scenes even when there were no photos.
The Vanishing Glaciers of Patagonia is an excellent read for those that enjoy books about nature and explorations. The wording, phrases used by the author, and overall mood in the book are inspiring. In addition, the stories shared, the tips found between the pages, and the excellent narration make me rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.
Pages: 288 | ISBN : 1922792314
LITERARY TITAN 