Last Full Day In Antarctica

Palmer Station allows 10 boats to visit each season.  The scheduled first two have been unable to break through the ice this year so we’re the first station visitors of the season.

 

Palmer Station is the smallest and northernmost of three US sponsored research stations on Antarctica. The South Pole is still 1744 miles from here.

 

 

 The station scientists are out gathering samples and diving near the edge of the glacier.

 

As Orion steams north toward the Drake Passage, we feel the expedition is over. After an hour where the sea ice appears to melt away, it becomes heavier and heavier until one wonders if we have enough ship to break through.  Orion is in dense pack ice for about three hours.

 As we push north through the Bismark Strait, the ice continues to get thicker and thicker.

 

During that time, we have numerous sightings of seals sunning on small bergs or pack ice flows. At one point the sight of Orion’s bow looming ABOVE them sends two seals scurrying for safety.

 

 

 Check out the marks/bruises on the neck of this seal. He's tangled with something.

 In this picture, the seal on the left is attacking the one on the right.

 This seal is not happy we're passing by this close.

Breaking free of the pack ice the only thing standing between us and disembarkation is The dreaded Drake. The forecast is for a Drake once again on its best behavior.