It was as daring an adventure as has been made in modern times. For the first time, three men were going to kayak the 800-kilometer length of the Antarctic Peninsula. The peninsula is a finger of land jutting north from the northwestern corner of the ice shelf. It is there that the swells of the Southern Ocean, with a world to gain speed, meet the ice and rock of the coldest continent. Temperatures reach zero at their highest. Icebergs bigger than ships lie in wait. Brash ice-smaller chunks-can fill a bay and completely cut off access to shore. The Antarctic wind-the katabatic-is notoriously brutal, and can go from zero to gale force in an hour. Here is the tale of the journey-undertaken by three New Zealanders-and what they found on the edge of 14 million kilometers of ice and rock. They were paddling within sight of the epic landings of the sealing captains of the nineteenth century, and their story is here, too, along with notes on many of the greatest explorers of the frozen south. From the first day, when they attempt to make a midnight camp in the middle of a penguin rookery, to the grueling final hours, this is a rare adventure, told with wit and perception-a new classic of the genre. In January 2001 three men set out to paddle down the length of the Antarctic Peninsula, the point below South America where the Antarctic continent points a finger north. It was to be the southernmost sea kayak journey ever attempted, a 528-mile expedition through the freezing waste of ice, rock, and ocean that makes this one of the most inhospitable coasts on earth. The Frozen Coast is the story of this ultimately successful journey, undertaken by three New Zealanders: Graham Charles, Mark Jones, and Marcus Waters. Beginning at Hope Bay on the northern tip of the peninsula, they spent the next five weeks battling down this perilous coastline, negotiating huge expanses of broken ice, avoiding collapsing icebergs, dodging the potentially lethal katabatic winds, and constantly struggling with the cold and wet. Eventually the trio succeeded in reaching their goal - the Antarctic Circle at 66 degrees South. This book is a gripping account of a great adventure and a fascinating insight into one of the most extreme sea kayak expeditions ever undertaken. GRAHAM CHARLES is a photographer, writer, and adventurer. MARK JONES is an outdoor instructor at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre. MARCUS WATERS is a senior corporate consultant at Deloitte and Touche, and a flatwater kayak racer. SARAH MOODIE, formerly a newspaper reporter and magazine editor, is currently a freelance journalist and writer. She is a dedicated outdoor enthusiast who seeks recreation in the rivers, bush, and mountains of New Zealand. FROZEN COAST is her second book. Used Book in Good Condition