Early January, 2016, the Ocean Endevour crawls at a slow 2 knots pushing its way through heavy sea ice. Looking in every direction there is the same view; flat white ice, with dark jagged cracks of sea separating thousands of vast fragments. The sea ice floats around in level pieces ranging from 4 to 20 meters across. The ship meanders through it, parting the patches, trying to find an open area. After several hours of this, it is difficult to not think of early explorers like Shackleton and Carl Anton Larsen, with their ships stuck and crushed by the weight of the drifting sea ice. For 12 hours the captain moved the vessel methodically and deliberately through the maze until we hit open water once again, with a sigh of relief. This was my
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The ice is thick and the winds are typically strong. Many times the weather’s so rough and ice so thick that we can’t even drop zodiacs to cruise or land below the circle. This particular day, is a good one, and the first that is suitable conditions for SUP below the circle. The sky is overcast, allowing the oversized white ice bergs to dramatically stand out against the grey background. The sea is littered with pieces of sea ice and small bergy bits. The light breeze reminds us of how dynamic the seemingly stable masses of ice are as they drift around the surface. In the zodiac with the paddle boarders, I give an introduction to SUP and a safety briefing. In the short time it takes to do this, the breeze and currents have enclosed our zodiac with small chunks of sea ice. Before we can unload our boards we have to turn on the engine to clear an area for launching. We laugh as I begin shoving ice away with my paddle.
Paddling in here makes you feel tiny. The large, dark, jagged peaks of the surrounding lands tower around us as the icy white glaciers spill down their valleys. Icebergs the size of castles bob around the sea reminding you of how large those glaciers in the distance really are. Ice isn’t the only allure of the paddle; Adelie Penguins waddle clumsily along the rocks of Detaille Island as we float by. They cautiously approach the sea edge and peer into the water determining if it’s safe to plunge in. Once in the water, they dart around beneath the surface, seemingly flying
The ice is thick and the winds are typically strong. Many times the weather’s so rough and ice so thick that we can’t even drop zodiacs to cruise or land below the circle. This particular day, is a good one, and the first that is suitable conditions for SUP below the circle. The sky is overcast, allowing the oversized white ice bergs to dramatically stand out against the grey background. The sea is littered with pieces of sea ice and small bergy bits. The light breeze reminds us of how dynamic the seemingly stable masses of ice are as they drift around the surface. In the zodiac with the paddle boarders, I give an introduction to SUP and a safety briefing. In the short time it takes to do this, the breeze and currents have enclosed our zodiac with small chunks of sea ice. Before we can unload our boards we have to turn on the engine to clear an area for launching. We laugh as I begin shoving ice away with my paddle.
Paddling in here makes you feel tiny. The large, dark, jagged peaks of the surrounding lands tower around us as the icy white glaciers spill down their valleys. Icebergs the size of castles bob around the sea reminding you of how large those glaciers in the distance really are. Ice isn’t the only allure of the paddle; Adelie Penguins waddle clumsily along the rocks of Detaille Island as we float by. They cautiously approach the sea edge and peer into the water determining if it’s safe to plunge in. Once in the water, they dart around beneath the surface, seemingly flying