23 Jan 2025

Sailing alongside the expansive Ross Ice Shelf

We travelled through the night on Heritage Adventurer, and when the morning wake-up call was made, we were sailing alongside the huge expanse of the Ross Ice Shelf.

The scale of this spectacular ice cliff was something else to behold when contemplating the length of the face and that they are the shelf covers. The fog and strong winds made it an even more dramatic vista as it came in and out of view. Our Captain impressed us further by navigating within the narrow inlets that penetrate the Ross Ice Shelf, near Cape Crozier, giving us spectacular views on both sides. These narrow inlets are home to an Emperor Penguin colony that breeds on the frozen sea during the winter. Looking at these imposing views, we thought of Apsley Cherry-Garrard’s Worst Journey in the Word, which our historian John had told us so much about.

In the afternoon, we were met with fabulous weather at the northern tip of Ross Island, to Cape Bird. Home to an abundant Adélie Penguin colony, it allowed us to enjoy the spectacle of these penguins from ashore yet again, spotting créching and food chasers as young birds persistently begged their parents for food. The kayakers enjoyed their time amongst loose drift ice and observing penguins on the ice as they paddled silently by.

Following Cape Bird, Expedition Leader Christian informed us that Heritage Adventurer would turn south and try again to reach Hut Point, hoping the strong winds of the day would have blown out the ice. 

Images © C. Finch, Heritage Expeditions