Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Explorer received permission from Chilean Coast Guard for our coastline cruise along the southern end of South America and we gathered on deck to gaze at the majestic Andes Mountains towering above Cape Horn. As we transited into Argentina through the Beagle Channel, a group of...
Antarctica
Journey to Antarctica: Leaving the Southern Continent
I had heard rumors that the sun and moon alignment were reversed in the Antarctica but I could never really wrap my head around the meaning of the reference. Our final night in view of Antarctica provided clarity and confirmed the rumors to be true. This was the...
Journey to Antarctica: Port Lockroy and Dallmann Bay
Today’s landing is bittersweet as it will be our final landing on the White Continent before sailing back to South America. A colony of Gentoo penguins provided us with our first peek at the next generation of penguin chicks as we hiked around Jougla Point at Port Lockroy....
Journey to Antarctica: Neko Harbour and Dorian Bay
Neko Harbour is named for the whale factory ship “Neko” which was used in processing whales harvested between 1911 and 1924. The harbour provided us with another continental landing on the Southern Continent and 1.5 mile hike along glacier boundaries and penguin rookeries. Weddell seals also lounged quite...
Journey to Antarctica: The Lemaire Channel, Booth Island, & The Penola Strait
My second White Christmas occurred much farther south than the one I experienced in 1989, when most of the east coast of North Carolina was buried in 1.5 feet of snow. The scenery through the Lemaire Channel this morning was astounding as the Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Explorer began pushing...
Journey to Antarctica: Orne Harbour, Cuverville Island, & the Errera Channel
Another challenging hike provided us with majestic views of the Trans-Antarctic Mountains, including Mt. Francais on Anvers Island (elevation: 9160 ft., the highest point along the peninsula). The naturalists advised us that a penguin colony could be observed along the right flank of the ridge but I found...
Cierva Cove, Enterprise, and Danco Island
Scraping and bumping sounds along the side of the ship were heard before the morning wake up call came over the ship’s PA system. (See Image: Dirty Icebergs) I looked out the port hole window and discovered that the ship was surrounded by a sea of ice bergs,...
Journey to Antarctica: South Shetlands, Half Moon Bay, & Deception Island
LAND HO!!! We have arrived at the Southern Continent!! Let’s HIKE!!! After a quick Zodiac ride from the ship, my colleagues and I were following one of the naturalists for a hike around the island. I had to keep pinching myself as we began traversing across a snow-covered...
Journey to Antarctica: Crossing the Drake Passage
By 1:00AM, beam seas began rocking the ship from side to side and it became apparent that the Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Explorer vessel had entered the Drake Passage (See Image: Expedition Route). The ship continued to rock and roll across the passage for the remainder of the night...
Journey to Antarctica: Ushuaia – The Southernmost City in the World
The 4:45AM wake-up call brought the awareness of another flight and more amazing sights ahead. The 4-hour flight brought the Southernmost City in the World into view and a surprise waiting for us at the airport. Two Grosvenor Teacher Fellows had just arrived at the Ushuaia airport after...