28 Jan 2016

Ross Ice Barrier

Cape Bird was a familiar sight. We had passed by on our way south, but now we could see Mount Erebus from the other side and it was totally free of clouds for the first time. In fact Erebus would be with us the entire day as we first tried to make a landing at Cape Bird but were thwarted by fast moving Brash ice along the beach. Instead we headed off to see the incredible ice barrier known as the Ross Ice Shelf. It is an impressive sight with its towering ice cliffs and strange patterns on the sides that look as though they have been carved with a chef’s knife. The top is as flat as a billiard table and the amount of trapped fresh water incalculable.  This breeding ground for impressive tabular ice bergs extends off to the east for over 600 miles and few ever get to stand beside it.

We had a look at Cape Crozier with Mount Terror an ever present monolith in the clear blue sky as we cruised on a sparkling calm ocean, then returned to Cape Bird after dinner, this time successfully landing under the midnight sun. After our return to the ship we were excited to see around 50 Orca hunting on the horizon. We quickly upped anchor and moved towards them for a closer look at the mayhem. They were rocking ice, tipping Adelies off and taking them in calculated moves. The food chain on ice or on the beach when Skuas take chicks before our eyes draws varying emotions from our team but nature has no sentiment. Satellite pictures forecast a battle with pack ice ahead as we make our way north towards Terra Nova Bay.