Happy New Year...

from the Drake Passage! The ship’s position is shown by blue symbol, and water depths are indicated in meters. So far it’s been a good crossing with less than three meter swell, and we’re making good speed in advance of an approaching storm system from the west.

Wave conditions in the Drake Passage from windy.com.

Wave conditions in the Drake Passage from windy.com.

My first year of “retirement” has concluded, allowing me to travel 150 days in 2019, first to Antarctica… then the Arctic… tropical Papua New Guinea… and finally, a return to the bottom of the world. Wow! And 2020 should be even more active!

Neko Harbour...

with its actively calving glacier is one of my favorite operating sites on the Antarctic Peninsula. This is, sadly, our last landing on the icy continent, and now we spend two days at sea heading north, across the Drake Passage, returning to Ushuaia.

A commanding view of the glacier and ship (middle left) from a high vantage point.

A commanding view of the glacier and ship (middle left) from a high vantage point.

Gentoo Penguins in love.

Gentoo Penguins in love.

Gentoo adult mugging for camera.

Gentoo adult mugging for camera.

Gentoo leading the humans up the snowy track. Give that penguin a radio!

Gentoo leading the humans up the snowy track. Give that penguin a radio!

Port Lockroy on Goudier Island...

is the oldest British station in Antarctica, later used as a research station, and now a living museum.

hl-port-lockroy.jpg
A look inside the pantry.

A look inside the pantry.

The sleeping quarters with paintings that make me blush, oh my.

The sleeping quarters with paintings that make me blush, oh my.

Recently hatched Gentoo Penguin chick.

Recently hatched Gentoo Penguin chick.

Slightly older Gentoo chick.

Slightly older Gentoo chick.

The Snowy Sheathbill, a scavenger, living among the penguins.

The Snowy Sheathbill, a scavenger, living among the penguins.

Petermann Island...

is the furthest point south on this voyage, approximately S 65.2 degrees, still well above the Antarctic Circle.

The Hanseatic Inspiration at anchor.

The Hanseatic Inspiration at anchor.

Looking further south, towards the Pole, in the late day sun.

Looking further south, towards the Pole, in the late day sun.

Hanging glacier in the Lemaire Channel.

Hanging glacier in the Lemaire Channel.

Deception Island caldera...

is an active volcano in the Bransfield Strait, evidenced by rising steam at low tide in Whalers Bay.

The Biscoe House, part of the British Antarctic Survey station, was destroyed by a lahar in 1969. Ronald Hill stands behind the collapsing structure, the summit of which was the goal of a long hike today.

The Biscoe House, part of the British Antarctic Survey station, was destroyed by a lahar in 1969. Ronald Hill stands behind the collapsing structure, the summit of which was the goal of a long hike today.

The celebratory summit party atop Ronald Hill, in approximately 50 knot winds.

The celebratory summit party atop Ronald Hill, in approximately 50 knot winds.

View of Whalers Bay on the descent from Ronald Hill.

View of Whalers Bay on the descent from Ronald Hill.

Cruising the Weddell Sea...

after passing through the Antarctic Sound last evening, targeting the enormous iceberg A-68 that broke from the Larson Ice Shelf in July 2017.

Guests on the foredeck, awestruck by the immense size of the tabular iceberg A-68.

Guests on the foredeck, awestruck by the immense size of the tabular iceberg A-68.

Annotated satellite image showing iceberg A-68 which is blocking ice from the Weddell Sea gyre from entering the Antarctic Sound. We will attempt a landing at Paulet Island (red circle) later in the day.

Annotated satellite image showing iceberg A-68 which is blocking ice from the Weddell Sea gyre from entering the Antarctic Sound. We will attempt a landing at Paulet Island (red circle) later in the day.

Reflection of the ship’s officers in the radar image of the ice front (green) and ship’s position (center of orange circle).

Reflection of the ship’s officers in the radar image of the ice front (green) and ship’s position (center of orange circle).

Preparing for allowing guests to venture out on a stable piece of sea ice, while the captain repositions the ship. Nearing the end of my first year of “retirement,” I could not be happier and am very grateful for these opportunities to travel and to…

Preparing for allowing guests to venture out on a stable piece of sea ice, while the captain repositions the ship. Nearing the end of my first year of “retirement,” I could not be happier and am very grateful for these opportunities to travel and to continue to lecture about geology!

Zodiac operations are quite sporting...

on the Hanseatic Inspiration as the boats are craned down from the top deck by the bosun and his very capable team, with drivers aboard, from about 80 feet above the water.

Note the port side crane near rear of ship.

Note the port side crane near rear of ship.

The bosun operating the crane, smiling for his picture. You can see the starboard side crane here.

The bosun operating the crane, smiling for his picture. You can see the starboard side crane here.

My view as the Zodiac is swung over the port side! Very exciting, especially in windy conditions. Like I said, sporting.

My view as the Zodiac is swung over the port side! Very exciting, especially in windy conditions. Like I said, sporting.

My home away from home...

for the next three weeks aboard the brand new expedition ship Hanseatic Inspiration.

The lecture theater with floor-to-ceiling high resolution panels. There’s even a bar, something not found in most university lecture halls!

The lecture theater with floor-to-ceiling high resolution panels. There’s even a bar, something not found in most university lecture halls!

The “Ocean Academy” where lecturers can engage in hands-on activities.

The “Ocean Academy” where lecturers can engage in hands-on activities.

My home office, with my own balcony!

My home office, with my own balcony!

The beautiful images...

posted on this silly blog are brought to you by the camera kit assembled below for my upcoming work in Antarctica, consisting of two camera bodies and three lenses, a wide-angle for macro and landscapes, a mid-range lens, and a zoom telephoto for distant wildlife.

I also carry the Nikon camera in my float coat for shooting videos and when the conditions are rough and wet. All the stuff laid out on the dry bag are batteries and chargers, my GoPro, tripod, lens wipes, headlamp, scale card, etc. Yes, it’s a lot to carry in the field, but the results are more than worth the effort.

I passed...

the online assessment to work as a naturalist/guide in Antarctica this season. I’ll be heading to the bottom of the world again, for my fourth season, in mid-December!

I’ll join the Hanseatic Inspiration - a brand spanking new expedition ship just launched in October - for its inaugural voyage to Antarctica. This holiday voyage will disembark from Ushuaia, Argentina, then on to the Falklands, South Georgia, Elepha…

I’ll join the Hanseatic Inspiration - a brand spanking new expedition ship just launched in October - for its inaugural voyage to Antarctica. This holiday voyage will disembark from Ushuaia, Argentina, then on to the Falklands, South Georgia, Elephant Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Deception Island reprise...

with a panoramic view from the summit of Ronald Hill above Whaler’s Bay.

(Click image to enlarge.)

The British Antarctic Survey station and older Norwegian whaling operation were swept by lahars in 1969 during another eruption in nearby Telefon Bay.

The British Antarctic Survey station and older Norwegian whaling operation were swept by lahars in 1969 during another eruption in nearby Telefon Bay.

Descent from Ronald Hill where the panorama was taken.

Descent from Ronald Hill where the panorama was taken.