Picto Diary - 14 January 2023 (Part 1) - Port Charcot
Above: Lemaire Channel. Antarctica. 14 January 2023
Lemaire Channel is a strait off Antarctica, between Kyiv Peninsula in the mainland's Graham Land and Booth Island. Nicknamed "Kodak Gap" by some, it is one of the top tourist destinations in Antarctica; steep cliffs hem in the iceberg -filled passage, which is 11 km (6.8 mi) long and just 1,600 meters (1,700 yd) wide at its narrowest point.
Up early in the sixth deck forward lounge. This image taken at 6:45 AM. Norway fjords, eat your heart out. Easy to discern why L'Austral has a reinforced hull.
Above: Lemaire Channel. Antarctica. 14 January 2023.
Looking aft from L'Austral.
Above: Port Charcot. Antarctica. 14 January 2023.
Port Charcot was the overwintering site of the French Antarctic Expedition, commanded by Jean-Baptiste Charcot from 1903 through 1905.
Image shows the most arduous hike to date. 200 feet elevation. Not the 300 feet of Neko Bay, but steeper sections requiring agile footwork. There were some expedition-goer falls in the soft, wet, slippery snow but no injuries.
Above: Bishop and Espresso. Cairn. Port Charcot. Antarctica, 14 January 2023.
It seemed appropriate that a French flagged cruise ship visit this site.
The rock cairn can be found at Port Charcot on Booth Island. It’s comprised of a wooden column and a plaque inscribed with the names of the first French Antarctic expedition led by Jean-Baptiste E. A. Charcot.
The harbor itself wasn’t charted until the third French expedition to the region. The crew was forced to winter in Antartica in 1904. Although the men were moored, they established a shore station at the port for research. The crew slept on the ship, while reserving the station for scientific observations and as a last-ditch shelter.
It was during this time that the port was named by Jean-Baptiste after his father, Jean-Martin Charcot. At the 1972 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), Argentina formally requested the site be labeled a Historic site or Monument.
Above: Penguin Highway. Port Charcot (Booth Island). Antarctica. 14 January 2023.
Gentoo penguins have the right of way if a human engineered path intersects with the penguin highway. It's amazing how the penguins seem indifferent to human presence.
Addendum
Steve.
Love your Picto Diaries! I scanned the Navigation Map, as well as the distances, ship specs and 2 pictures that we bought, and thought you may enjoy seeing them. Cheers.
Espresso,
Washington, DC
Above: With Captain Marchesseau and L'Austral passenger image.
Snow, ice, rocks, seals and penguins...
Tork,
Sandy, UT
French cuisine, quality entertainment, interesting people, historical lectures, geological lectures.
Thanks for sharing this, Steve,
Sounds like you had an emotional moment on your encounters with this landscape.
It has inspired me to look at this trip at some point in my life. But I have other priorities right now.
I hope we can all meet soon.
Let’s also plan your India trip once you are back from Antartica.
Mohan,
Gurgaon, India
Absolutely amazing pictures.
Thank you for sharing,
Illisa, Chicago, IL
Quite an adventure- beautiful pictures—
I have read several books on Antarctica exploration- I am currently reading The Worst Journey in the World
How these early explorers survived is fascinating.
Looking forward to more pictures.
Montage,
Marina del Rey, CA
Thank you for sharing ! It must have been an incredible experience/adventure! One that I hope to make myself one day.
Brent,
Draper, UT
Bishop/Banker Steve:
From your diary today and my photo files from yesterday.
You:
Antarctica = snow/ice, penguins, crowds of tourists, cold and five-star meals on a boat.
Me:
SE Asia = 85 F, the bliss of a quiet fast-food pit stop (so I can quickly get back on the motorcycle for some time on the road) admiring a motorcycle through the window of an air con restaurant with a one/two-star meal for $5.00.
We're in far different zones, Toto. :-)
Dr. G
Author/Moto-Journalist and General Motorcycle Wastrel
Chiang Mai,
Thailand
