Thursday, January 21, 2016 - Travel Day 13, Expedition Day 5
Yalour Island
Yalour Island
This morning it is cold and snowing. The visibility is quite poor, yet beautiful and the way one would expect Antarctica to be.
On the other hand it is also frustrating, as we can not see the soaring mountain cliffs rising above us in this fjord passage between Yalour Island and the continent.
On the other hand it is also frustrating, as we can not see the soaring mountain cliffs rising above us in this fjord passage between Yalour Island and the continent.
Trying to gear ourselves up so that we stay warm and dry, composing and snapping photos in polar ice/snow, and wind while also protecting the camera, keeping it warm and dry in a moving zodiac is challenging. Add in other people in yellow parkas all positioning themselves to take photos often in your sight line is an exercise in extreme frustration.
Gloves on, glove off, lens cap on , lens cap off, steamed up glasses. Look left, look right, the head turns the parka hood doesn't so one must rotate the entire body in the Zodiac. Up on the seat, down on the knees, wipe the snow out of the lens. It certainly gives one deep respect for professional National Geographic photographers who wait months and years with patience and through inclement conditions to take a shot.
Gloves on, glove off, lens cap on , lens cap off, steamed up glasses. Look left, look right, the head turns the parka hood doesn't so one must rotate the entire body in the Zodiac. Up on the seat, down on the knees, wipe the snow out of the lens. It certainly gives one deep respect for professional National Geographic photographers who wait months and years with patience and through inclement conditions to take a shot.
While we explored this morning, we saw more Crabeater Seals and a few more Adelie Penguins. This afternoon we will be moving into Gentoo Penguin rookeries on Petermann Island.
Petermann Island - PM Excursion was quite interesting. We had an opportunity to disembark from the Zodiacs and get up close and personal with the Gentoo Penguins. When nesting in the spring, the first flock of Penguins to arrive climb to the highest prominence of rocks where the sun has melted the seasonal snow and make this their nursery. Late arriving penguins lay their eggs and foster their chicks at the lower elevations. They are closer to the water.
The penguins in the higher areas have quite a hike up the hill and then look like they are having great fun sledding down to the water, taking turns with their mate in keeping the chicks warm and fed. Snowy slopes are covered with penguin highways.
The mortality rate for chicks is about 40-50%. If they are born too late in the season, they may not develop their warm, water proof feathers before winter sets in and their parents leave them. Some of the feeding chicks are very small and the likelihood of their ultimate survival is slim.
While we were out an about, we saw a cruising sailboat gliding through the snow and mist.
It is so nice to be down here in a warm ship where we can leave dodging icebergs, anchoring, anchor watch, ship's maintenance to the crew. The downside, is moving on whether you want to or not.
When we returned to the Diamond, the campers (that's us) were issued our camping equipment. Tomorrow if the weather is fair it will be our first opportunity to camp on the continent. Our gear consisted of a water proof bivy sleep sack or swag, a foam sleeping mat that goes inside, along with a down s leeping bag and fleece liner....no tents. We will be sleeping on the ice like the seals. Can't say this sounds comfortable, but it's a once in a lifetime experience, so we are going for it.
It is so nice to be down here in a warm ship where we can leave dodging icebergs, anchoring, anchor watch, ship's maintenance to the crew. The downside, is moving on whether you want to or not.
When we returned to the Diamond, the campers (that's us) were issued our camping equipment. Tomorrow if the weather is fair it will be our first opportunity to camp on the continent. Our gear consisted of a water proof bivy sleep sack or swag, a foam sleeping mat that goes inside, along with a down s leeping bag and fleece liner....no tents. We will be sleeping on the ice like the seals. Can't say this sounds comfortable, but it's a once in a lifetime experience, so we are going for it.
We will leave after dinner aboard the boat, spend the night ashore, and return the following morning before breakfast. No food, fires, cooking or remnants of humans are left on the continent. If one must relieve himself, there is a bucket that is brought back on board. I think I will stop drinking liquids after lunch. Dropping your drawers in Antarctic weather outside sounds a bit chilling.
We have been told, that we will only camp if the weather is fair tomorrow. When we pulled anchor and headed out of LaMere Pass, some of the expedition team heard and saw a minke whale blow (we didn't) and saw some leopard seals on an ice float (we did). Usually, the scenery here is magnificent, today we can hardly see 50 feet in front of us as the snow and wind blows about.
All is Well With the Worrall Travel R's in Antarctica
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