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Flying over the volcano

American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy: Offical Statement from Derek DeCross, Vice President of AA Global Sales

The bad news: American Airlines filed for bankruptcy this morning. The good news: At this time it looks like “business as usual” for travelers during the Chapter 11 process. Here is the official statement our flight partners received from Derek DeCross, American Airlines Vice President of Global Sales. I’ll keep you updated on changes — or check out more information on the restructuring on American Airlines website. November 29, 2011 [...]

 

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Antarctica at sunset

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 26: At Last, Cape Evans and the Stunning Mount Erebus

November 26th, 2011 Much to our surprise, the winds increased to 44 knots which again prevented the helicopters from flying to Ross Island for sightseeing. The expedition leader gave up on the weather and decided we should head north, approximately 140 miles northeast to the Ross ice Shelf. Then, as soon as ship started backing up, the wind speed decreased to 30 knots, just enough for us to take a [...]

 

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The Kapitan Klebnikov in Antarctica

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov. 25: Whiteouts and the Solar Eclipse

November 25, 2011 Our plans for visiting McMurdo and Ross Stations, Scott’s Discovery hut at Cape Evans and hiking Observation Hill were delayed by the weather. Here in Antarctica, “weather is our master”, our expedition leader, Shane Envoy, has reminded us many times. Whiteout conditions and 40 knot winds lasted throughout the day with temperature of 30 degrees below zero when considering the wind chill factor. During the afternoon, the [...]

 

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Antarctica

Happy Thanksgiving from Antarctica!

November 24, 2011 Our visit to the Adelie Penguin Colony was cut short by white conditions with 40 knots per hour winds. All passengers were on the island which was a ten minute helicopter ride from the icebreaker. After one hour on shore, the wind and snow flurries increased until the icebreaker was no longer visible from shore. By that time, we were spread out over a one mile stretch [...]

 

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Panoramic Antarctica

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 23: Visiting the Hut of the Doomed 1912 Expedition of Robert Falcon Scott

NOVEMBER 23, 2011 During the early morning the captain moved the ship south toward Cape Evans on Ross Island. The ship was at its furthest point south on this expedition. Temperature was minus 4 degree C, with wind making it a bit chilly, but the sky was mostly blue. It was a perfect day for our flight to Cape Evans to visit Robert Falcon Scott’s hut until whiteout conditions appeared [...]

 

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Emperor Penguin

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 22: Penguins and Preparing for McMurdo Dry Valleys

November 22, 2011 Last evening, we headed toward an area further close to Taylor Valley in the McMurdo Dry Valleys in hope to make a helicopter operation. About 2am the Kapitan Khlebnikov’s engines were shut down as the captain could not get the ship closer to the valley due to the thick ice. The goal was to park as close to Taylor Valley as possible to make the helicopter ride [...]

 

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Penguins at their colong

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov. 21: Shackelton Hut from Nimrod Expedition 1907-1909

November 21, 2011 Shackleton’s Nimrod Hut, Lat. 77 33 South. Long 166 67 E Last night, we left Franklin Island about 10 pm and continued our journey south to McMurdo Sound. Mt Erbus came into view during early afternoon. What a lovely sight as we cruised along side Ross Island. The ice was amazingly thin for this time of year which allowed the Captain to park the Kapitan Khlebnikov a [...]

 

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Penguin on the ice

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov. 20: The best way through ice is around ice . . .

NOVEMBER 20, 2011 Again we were reminded of the old Russian saying “the best way though ice is around ice.” The day was spent weaving in and out of ice through the patches of sea ice. Cape Washington was no longer in reach due to the ice conditions but we did make it to a wonderful emperor penguin rookery on Franklin Island. The lighting was beautiful on the huge tabular [...]

 

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115 miles from the Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 19: 115 Miles from the Antarctic Peninsula

November 19th, 2011 We spent the day heading toward Cape Washington or Coulman Island to visit emperor Penguins. The currents and wind changes throughout the day causing the ice to change directions. The sky is overcast and colder than the previous day. We spent the day watching the penguins scurry from the ship as it powered through the ice. After lunch we took helicopter rides for landscape viewing and to [...]

 

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Ice, anyone?

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 18: Alone in the Ross Sea

NOVEMBER 18TH, 2011 — 7PM Tomorrow will be another day of crushing ice as Coulman Island is still 170 miles away. Due to the large ice floes and sea currents, we have traveled only half as far as yesterday. Now we are heading in a southeasterly direction because that is where the lightest ice is taking us. Ice charts are not always accurate so the captain completed three helicopter recon [...]