Port Lockroy and Palmer Station
Today was one of the most interesting and exciting days of my Antarctic summer. The morning sun blasted through the high clouds, and we caught a glimpse of two of my favorite mountains in the world, Mount Williams which has a sheer wall rising over 4900 feet right out of the Neumayer Channel, and Mount Francais which caps off Anvers Island at over 9000 feet. These two majestic peaks remind me of my days as a penguin and seabird biologist at Palmer Station, where I spent four seasons studying the wildlife in this area.
Port Lockroy is the site of the old British “Base A”, the first of several small bases built during the Second World War under a secret mission code-named Operation Tabarin. The buildings were later used for scientific studies until 1962, and the recently restored buildings now serve as a museum and Antarctic Post Office. We toured the buildings, saw the Gentoo penguins with their chicks, and even went kayaking in the protected scenic bay.
Our afternoon visit to the United States’ Palmer Station was a real treat as well. Station personnel came out to Endeavour to tell us all about the U.S. Antarctic Program, and soon after we were off in the Zodiacs to visit the station and to see the Adelie penguins (pictured here) on nearby Torgersen Island. I spent many, many days on Torggie as I used to call it, watching the hilarious antics of the Adelies, so to visit the station and the island again today with our guests was a special event for me, and a highlight of the voyage for many others.
Today was one of the most interesting and exciting days of my Antarctic summer. The morning sun blasted through the high clouds, and we caught a glimpse of two of my favorite mountains in the world, Mount Williams which has a sheer wall rising over 4900 feet right out of the Neumayer Channel, and Mount Francais which caps off Anvers Island at over 9000 feet. These two majestic peaks remind me of my days as a penguin and seabird biologist at Palmer Station, where I spent four seasons studying the wildlife in this area.
Port Lockroy is the site of the old British “Base A”, the first of several small bases built during the Second World War under a secret mission code-named Operation Tabarin. The buildings were later used for scientific studies until 1962, and the recently restored buildings now serve as a museum and Antarctic Post Office. We toured the buildings, saw the Gentoo penguins with their chicks, and even went kayaking in the protected scenic bay.
Our afternoon visit to the United States’ Palmer Station was a real treat as well. Station personnel came out to Endeavour to tell us all about the U.S. Antarctic Program, and soon after we were off in the Zodiacs to visit the station and to see the Adelie penguins (pictured here) on nearby Torgersen Island. I spent many, many days on Torggie as I used to call it, watching the hilarious antics of the Adelies, so to visit the station and the island again today with our guests was a special event for me, and a highlight of the voyage for many others.
