Leaving the Ice
Coming ashore on Petermann Island. We didn’t know it at the time, but this would be our last morning out on the ice. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Six beautiful days in Antarctica, and eight wonderful days aboard Hurtigruten’s FRAM. That’s what Saturday, January 24, 2015 was shaping up to be: the continuation of a grand adventure in the tradition of Polar Explorers like Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton.
One of FRAM’s Polarcirkel boats zips around to embark passengers…Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
…for a morning tour of Petermann Island. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
This morning, we once again set out aboard Hurtigruten’s Polarcirkel boats for another day of adventures ashore, this time on Petermann Island. English-speaking guests would pronounce it exactly as it sounds, but the Island is named after German geographer August Petermann. If you want to impress people, pronounce ‘Petermann’ as “Pietermannn” and you’ll do just fine.
Conditions this morning were moody and ominous to say the least…but it’s that contrast that I love so dearly about Antarctica. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
Atmospheric conditions on Petermann Island this morning were positively brooding. Light snow swirled about from dark clouds heavy with contrast when compared with the bright-white snow on the ground. Aside from the howling wind that whipped at our faces and tugged at stray hairs not covered by our hats, not a sound could be heard. Once again, it was as if nature had turned down her own soundtrack, leaving a space-like vacuum in place.
Guests from onboard FRAM gather on Petermann Island…Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
…to watch a rather grumpy sea lion thrash about. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
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