Chile and Antarctica cruise

[JohnM]

Yep, the Chileans stick rigidly to their airspace; the Argys to theirs.

It can be a PITA for getting around down in Patagonia.

 

[RooFlyer]

Then it got good, as we flew over Parc National Bernardo O'Higgins - the second long white area in post #80, just before our turn.

Glaciers. We first saw the ice calved off glaciers.



Then they started appearing. Oh, my goodness.



Unbelievable, textbook lateral and medial moraines. Very briefly, as a glacier grinds its way down a valley, rock gets scaped off the sides and bottom and gets entrained in the ice as it flows down the valley. They are lateral moraines. When two glaciers meet, the two lateral moraines meet, and continue to flow down the middle of the combined glacier, forming a medial moraine . So all the dark lines in the above pic are lateral moraines of numerous up-stream glaciers that have combined and combined to have the rock debris forming multiple lines down the glacier as it flows to termination.










And at the glacier's termination, the rocks get dumped into the water, forming glacial till deposits.

 

[RooFlyer]

Then, the coupe de grace. The pilot came on and said something which we couldn't catch - but I made out the word 'Torres' which could only mean the Parque National Torres del Paines and sure enough, amazingly, there were the Cerro Paine Grande peaks.

Torres is the Spanish word for “towers” and paine is the Tehuelche (a group of South American Indians) word for “blue.” The name refers to three tall rock towers that make up one of the most famous sites of the area. The park's full name in Spanish is Parque Nacional Torres del Paine.

Then onwards toward our destination




The Rio Turbio coal mine and power station in Argentina



Over the Beagle Channel, approaching WPU





They are off and running




Puerto Williams. A former Chilean naval base, but still with a navy presence



And there she is!!

 

[RooFlyer]

Easy disembarkation and a walk across the apron (just like HBA ) to waiting busses. This is the status/priority queue for pax returning back to Puntas Arenas (no comment).















And finally - arrival and boarding; 18 months in the making.

 

[RooFlyer]

Experienced cruisers, esp on SS may want to skip this. From a newbie ...

On boarding, registration, taking of passports, taking of pics etc was painless and then to the suite. I chose a Classic Verandah on deck 5, as close to the middle as I could get. My luggage arrived a few minutes after I did. The butler for my area introduced himself (I thought the white tie and tails outfit was a bit far) and took me through the suite details.

A bottle of Monopole waiting, plus complimentary parka (with inner), water bottle and backpack.





I always thought the luggage room would be a waste of space, but having completely unpacked my case (which was exactly 23kg) - for the first time in living memory - I can now see the virtue of it.







Comp minibar stocked; I was later asked why my preference was and I mentioned gin. What type? Tanqueray. Later, this appeared



Here we are, ready to go. Delayed by a few hours by the late arrivals.



The Silver Wind was refurbed in 2022/23 and I have to say I love the details in the suite. USB A and C ports both by the bed and at the desk; TV with all the info, plus entertainment - same available on phone. Plenty of accessible power points. The carpets and all the fittings and furnishings are fresh and unworn. Port Power, being experienced on SilverSeas gave me numerous tips about the dining opportunities and 'how things work'. Made slipping into the routine much easier.

The wi-fi so far is about 4MB up and down, but variable.

Dinner with PP and two Americans, very good company. The a late mandatory muster (life jackets not required); an additional 10 min video viewing in the cabins unlocks the TV for other uses.




The theatre is good (no shows - just lectures and briefings etc)



At this time we slipped moorings and sailed down the Beagle Channel for first a sea day and then arrival at the Falklands.

 

[RooFlyer]

When I awoke - quite early, there was very little movement discernable by the ship and I thought we'd struck it lucky with the seas en route to the Falklands. But I found we were still in the channel!



Ila de los Estados off the starboard side




I took and early turn round the ship and found the forward library/observation lounge, where there was coffee.

Definition of optimism on the pool deck. Its cold!!



The island drifted past us



By lunch it had turned into a sunny day, with the seas still good and the pool even looks inviting! This is the lunch view





That's me up to date! Sea days are good for that sort of thing.

 

[Lat34]

Definition of optimism on the pool deck. Its cold!!

View attachment 359996

By lunch it had turned into a sunny day, with the seas still good and the pool even looks inviting! This is the lunch view

View attachment 359999

That's me up to date! Sea days are good for that sort of thing.

Champagne in hand, you will love the heated pool and spas post-polar plunge

After all the planning, prep (and sometimes anxiety) it's quite a relief to finally start an Antarctic adventure. Enjoy!

 

[RooFlyer]

Champagne in hand, you will love the heated pool and spas post-polar plunge

Damn. Forgot my swimmers. No Polar plunge.

 

[zig]

Damn. Forgot my swimmers. No Polar plunge.

Don't let that stop you. On my trip one passenger did the plunge in the nude, much to his wife's horror
Great to see photos of PW. My flight down was delayed and I arrived into PW just on sunset, so didn't get to see much.

 

[RooFlyer]

Don't let that stop you.

I think it might. Not that I'd mind, mind you, but one has to think of the trauma of others ....

 

[kookaburra75]

Unbelievable, textbook lateral and medial moraines. Very briefly, as a glacier grinds its way down a valley, rock gets scaped off the sides and bottom and gets entrained in the ice as it flows down the valley. They are lateral moraines. When two glaciers meet, the two lateral moraines meet, and continue to flow down the middle of the combined glacier, forming a medial moraine . So all the dark lines in the above pic are lateral moraines of numerous up-stream glaciers that have combined and combined to have the rock debris forming multiple lines down the glacier as it flows to termination.

And I hope you turned around in your seat and told everyone on the flight, in an excited voice, what you said above - just so they know who you are

Looks great - enjoy.

 

[SuePa]

And I hope you turned around in your seat and told everyone on the flight, in an excited voice, what you said above - just so they know who you are

Looks great - enjoy.

I love having geologists who don't mind explaining everything on my trips. It was especially informative in Iceland.

 

[craven morehead]

Sounds like a fantastic trip

 

[JohnM]

How many pax on the tub?

 

[VPS]

This is all bringing back amazing memories. Have a wonderful time.

 

[jrfsp]

Looks great

 

[JohnM]

Then, the coupe de grace. The pilot came on and said something which we couldn't catch - but I made out the word 'Torres' which could only mean the Parque National Torres del Paines and sure enough, amazingly, there were the Cerro Paine Grande peaks.

View attachment 359937

Spectacular views from the bird.

From my 2013 Patagonia and Antarctica trip, here's what the Torres look like from the ground and close up after a solid hike in:

 

[tgh]

See ya and raise ya @ John m.. this little perched lake is a half day horse trek from Helsinfors Estancia..a few days post our Antarctic cruise 06/12/09

 

[love_the_life]

See ya and raise ya @ John m.. this little perched lake is a half day horse trek from Helsinfors Estancia..a few days post our Antarctic cruise 06/12/09

View attachment 360045

I wonder if (suspect) the warming climate has meant the glaciers in your photo no longer come down to the lake as your trip was 2009 and JohnM in 2013. When we were in the region in early 2011, the glaciers were retreating apace.

Rooflyer, we arrived home today from a Silver Muse cruise, sigh.

 

[RooFlyer]

How many pax on the tub?

220 pax ( 29 nationalities) abt 240 crew