Joseph Granzow’s Journey to the Frozen Frontier
by Amanda Rink, Editor
For Joseph Granzow, stepping onto the slippery shores of Antarctica wasn’t just a vacation, it was a victory over illness, loss, and hardship.
Granzow, a music educator at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and former international teacher, achieved a lifelong goal when he set foot on his seventh and final continent. After years of planning, a pandemic delay, and a personal battle with cancer, he made it happen.
Granzow’s cancer journey began in late 2022 when doctors found a tumor in his esophagus. The tumor, along with part of his esophagus, was removed. However, the cancer spread to his back, neck, and brain, followed by an additional diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
Despite these challenges, Granzow remained determined. “With my cancer controlling my life now, I felt it was time to check this off my bucket list,” he said.
The journey to Antarctica was far from simple. Granzow described the stress of ensuring each flight connection was successful, especially since a delayed bag could mean missing the ship south altogether. “As misfortune happens, my luggage didn’t make the final plane,” he shared. Fortunately, it arrived just in time, allowing him to take off on his Antarctic adventure.
Crossing the notorious Drake Passage added another layer of excitement. “Going south wasn’t so bad,” Granzow shared, though he admitted feeling queasy during the crossing. On the return trip, the waves swelled to a monstrous 15 feet. “They told us the best place to be was in bed,” he said. While others wrestled with the ship’s motion, Granzow remarkably slept through the chaos, much to the envy of his seasick roommate.
Once in Antarctica, he found himself overwhelmed with emotion. “I cried,” he admitted. “It was so peaceful, and the air was fresh and crisp.”
Standing on the ice, he joined the rare company of travelers who have visited all seven continents, a feat achieved by only about 0.0001% of travelers.
The continent’s wildlife left a lasting mark on him. Penguins, from chinstrap to Gentoo, and even a few elusive emperor penguins, waddled and slid across the snow. “Every time I see penguins now, on TV or in a meme, I just smile,” Granzow shared fondly.
Beyond the charming penguins, Granzow was awestruck by the towering icebergs. “We saw different colors of white, blue, and even red depending on the sun’s reflection and the iceberg’s age.” Icebergs displayed dazzling shades of white, blue, and red, a mesmerizing reflection of their age, density, and sunlight’s touch. Granzow described witnessing a massive iceberg tipping in the water as “humbling,” a reminder that what’s visible above the surface is only a fraction of the frozen giant below.
Despite Antarctica’s icy reputation, Granzow was surprised to find it warmer than an Iowa winter. “I realized it was actually warmer most days there than it was in Clarion!” Experiencing Christmas in the Antarctic summer was a memorable event.
Once Granzow returned to Iowa, he felt reinvigorated. “I think I felt more energized after this trip. Back to my normal pre-cancer self. Stronger.” With a renewed spirit, he’s already planning for future adventures: Belize for spring break, Alaska with his mother, and finally Delaware and Hawaii to complete his final U.S. state visits.
“Traveling makes me feel alive,” stated Granzow. “And while I am, I plan on doing it.”
Joseph Granzow finally achieved his dream of visiting all seven of the world’s continents when he stepped onto Antarctica’s icy shores. “Traveling makes me feel alive, and while I am, I plan on doing it,” shared the insightful CGD Music Educator.
