When the World Turns White

We are currently sitting still in a field of ice as we wait for the ice breaker to finish forming the ice channel which will allow us to proceed to McMurdo. There have been a few planning issues that have caused delay and some unpredicted complications such as the loss of internet and my zoom lens getting jammed (I’m sincerely upset…) but now that the internet is back and the seals are a lot closer, life is looking pretty good. In fact, since this afternoon I get to claim that I walked on ocean.

Life is brilliant.

Backing up the story------

Getting to McMurdo has involved breaking through sections of ice, sailing across a bit of Open Ocean, and then breaking through more ice (insert loop). If one morning the world has a shade of blinding white, the next morning you will wake up to the blue ocean. It’s a pretty disorienting, especially when you look up from your project to see the sun at high noon outside the window and find out its past midnight.

Two days ago we reached the beginning of the last stretch of ice, where we tested the Maersk Peary’s ice breaking capabilities. (The Peary is the lowest class ice vessel, capable of breaking through pancake ice on its own).

Some Engineers Waiting For The First Ice Collision

What We're Sailing Through

Bow Hitting That Ice

Pancake Ice

The sound of the hull colliding with the ice was initially quite horrifying, but like anything you kind of get used to it. Although it’s still rather disturbing if you’re working in the steering gear room and you hear the propeller making a sound eerily similar to a margarita blender.

The weather has been shifty as ever (it’s absolutely unpredictable), and it has reached -14 degrees Celsius. Walking without a face mask from the deck house to the bow is guaranteed to freeze your snot.

Since parking, the curious wild life has waddled over. We’ve been waiting for a killer whale to pop its head out from the many whale holes in the ice that surround our ship, but that has yet to happen.

Whale Hole

Yes, The Shadow is the Ships' Rail

I also saw the cutest thing I have ever witnessed. Fun Fact: Penguins Mate for life. 

!!!

We are also surrounded by some of the most stunning mountain ranges to be found (we are sailing along the coast line now).

Let's Go Skiing

Today, the ship put down the gangway so the crew could enjoy a much needed walk. The experience was absolutely magical and everyone was having fun. (although it was rather scary when you found your foot sinking a bit too far into the ice for your comfort….)

Star Fish

Insta-Snow Cones

Aft

Bow

 Just Some Big Diamonds

The wild life in Antarctica has no sense of fear for humans, this means they let you get pretty close. (However, touching wildlife in Antarctica is a big no-no. For this reason McMurdo apparently has a seagull problem, since you can’t scare them away.)

While everything is still up in the air, it  seems like we will be sitting here again tomorrow, and we will be taking a crew photo (featuring my banner…. Yay?).  The current schedule is to arrive at McMurdo in two days.