Linda, Passenger
Day 6 – Boxing Day
It was a normal start to the day—no polar plunges, but an early landing shortly after breakfast. We dressed warmly, as it was both windy and snowy.
Joanne expertly piloted the Zodiac in the morning. There was a lot of ice in the water, so to make the landing, we first had to cross to Danco. There, we encountered a colony of Gentoo penguins. Under Hugh’s guidance, we hiked around the nests to the top of the hill.
The view was limited by the cloudy sky and snow, but it didn’t detract from the joy of the hike or observing the penguins in their natural habitat. On our way back to the Zodiac, the skies cleared, and we spotted five whales swimming among the ice floes in the bay—a mesmerizing sight. The expedition ship had moved closer to the bay, shortening the Zodiac ride. We only returned onboard after observing one of the humpback whales, during which Hugh captured an identification shot of the whale’s fluke for Happy Whale.
After warming up with a delicious ginger soup for lunch, we boarded the Zodiac again to head toward Neko. The sun broke through the clouds, casting shimmering light on the ice floes and glaciers in the distance. Although the wind was stronger than ideal, the Zodiac was launched into the water, and we set off.
Hugh and Gonzalo carefully assessed the landing site for safety—it had to be done amidst floating ice chunks. After a thorough briefing from Gonzalo and Joanne, we reached the shore, where Hugh was already waiting, clearing ice as we arrived. The penguins curiously observed us. Despite the icy conditions, we landed without much trouble. The bright sunlight made the surroundings stunningly vivid, with Gentoos diving one by one from the blue icebergs into the water—a picture-perfect scene.
The peaceful moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud crack as a massive chunk of ice broke off from the wall on the opposite side of the water, crashing into the sea. Hugh quickly called for everyone to leave the beach and climb up the snowy hill to safety. At first, it was hard to grasp the seriousness of the situation, but the urgency became clear when we saw the penguins running and the first large waves crashing over the ice floes. It wasn’t long before the area where we had been standing was overwhelmed by waves and chunks of ice.
We couldn’t help but feel awed by the raw power of nature—the combination of ice, wind, sun, and sea was breathtaking. We were all grateful for Hugh’s deep knowledge of the environment and its dangers. Everyone made it back to the expedition ship safely and without harm, albeit with a greater appreciation for the forces of nature. It was an adventure filled with unforgettable moments and countless mental pictures, as well as real ones to treasure.
