Katabatic winds swept down from Red Rock Ridge this morning as National Geographic Explorer navigated further north to find more favorable conditions at Stonington Island. Our landing here was most exciting, as we explored the British Base E and walked around the U.S. Eastern Base on a rocky spit of land. Massive calving events from Northeast Glacier created the most amazing ice garden for us to wander through and explore. Layer upon layer of ice, some shaped like ships, others like buildings, and even one the shape of a whale’s tail. The ice felt alive as large bergs towered above us and others rolled and broke apart. The endless shapes and patterns of blue and white captured our imaginations and kept us searching for more to explore.
After a hardy lunch, we continued north with our sights set on The Gullet. This is a productive area of water known for large predators and exciting wildlife, all packed together in a tight “X” of sea between Adelaide Island and Arrowsmith Peninsula. On our way, we came across quite a large pod of Type B2 killer whales. After dinner, we could hardly absorb all of the beauty surrounding us today. We are so lucky to be exploring south of the Antarctic Circle, a place that has truly captured our imagination and garnered the utmost respect.
