02 Mar 2017

SHOKALSKIY: Last Moments in Antarctica

We are now close to our final days in Antarctica. We have begun heading north, and already the temperatures are growing warmer, and the daylight shorter. After being unable to access Scott Base and McMurdo station we’ve had the opportunity to explorer some different areas to normal. We spent several hours cruising in Robertson Bay. It was a majestic sight, with many glaciers on all sides, and the katabatic winds grew stronger the further we went. At times the wind speed was reaching over 110 km per hour, making white caps on the sea. Despite this, the ship was ride was very smooth. The bridge and deck was full as we all stood in awe at the mountains and glaciers that surrounded us, in what was one of our last opportunities to view the Antarctic continent. We drifted through the night, in preparation of returning to Cape Adare the next morning, to attempt a final continental landing. Cape Adare is home to Borchgrevink’s Hut, the oldest in Antarctica, an overwintering shelter for the first expedition to the Antarctic continent in 1899. Here also lies the oldest grave in Antarctica, that of 22 year old Nicolai Hansen, a member of Borchgrevink’s expedition.

On arrival at Cape Adare, after we enjoyed our breakfast, a safe location was scouted for by the staff before the zodiacs headed over for a wet landing. The majority made it ashore without too many issues, other than the odd wet boot, but a few inadvertently joined a rare club in completing a polar plunge. Those ashore wandered through thousands of moulting Adelie Penguins, Weddell and Leopard Seals en-route to Borchgrevink’s Hut, which had few artefacts remaining as much has been taken away for restoration. This time on land was precious, as it was the last time we’ll stand on Antarctic. We are now making our way to Campbell Island, via a little detour to view the Balleny Islands which we should arrive at early on Friday morning.

Guest Blogger, Leanne Dunhill