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.
Looking further south, towards the Pole, in the late day sun.
Hanging glacier in the Lemaire Channel.
Paradise Bay lived up to its name...
this morning for a Zodiac exploration of the ice on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Argentine Base Brown.
Brash ice from calving glacier.
Antarctic Shags with chicks.
Weddell seal on ice.
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 celebratory summit party atop Ronald Hill, in approximately 50 knot winds.
View of Whalers Bay on the descent from Ronald Hill.
Wretched weather in the South Shetland Islands...
this morning made the landing at Half Moon Island challenging, but I managed a few shots of the penguins there.
Greenwich Island on approach to Half Moon Island.
Chinstrap Penguin.
Gentoo Penguin.
Paulet Island in the Weddell Sea...
is home to ~ 140,000 nesting Adelie Penguins!
Absolutely disgustingly filthy little beasts when in large number during breeding cycle. But cute!
Adelie parent feeding its chick.
Adelie mugging for the camera.
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.
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).
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!
Orcadas Base in the South Orkney Islands...
is an Argentine station established in 1904, and provides the longest meteorological record in Antarctica.
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.
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.
Christmas in Grytviken...
was observed in the historic church at the whaling station, standing beyond the industrial grunge of a thankfully bygone era.
There were several seasonally appropriate songs, and I presented a short reading from the 1902-03 journals of Scott and Shackleton during their Christmas experience in Antarctica as they attempted to reach the South Pole. At the conclusion, the church bells were rung, reverberating throughout the rocky fjord. All in all, a lovely day in a richly historic location.
The ship’s photographer contributed this image of me addressing the flock from the pulpit.
Walking in Shackleton's footsteps...
from Fortuna Bay to Stromness, the last four miles of his historic trek across South Georgia.
Landing site in Fortuna Bay on Worsley Beach, with Antarctic Fur Seals.
Gaining higher elevation, with commanding view of Fortuna Bay.
Small alpine lake at high point of crossing.
View down valley toward Stromness whaling station, at right edge of bay.
The Shackleton Waterfall.
Stromness whaling station to which Shackleton returned, unrecognizable after years at sea. From here he organized a return to Elephant Island to rescue the rest of his stranded crew. Epic!
Topographic map of route from IATTO Field Operations Manual.
This was an absolutely fabulous hike on a terrific day, on Christmas Eve!
Battle of beachmasters...
at Jason Harbour, South Georgia, as captured by the ship’s photographer. For some reason, the expedition leader tasked me with keeping an eye on this particularly excited fellow.
Antarctic Fur Seals can be very aggressive, particularly male beachmasters, defending their territory for their harems of females during mating season.
You must stand tall against their charges, here so that guests may pass to return to the landing site.
Flamboyant Macaroni Penguins...
in Hercules Cove, South Georgia.
On the sixth day...
God created the Salisbury Plain on South Georgia, with an estimated 250,000 King Penguins!
Neither words, nor pictures, can describe the magnificence of this remote place.
I derive great joy knowing that this goes on every single day, throughout the year. When I am feeling stressed at home, I visualize this scene.
Merry Winter Solstice...
to those in the northern hemisphere, while we enjoy the longest day of the year in the southern hemisphere!
King Penguins at Fortuna Bay, South Georgia.
A brief stop at Grytviken...
in order to bring inspection officers of the South Georgia government aboard the ship.
The restored whaling station at Grytviken.
Captain Roman Obrist on the bridge, maneuvering the ship for this quick stop.
British Antarctic Survey station at King Edward Point, staffed year round.
Prince Olav Harbour...
on South Georgia was first discovered by James Cook in 1775, and shortly thereafter the sealers arrived.
The Brutus, a coal carrier, now a rusty relict.
The old sealing station, slowly decaying into the landscape.
Antarctic Fur Seal.
Since the cessation of sealing, the population has rebounded.
West Cumberland Bay...
on our first approach to South Georgia.
The Allardyce Range, draped in glacial ice and snow, rises to nearly 10,000 ft above sea level.
Folded turbidite sequences in the Cumberland Bay Formation, with Lyell Glacier in foreground.
Avian mariners of the Southern Ocean...
following the ship this afternoon between the Falklands and South Georgia.
Wandering Albatross, wingspan nearly eleven (11) feet!
Black-Browed Albatross, wingspan approximately eight (8) feet.
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 “Ocean Academy” where lecturers can engage in hands-on activities.
My home office, with my own balcony!