Snow Hill Island Antarctica
Antarctica
Frequently Asked Questions
For the emperor penguins. On the fast ice south of the island lives a colony of several thousand pairs, the northernmost known for the species. For many polar travellers it is the goal of a lifetime.
In the northwest Weddell Sea, reputed the hardest part of Antarctica to reach. The island is a long icy ridge that barely rises above the sea ice.
No standard itinerary goes there. The few expeditions that attempt it use true icebreakers, able to work through thick ice, or polar ships with helicopters that ferry passengers in rotations to a respectful distance from the colony.
October and November, when chicks are still present and the ice is workable. Even then nothing is guaranteed : weather and ice have the last word.
The emperor does not breed on land but on sea ice. That is what makes every visit dependent on ice conditions, and why no two seasons are alike.
Minimum distance, slow movements, limited time. Often it is the penguins that come closer, curious about these motionless red shapes. The expedition team's instructions are not up for negotiation.
Yes. On its ice free slopes stands the wooden hut where Otto Nordenskjöld's Swedish expedition wintered at the very start of the 20th century, after their support ship was lost. It is preserved as a historic monument.
You watch from the bridge : crabeater seals on the floes, snow petrels and the tabular icebergs of the Weddell Sea make a continuous show on their own.
Parkas, insulated boots and multiple layers, generally supplied or required by the operators. Outings last hours in well below freezing temperatures : the gear is not a detail.
An expedition, without question. The itinerary can change daily, comfort comes second and patience is mandatory. Anyone considering Snow Hill should accept those terms before booking.
