The soft voice of expedition leader Shaun Powell came over the PA system at 8:00 AM, “Good morning ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to look outside...” The captain had parked the National Geographic Orion in a solid piece of fast ice, named so as it is frozen fast to land. After a quick breakfast and a certifiable check-out by the expedition team, the ice was given the golden ticket. Guests disembarked the ship and made their way into a snowy world of ice and sky. With a fresh coating of ankle deep powder, this particular ice sheet felt like magic. Snowmen were built, mimosas were enjoyed, and the group was even visited by two very curious Adelie penguins tobogganing onto the scene. A handful of members joined photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins in shooting an aggregation of Crabeater seals, while others worked hard to pull the ship further into the ice by the bow line.
During lunch, the ship navigated away from the sea ice and into the Grandidier Channel, to a region surrounded by broken sea ice and icebergs galore. This is where the expedition team set up the first kayak operation of the trip. Through soft snow and calm waters the members explored ice while Arctic terns swooped up and down near the water. A photographic Zodiac cruise discovered leopard seals and crabeater seals on nearby flows.
After the kayak operations the guests came back aboard for a drink and a short recap from the dive team, preparing them for the next activity, if they desired. The guests were about to do… the polar plunge! The polar plunge involves swimsuits, 30 degree water, and a lot of momentary bravery. Many of the guests and a few of the staff and crew braved the frigid cold waters for a brief insight as to how the penguins feel. The daredevils among us jumped from the marina deck of the ship and into the Southern Ocean, popped up in stunned disbelief, and clambered out on the ladder to a welcoming towel and hot cider. With the end of our journey furthest south, the National Geographic Orion will slowly begin to creep north, heading for new adventures in the coming days.
