Daily Expedition Reports
01 Jan 2022

Cuverville Island, Neko Harbor & Lemaire Channel, 1/1/2022, National Geographic Endurance

Aboard the National Geographic Endurance
Antarctica

New Year’s Day in Antarctica! Our incredible ship, the National Geographic Endurance is steaming south down the Gerlache Strait toward Cuverville Island, the destination for this morning’s adventure. Conditions ashore for a landing were difficult, so the decision was made by our expedition leader to do a Zodiac cruise instead. The combination of many large icebergs and light falling snow, made it a wonderland for our small boats to explore! After lunch the ship approached Neko Harbor, and gently caressed the bottom very close to shore, an impressive feat by Captain Wood! All ashore for a landing on the Antarctic Peninsula itself, and then an incredible transit through the Lemaire Channel, on our way south, shortly after dinner! Happy New Year!

Article by

Rich Kirchner, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Rich Kirchner has worked as a naturalist in Antarctica, Alaska, the Bering Sea, Baja and the High Arctic, including Svalbard, Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and Iceland, along with other destinations. His 33 years as a professional wildlife photograp...

Drake Passage and Antarctic Circle

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Almost home. Land is in sight as we complete our crossing of the Drake Passage and draw within view of Cape Horn. As sunrise begins to illuminate the clouds, we see the blinking light of the Cabo de Hornos lighthouse. Expedition leader Lucho tells us about the poignant albatross sculpture dedicated to lost mariners and reads us the associated poem in Spanish and English. We are sailing in sheltered waters now, and the sea has reached the balmy temperature of more than 7° C. The seabirds we have learned to recognize in the open ocean–albatrosses, petrels, and prions–are now joined by others, such as imperial shags from Patagonia. Fur seals are once again frolicking near the ship. With formalities complete, there is time for a last series of presentations from our expedition staff, including: a lively account of the world-defining voyage of Ferdinand Magellan by naturalist Madalena Patacho, intriguing ‘Behind the Scenes’ insights into the life of an undersea specialist from Brett Garner, and more about the famous Endurance expedition under the leadership of Sir Ernest Shackleton. After making time for some excellent afternoon Swedish pancakes, we sailed the remaining stretch along the Beagle Channel and came at last to port in Ushuaia. We gathered in the lounge for farewell cocktails with our captain. We celebrated the wonders we experienced over the last ten days, the good friends we traveled with and with whom we shared our discovery of the Antarctic, and the glorious land of Antarctica–the seascapes, history, and wildlife. Where will we travel next? Photo caption: An avian harbinger of the coming day. Photo by Steve Backus

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Cuverville Island, Neko Harbor & Lemaire Channel, 1/1/2022, National Geographic Endurance

Rich Kirchner, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

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Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent

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James Ross Island and Snow Hill Island