Neko Harbor, Antarctica
After a wonderful late evening in the recently active volcanic caldera of Deception Island, the Endeavour turned south to Bransfield Strait and Gerlache Strait. The morning proved to be windy, cloudy, and snowy and the steep glacially carved mountains along Bransfield Strait were veiled by swirling snowflakes as the ship picked it’s way between large icebergs. We were alerted to two humpback whales as the ship passed one of the large beautiful icebergs. The whales swam lazily near the surface and treated us to several close views, then showing their curiosity, poked their heads above the water in what is known as spy hopping. We continued to watch as the whales swam toward the Endeavour and then made their way slowly along the length of the ship.
The afternoon brought clouds and light snow as the Endeavour anchored in Neko Harbor. The picturesque boulder and ice strewn beach provided snowy paths to a rundown refuge hut and several Gentoo penguin colonies on rocky outcrops. Energetic travelers climbed the steep snow-covered, but crevasse-free glacial slope to a rocky outcrop high above the landing. The climbers found a small outcrop of smooth pink granite high above the more active and intensely fractured part of the glacier. The ancient granite (ca. 150 million year old) provided a spectacular foreground for the steep glacier with numerous crevasses exposing deep blue glacial ice extending down about 50 meters into the glacier.
As the Endeavour departed from Neko Harbor, the clouds began to clear, and the mountains and glaciers were bathed in orange and red light of the evening sun. A fine dinner prepared us for the new year as the Endeavour turned south toward the Antarctic Circle.
After a wonderful late evening in the recently active volcanic caldera of Deception Island, the Endeavour turned south to Bransfield Strait and Gerlache Strait. The morning proved to be windy, cloudy, and snowy and the steep glacially carved mountains along Bransfield Strait were veiled by swirling snowflakes as the ship picked it’s way between large icebergs. We were alerted to two humpback whales as the ship passed one of the large beautiful icebergs. The whales swam lazily near the surface and treated us to several close views, then showing their curiosity, poked their heads above the water in what is known as spy hopping. We continued to watch as the whales swam toward the Endeavour and then made their way slowly along the length of the ship.
The afternoon brought clouds and light snow as the Endeavour anchored in Neko Harbor. The picturesque boulder and ice strewn beach provided snowy paths to a rundown refuge hut and several Gentoo penguin colonies on rocky outcrops. Energetic travelers climbed the steep snow-covered, but crevasse-free glacial slope to a rocky outcrop high above the landing. The climbers found a small outcrop of smooth pink granite high above the more active and intensely fractured part of the glacier. The ancient granite (ca. 150 million year old) provided a spectacular foreground for the steep glacier with numerous crevasses exposing deep blue glacial ice extending down about 50 meters into the glacier.
As the Endeavour departed from Neko Harbor, the clouds began to clear, and the mountains and glaciers were bathed in orange and red light of the evening sun. A fine dinner prepared us for the new year as the Endeavour turned south toward the Antarctic Circle.
