Antarctica Emperor Penguins of Snow Hill Island October 17 to November 1, 2018
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CHEESEMANS’ ECOLOGY SAFARIS 555 North Santa Cruz Avenue Los Gatos, CA 95030-4336 USA (800) 527-5330 (408) 741-5330 [email protected] cheesemans.com Antarctica Emperor Penguins of Snow Hill Island October 17 to November 1, 2018 Emperor penguin colony with their chicks SAFARI OVERVIEW Sail on an icebreaker amid Antarctic Peninsula icebergs then helicopter to the emperor penguin colony near Snow Hill Island. Experience one of the most elusive wildlife scenes on the planet deep in the heart of the Weddell Sea: emperor penguins with their beautiful young. To “march with the penguins” is a rare experience that few people are so fortunate to share. The polar-class icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov, equipped with helicopters to access the Snow Hill rookery, will travel to Antarctica for the first time in eight years. The availability of helicopters for ice reconnaissance and transfers to otherwise inaccessible wildlife viewing areas sets this apart from other Antarctic voyages. This expedition is just too special to let it pass by! Join us as we sail through stunning seascapes in the iceberg-strewn Antarctic Sound into the Weddell Sea and behold the incredible emperors for yourself! HIGHLIGHTS • Take a helicopter flight and trek across the pristine, open sea ice to the emperor penguin colony. • Spend time up close with the world-renowned emperor penguins and their chicks. LEADERS: Ted Cheeseman, Scott Davis, and one more Cheesemans’ leader; plus 14 more Quark Expeditions staff, including Dr. Tom Hart. See Expedition Staff section on page 2. DAYS: 16, including estimated travel time. 12 nights aboard the Khlebnikov. Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Page 1 of 10 Itinerary Updated: September 2017 GROUP SIZE: 110, not including staff. SHIP: The Kapitan Khlebnikov, 110-passenger Russian icebreaker. See Ship section on page 3. COST: $19,995 to $34,995 per person depending on cabin type, double occupancy, not including airfare, singles extra. See the Costs section on page 6. CONDITIONS: Cheesemans’ allows only non-smoking participants and provides expeditions for people who are very interested in spending the maximum time in nature. See the Conditions section on page 9. Date Description Accommodation Meals Oct 17 Depart home. Oct 18 Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina. Hotel in Ushuaia --- Oct 19 Board the Khlebnikov. On board the B, D Oct 20–21 Cross the famous Drake Passage to the Weddell Khlebnikov B, L, D Sea. Oct 22–28 Six to seven days of opportunities for excursions to the emperor penguin colony of Snow Hill Island. Oct 29–30 Cruise northward across the Drake Passage, returning to Ushuaia. Oct 31 Disembark the Khlebnikov and fly homeward from Ushuaia. B Nov 1 Arrive home. OPTIONS We will announce these very soon. EXPEDITION STAFF Additional expedition staff will be provided by Quark Expeditions. Ted Cheeseman ~ Ecologist, Photographer and Zodiac Driver Ted grew up traveling extensively and began studying and photographing wildlife as a child. After completing a Master's degree in tropical conservation biology at Duke University, Ted returned to California to lead and organize expeditions full time with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris. Ted currently leads expeditions to Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and recently founded the citizen science project Happywhale.com. Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Page 2 of 10 Itinerary Updated: September 2017 Scott Davis ~ Naturalist, Biologist, Photographer, and Zodiac Driver Scott Davis is a professional photographer specializing in wildlife and nature, travel and lifestyle, and editorial imagery. Originally trained as a wildlife and marine biologist, Scott's research and photo assignments have taken him to far corners of the globe and all seven continents. His photographic work has appeared in numerous national and international magazines and newspapers, commercial websites, prestigious stock agencies, and corporate reports. See examples of his images on his website at www.scottdavisimages.com. Tom Hart ~ Penguinologist Tom has a passion for wildlife in extreme environments and is working hard to conserve them in a changing world. His PhD involved tracking macaroni penguins to understand penguin foraging behavior. Since then, he has since diversified into genetics and image analysis to monitor wildlife in remote places. He runs the Penguin Lifelines project at Oxford University through which he seeks to understand changes in Antarctic wildlife using time-lapse cameras, volunteer photos, and population genetics in order to create effective protected areas and fisheries management. SHIP The Kapitan Khlebnikov The Khlebnikov is a polar-class icebreaker (Ice Class LL3), combining power and technology with creature comforts. It was originally designed for the rigors of northern Siberia and is one of the few vessels of its kind. It is Tip Top IV propelled by diesel-electric engines with 24,000 total horsepower and can cruise at 15 knots in open water. The Khlebnikov can carry 110 guests and 70 staff and crew. It has four fully enclosed lifeboats with a capacity of 184 people and a clinic with licensed doctor on board. All cabins and suites have private en-suite facilities, large windows, desk, and wardrobes. Days at sea are enhanced by the ship’s onboard amenities, including a heated indoor swimming pool, exercise room, and sauna. The theater-style auditorium is perfect for staff presentations. In the lounge, you will find a well-stocked bar, open late afternoon and evenings, plus a 24-hour self-serve station for coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Meals are served in two comfortable dining rooms and moving around the ship is made easier by the passenger elevator. The Khlebnikov is equipped with two helicopters that hold approximately 8 passengers each and are used for ice reconnaissance, transfers to the emperor penguin rookery, and aerial sightseeing. Depending on operational constraints and at the discretion of the ship, charter flights for individual passengers may be possible at additional cost. The ship is also equipped with a fleet of Zodiacs for cruising and landings at other possible stops in the Antarctic. Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Page 3 of 10 Itinerary Updated: September 2017 DETAILED ITINERARY Oct 17 ~ Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina For most traveling to Ushuaia, you will need to leave home today. Oct 18 ~ Arrive in Ushuaia Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina by this evening (see Flights section on page 8). Upon arrival in Ushuaia, a transfer agent will meet you and transport you to your hotel. If you wish to arrive early as a buffer against travel delays or to spend extra time in the Ushuaia, we are happy to book extra hotel nights and transfers. Oct 19 ~ Embark on the Khlebnikov You’ll embark on the Khlebnikov in the afternoon and head east down the Beagle Channel. As Ushuaia fades in the distance, you will find yourselves cruising past largely uninhabited scenic shores. The wind-pruned evergreen nothophagus (southern beech) trees fill every protected valley between the gently rolling hills with beautiful mountain backdrops. Look for birds such as Chilean skua, South American tern, king cormorant (blue-eyed shag), kelp and dolphin gulls, and black-browed albatross. Later in the evening, enjoy your first dinner aboard the ship as you head into the open waters of the Drake Passage. Oct 20–21 ~ Cross the Drake Passage Spend two days at sea making your way across the Drake Passage to the Weddell Sea. En route to Antarctica, the expedition staff will offer presentations on a variety of topics, including the biology, habitat, and behavior of emperor penguins. Familiarization on all aspects of ship life and preparations for what to expect at Snow Hill will keep you busy, but you’ll also find there is time for viewing from the bridge or stern. Wandering and black-browed albatross should follow as you head south and there’s also a chance of spotting a royal albatross in these waters. Photographers on the stern will have a field day following birds on the wing in their viewfinders. Icebergs will dominate the scenery as you approach Antarctica and pass by the South Shetland Islands. Emperor penguins and their chicks Oct 22–28 ~ Sail the Weddell Sea and to Snow Hill Pack ice will determine the ship’s path as you head around the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula into the Weddell Sea. Spend six to seven days at Snow Hill Island, weather and ice conditions permitting. Helicopters will shuttle you in small groups and set down some distance from the colony to not disturb the wildlife. From the landing area, you will walk approximately one mile to the emperor penguins. You will have an incredible opportunity to watch the adult emperors tending to their chicks, while ice and snow provide a scenic backdrop for incredible photographs. Weather conditions can greatly affect the safety of helicopter flights, so there are no guarantees regarding flights or flight times. Helicopter flights for reconnaissance, as determined by the Expedition Leader or Captain, take precedence over passenger flights. Although the emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island is the main goal of this expedition, if weather or other conditions prevent you from visiting the colony, or shorten the duration of your visit, you may visit some of these potential landings sites. Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Page 4 of 10 Itinerary Updated: September 2017 Participants photographing the colony Potential Landings Sites: Brown Bluff: A possible exposed volcano, Brown Bluff towers 2,225ft (678m) over the rookeries of the Adélie and gentoo penguins, which number in the thousands. As a potential visit would be very early in the breeding season, you may see the colonies as they are just starting to form. Devil Island: The Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901–1904 discovered the narrow island, which is 1mi (1.6km) long and has a low summit at each end. Hope Bay: Three members of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition spent the winter in a hut on the shores of the bay.