15 Feb 2023

Clear Skies at Cape Bird and Cape Royds

Visibility was excellent overnight as Heritage Adventurer rounded Cape Bird and headed south. There was a band of ice that we navigated through, spotting Crabeater and Weddell Seals as well as a few Emperor Penguins along the way!

It was the first time we had the pleasure of hearing ice against the hull as we broke through. As we neared Cape Royds midmorning the ice cleared for our landing to visit Shackleton's Hut.

This hut was constructed in February 1908 during the Nimrod Expedition to overwinter.

The sun was shining and winds were fairly calm, visibility was excellent for wandering around the hut with our guides and conditions were perfect for observing Mount Erebus. The most southerly colony of Adélie Penguins is here at Cape Royds so we had time to observe these seemingly well-fed individuals during our visit! We continued south towards McMurdo and Discovery Hut arriving early enough to "park" in the ice for the night.

Image (c):C.Finch