18 Feb 2023
Measuring the might of Mount Erebus
It was almost impossible to sleep today as we stayed late to enjoy the soft pink glow highlighting the ice floes and icebergs as Heritage Adventurer travelled slowly northwards.
Daylight saw us rounding Cape Bird, noting the small green research hut adjacent to the now depopulated Adélie Penguin colony. By lunchtime we neared Cape Crozier, location of an Emperor Penguin colony made famous in The Worst Journey In the World. The Ross Ice Shelf joins Ross Island at Cape Crozier, letting us travel parallel to the steep cliffs where the shelf enters the sea. The bright white and the turquoise blues of the ice cliffs bordered the vast expanse of the Ross Ice Shelf stretching into the distance.
Travelling back past Lewis Bay, the site of the 1979 Air New Zealand Mt Erebus plane crash, David gave an informative talk sharing his insights into the disaster and the political maneuverings of the aftermath.
Ian led a lively auction of Antarctic memorabilia in the afternoon which spurred much excitement, raising funds for the Antarctic Heritage Trust.
Late evening most of us were on deck admiring the stunning light over the mountains and sea ice as Heritage Adventurer sailed towards tomorrow's destination of Franklin Island.
Image (c): R. Young
17 Feb 2023
Today we visited Scott's Hut at Cape Evans on Ross Island, deep in the Ross Sea from where Heritage Adventurer had anchored, and stood by the very …READ MORE
16 Feb 2023
This morning we woke aboard Heritage Adventurer to find our blue skies had turned to grey as we readied ourselves to go ashore at Hut Point, not fa…READ MORE
15 Feb 2023
Visibility was excellent overnight as Heritage Adventurer rounded Cape Bird and headed south. There was a band of ice that we navigated through, sp…READ MORE
