Prospect Point & Pleneau Island
After what had been a very full day, Endeavour made her way steaming slowly northbound, a calm passage compared to our voyage south when we were out in the open sea, west of the many small islands which lie off the peninsula. This time we were in more sheltered waters weaving through icebergs adrift in Crystal Sound.
The day dawned with changeable weather which caused several amendments to the days programme. There was little wind though and the changing visibility didn’t prevent a mornings landing. This was our first landing on the continent, a small spit of exposed rock called Prospect Point.
Zodiacs were lowered and soon running ashore through bergy bits, growlers and brash ice to the landing. It is the site of the now dilapidated former British Base “J” which was occupied for just two years 1957-59. Six men had lived and worked there using dog sledges to travel, study the geology, and map the area. In the International Geophysical Year they had also provided meteorological data. We might well be the last people to walk through the old hut and have that glimpse of life for those young explorers who had spent two years of their lives in isolation. Sadly the building and all its contents are scheduled for removal in a month’s time in accordance with the environment protocol of the Antarctic Treaty. Next season the kelp gulls and skuas might well be looking for new nesting sites rather than amongst the rusty oil drums and coal supply heaps.
After lunch we had some time to relax, catch up on diary writing, and listen to lectures as the ship steamed northbound up the Grandidier Channel towards Petermann Island. Arriving there early evening, the two man Oceanites team was picked up from their campsite and joined us for the voyage home.
The day finished with a still evening and the opportunity to walk ashore on Pleneau Island. A relaxing end to another eventful day.
After what had been a very full day, Endeavour made her way steaming slowly northbound, a calm passage compared to our voyage south when we were out in the open sea, west of the many small islands which lie off the peninsula. This time we were in more sheltered waters weaving through icebergs adrift in Crystal Sound.
The day dawned with changeable weather which caused several amendments to the days programme. There was little wind though and the changing visibility didn’t prevent a mornings landing. This was our first landing on the continent, a small spit of exposed rock called Prospect Point.
Zodiacs were lowered and soon running ashore through bergy bits, growlers and brash ice to the landing. It is the site of the now dilapidated former British Base “J” which was occupied for just two years 1957-59. Six men had lived and worked there using dog sledges to travel, study the geology, and map the area. In the International Geophysical Year they had also provided meteorological data. We might well be the last people to walk through the old hut and have that glimpse of life for those young explorers who had spent two years of their lives in isolation. Sadly the building and all its contents are scheduled for removal in a month’s time in accordance with the environment protocol of the Antarctic Treaty. Next season the kelp gulls and skuas might well be looking for new nesting sites rather than amongst the rusty oil drums and coal supply heaps.
After lunch we had some time to relax, catch up on diary writing, and listen to lectures as the ship steamed northbound up the Grandidier Channel towards Petermann Island. Arriving there early evening, the two man Oceanites team was picked up from their campsite and joined us for the voyage home.
The day finished with a still evening and the opportunity to walk ashore on Pleneau Island. A relaxing end to another eventful day.
