I wrote yesterday that we sailed through the Lemaire Channel, a seven mile long channel that at its narrowest is only a half mile wide and has high mountains flanking each side.
When we reached the southern end of the channel, ice blocked the way. This derailed our plan to push further south to another harbor, and we were forced to turn around. However, the captain and expedition leader helped us turn a negative situation into a unique opportunity.
The crew lowered all of the zodiacs into the water, and we were able to use the zodiacs to run the length the the channel. This provided a special experience to get closer to the ice, animals, and enormous features of the Lemaire Channel. We were also able to pluck some “black ice” out of the water. This clear ice can be thousands of years old.
Having an opportunity to drive the zodiac through the Lemaire was on the Antarctic expedition bucket list of several guides, so we were please to have the chance to experience it with them. It was a cold two hour boat ride, but worth the frozen fingers and faces.
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