30 Jan 2016

Terra Nova Bay

As the snow and low visibility cleared we turned to port and engaged the heavy pack ice around 2130. For the next five hours we pushed and shoved ice under the midnight sun, jumping from open lead to lead, sighting the occasional Emperor Penguin, Minke Whale and group of Adelies and seals as we headed for the Antarctic coast, finally breaking out of the heavy pack at 0230. At 0500 we arrived off Inexpressible Island with the Katabatic wind slowly dying away. The ice we left behind was on the move, closing like a mouse trap, so we could not delay. The Zodiacs set out at 0600 for the ice beach and a trip up to Scott’s Northern Party and Priestly’s ice cave where he and his men had survived with virtually nothing for many months when the Terra Nova could not recover them.

Back aboard the ship as expeditioners tucked into a late breakfast we noticed that the ice which had filled Terra Nova Bay for weeks had moved out just enough for us to squeeze in to see the Italian, German and South Korean bases there. Then we were rushing to the ice edge again for the fight back out to open water. Everyone was out on deck enjoying the sunshine for the next few hours as we pushed through  sparking ice while Snow Petrels danced on the gentle breezes surrounding the ship. The views aft towards the Trans Antarctic Mountains highlighted this special Antarctic experience in ice. We made open water and felt the low swells of the Ross Sea again, turning north just before dinner. For some it was sad but for most it meant the chance for another crack at Cape Adare tomorrow.