Entering the notorious Lemaire Channel shortly after sunrise this morning was a treat for early risers who enjoyed the dramatic, ice-covered peaks rising up from the sea only to see them vanish into the clouds above. Snow fell and mist swirled as the naturalist staff regaled guests with tales of legend, lore, and even facts!
After passing through safely, we began our morning operations of iceberg explorations. Hundreds of gentoo penguins made their way up Petermann Island as we watched from Zodiacs.
In the afternoon, nearly every guest braved the breezy and snowy conditions to embrace the true Antarctica in Gerard Bay. One lone chinstrap penguin was spotted, but perhaps the highlight for many paddlers was the appearance of a leopard seal that seemed to be playing in the propwash of National Geographic Resolution’s starboard azipod.
