Crystal Sound & Petermann Island
Sitting on the aft deck of the National Geographic Explorer this evening, as we slowly inch toward the granite spires of the Lemaire Channel, an uncharacteristically persistent sun rides low on the horizon. The sky is roughly the same color it has been all day, and the day before, and the day before that- deep blue!
As we rounded Adelaide Island this morning, en route to Crystal Sound, the same combination of sun and sky guided the way. As we entered Crystal Sound, and rode a gentle swell through fields of heavy pack-ice, the sun followed us there as well. As we continued north to Grandidier Channel, spotting a lone Ross Seal along the way, this most rare of southern marine mammals was bathed in the same brilliant light. As the least well studied and the least populous of the Antarctic Seals, the Ross is only slightly less likely to be seen than three straight days of beautiful, warm weather on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Our weather continued up until, and through, our three hours ashore at Petermann Island, the winter camp of famed French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot. Accompanying Charcot, his men, and us were several Gentoo and Adelie penguin colonies, a scattering of Antarctic Terns and Skuas and a few Blue-eyed Shag colonies, ripe with large, down encrusted chicks.
Three hours at Peterman today, just to sit, stroll or simply laugh at the perfection of it all. And, as we slowly continue our cruise through the white on blue of the dramatic Lemaire Channel, topping off a day of awe, we all can’t help but do the latter, and just laugh!!
Sitting on the aft deck of the National Geographic Explorer this evening, as we slowly inch toward the granite spires of the Lemaire Channel, an uncharacteristically persistent sun rides low on the horizon. The sky is roughly the same color it has been all day, and the day before, and the day before that- deep blue!
As we rounded Adelaide Island this morning, en route to Crystal Sound, the same combination of sun and sky guided the way. As we entered Crystal Sound, and rode a gentle swell through fields of heavy pack-ice, the sun followed us there as well. As we continued north to Grandidier Channel, spotting a lone Ross Seal along the way, this most rare of southern marine mammals was bathed in the same brilliant light. As the least well studied and the least populous of the Antarctic Seals, the Ross is only slightly less likely to be seen than three straight days of beautiful, warm weather on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Our weather continued up until, and through, our three hours ashore at Petermann Island, the winter camp of famed French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot. Accompanying Charcot, his men, and us were several Gentoo and Adelie penguin colonies, a scattering of Antarctic Terns and Skuas and a few Blue-eyed Shag colonies, ripe with large, down encrusted chicks.
Three hours at Peterman today, just to sit, stroll or simply laugh at the perfection of it all. And, as we slowly continue our cruise through the white on blue of the dramatic Lemaire Channel, topping off a day of awe, we all can’t help but do the latter, and just laugh!!
