Cape Wild, Elephant Island
After a smooth Drake Passage, we arrived in Antarctica before breakfast with views of icebergs, distant land, and a contingent of Cape Petrels following the ship. Passing over the shelf break, a few Southern Bottlenose Whales were spotted along with our first Chinstrap Penguins. As we approached Elephant Island, Killer Whales were spotted! Two adult males with six foot dorsal fins traveled alongside the ship, and allowed for perfect views of these top predators. What a great way to be welcomed South!
Our destination for the morning was Cape Wild on Elephant Island. While it was a fairly calm day, we were still able to witness the power of the ocean as distant swells arrived to break on the many rocky promontories. Brash ice covered the water’s surface as the glacier at the head of the bay continually calved off massive chunks of ice. A leopard seal rested on a flat piece, while a few fur seals passed by. On the surrounding rocky points, thousands of pairs of nesting Chinstrap Penguins covered the slopes and filled our ears with their calls. Massive icebergs lined the horizon, completing the magical mosaic in all directions.
This site is famous for the Endurance expedition where most of the party spent four months in 1916 awaiting the return of Ernest Shackleton. Our minds were filled with the story and the thoughts of some of the crew patiently waiting while a few set off for the rescue. We had just crossed the Drake in the ultimate comfort. Delicious cuisine, espresso, laundry service and comfy beds were definitely things not included in the James Caird. As we bobbed around in our Zodiacs being wowed by the stunning scenery and abundant wildlife, it was difficult to think of the hardships the party faced and the epic tale that took place at this site.
