In a remarkable return to Journey with Jake, Jamie Edwards took us on an extraordinary expedition to the Arctic, building on her previous Antarctic adventures from Episode 84. This time, Jamie’s journey was made even more special as she traveled alongside her 21-year-old daughter and 82-year-old stepfather—three generations experiencing the remote wonders of the Far North together.
Photos Courtesy of Jamie Edwards
Jamie’s Arctic expedition began with flights from DC to London to Helsinki, then continued on a charter flight to Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. From there, her group boarded the expedition ship Ultramarine, operated by Quark Expeditions. Unlike traditional cruises, these polar expeditions are purpose-built adventures designed specifically for navigating icy waters and providing an immersive experience in some of Earth’s most remote environments.
One of the most striking differences between the Arctic and Antarctica, as Jamie explained, is the wildlife. While Antarctica is famous for its penguin colonies, the Arctic offers the thrill and inherent danger of polar bears. These magnificent creatures can smell prey from up to 20 miles away and swim for days without stopping—facts that added an element of cautious respect to every shore excursion. The expedition team constantly scanned shorelines through powerful scopes before allowing passengers to disembark from zodiac boats, ensuring everyone’s safety while respecting the bears’ territory.
The expedition wasn’t just about passive observation; it was deeply active and engaging. Each day featured two to three-hour excursions, whether hiking across the tundra or sea kayaking among icebergs. Jamie described the incredible experience of kayaking while seals playfully popped up around them, and the humbling sound of glaciers calving—a thunderous crack that, sadly, signals the accelerating effects of climate change in the region.
Perhaps most poignant was Jamie’s reflection on climate change. At the Svalbard Museum, she saw comparative photographs showing the dramatic recession of glaciers over the past century. This visual evidence, combined with firsthand observations of calving glaciers, created a powerful impact that made her reconsider her own environmental choices back home. For her daughter, witnessing these changes firsthand provided crucial real-world context to her studies.
The expedition ship itself created a unique social environment that Jamie described as almost familial. Expedition team members—ranging from ornithologists to glaciologists—shared meals and drinks with passengers, creating connections that transcended the typical tourist experience. For Jamie’s daughter, these interactions revealed exciting career possibilities combining adventure with environmental work. 
Despite being someone who typically dislikes cold weather, Jamie embraced the Arctic adventure fully—even participating in the tradition of the “polar plunge,” hurling herself into the frigid Arctic waters alongside her brave daughter (though her stepfather wisely abstained). These shared experiences created bonds and memories that transcend typical family vacations.
Jamie’s journey reminds us that travel’s true value lies in transformation—entering with one perspective and emerging with another. Through her Arctic expedition, she gained firsthand knowledge that changed her understanding of a remote yet critically important part of our world. Now, through sharing her experiences, she hopes to inspire others to explore, learn, and perhaps gain their own transformative perspectives on our changing planet.
