15 Feb 2025

Navigating the towering Ross Ice Shelf

In the early morning, Heritage Adventurer anchored close to Franklin Island, the remains of an old shield volcano covered in ice. A glacier tumbled down to a gravel beach dotted with groups of Adélie Penguins and about forty Weddell Seals. We enjoyed fabulous views from our trusty expedition vessel, but unfortunately, the conditions weren’t suitable for a landing, so we headed further south into the Ross Sea. 

By mid-afternoon, the extraordinary sight of the Ross Ice Shelf came into view – a wall of white, over twenty metres high and stretching to the horizon. Its face was sculpted by the wind and waves, and in places, there were cracks deep enough for Heritage Adventurer to enter. We navigated into one of these white-walled canyons through a blizzard of sparkling ‘diamond dust’ and waves of ‘steam’ rising from the frigid sea. Lit up by the low sun, they gave the scene a wonderfully magical feel.

Out at sea, a large pod of Orca passed us before we reached Cape Crozier, the easternmost tip of Ross Island. This is home to one of the largest Adélie Penguin rookeries in Antarctica. Many birds had departed by this time of the year, but plenty of groups were still scattered across the hillsides.

In the low evening sun, Heritage Adventurer continued past the towering shape of Mount Terror, a huge extinct volcano covered in ice, and onto more adventures tomorrow! 

Images © K. Sutherland, Heritage Expeditions