02 Aug 2014

Herald Island Circumnavigation

Despite unseasonably heavy ice in unlikely places and thick fog challenging our progress, we have still experienced some excellent landings and Zodiac cruises. Yesterday we were all set for a landing at Dream Head when the fog descended like a blanket which unfortunately put paid to the excursion. It is not advisable to go walking in these conditions on Wrangel Island – Polar Bears are very hard to see in the fog! We spent this morning at Herald Island, a tiny (and very seldom visited) island to the east of Wrangel and made what is possibly the first ever Zodiac circumnavigation of the island. We optimistically began our trip in foggy conditions and were rewarded by finishing it in brilliant sunshine. As I write this we are transiting back through the ice to Wrangel Island and everybody is on Polar Bear alert. So far we have seen about 15 animals this afternoon and still have a couple hours to go.