Datum: |
16.12.2023 |
Positie: |
64°40.15’S / 62°38.2’W |
Wind: |
W 4 |
Weer: |
Overcast |
Luchttemperatuur: |
+1 |
The day began with a hearty breakfast in the dining hall of Ortelius. The anticipation among the guests was palpable as they geared up for an adventurous day exploring the wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula. After a brief safety briefing, the expedition team lowered the Zodiacs into the icy waters, and guests embarked on an exhilarating journey to Cuverville Island. The island is famed for hosting the largest gentoo penguin colony on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Ashore on Cuverville Island, the landscape unfolded in a breathtaking display of pristine beauty. Guests marvelled at the sight of gentoo penguins, their raucous calls filling the air. The expedition guides provided informative narratives about the region's unique wildlife and geography.
The adventurous spirit reached its peak as some daring guests opted for a polar plunge into the icy Antarctic waters. Laughter and cheers echoed against the towering glaciers as participants embraced the thrill of the moment.
The return journey to Ortelius was marked by an unexpected twist—the landscape was engulfed in a thick blanket of fog. Navigating through the misty waters added an element of mystery and excitement to the expedition.
Back on board, guests gathered in the dining hall for a delicious lunch, sharing tales of their morning adventures and savouring the warmth of the ship. Ortelius then set course for the Orne Islands.
Once ashore, guests encountered a captivating scene: majestic chinstrap and gentoo penguins waddling against a backdrop of pristine ice and rocky outcrops. The expedition team allowed guests to observe and photograph the wildlife while immersing themselves in the unique Antarctic environment.
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, Zodiacs ferried guests back to Ortelius. The day's adventures were summarised during the daily recap, outlining plans for the next day's exploration. A sumptuous dinner awaited guests in the ship's dining hall. The day's experiences were shared over delicious meals, creating a sense of camaraderie among the travellers. The expedition leader provided insights into the day's discoveries and outlined the plans for the upcoming adventure. Guests retired to their cabins, eager for another day of exploration in the vast and enchanting Antarctic wilderness.
MOUNTAINEERING
We arrived at Cuverville Island in the morning, and after a scout by EL Chris we set off for the summit from a landing spot on its west coast. Given the instability we’d seen the previous day, Mal and Andy dug a snow pit to investigate the structure of the snowpack. This revealed a couple of weak layers, more reason for caution given the warmth of the day. We reached the summit plateau before returning to the beach, where some of our party swapped mountain clothing for swimwear for their polar plunge.
In the afternoon, we crossed the Errera Channel to explore behind the Sable Pinnacles. It was only the second time this area has been visited by Oceanwide, so the afternoon had a pioneering feel to it. It was still very warm, with clouds drifting around, and the mountains rumbled constantly with wet snow avalanches. We reached a col that gave us incredible views of Cuverville Island. On the way down, Andy checked out some large crevasses and reported them to be deep and therefore best avoided.
CAMPING
Kerr Island was the name of our camping site during the second night of camping. Beautifully surrounded by a shore full of icebergs, we started to dig out holes for our sleeping bag. It was lightly snowing, but it stopped a short time later. After we finished shoveling, we enjoyed the magnificent view and the peacefulness of our camping site.
Soon we laid ourselves to rest. Every now and then, you could hear avalanches and the sound of faraway penguins. We were woken up at 4am: we would have to leave the camping site, because of the precipitation that had been constant for a few hours. We filled in our dugouts, packed our equipment, and the Zodiac brought us back to Ortelius. We were happy to have had such a unique experience.
KAYAKING