2012 Eagle SKi Club Antarctic Expedition Report VERSION - UIAA

Sea-Ice Conditions
Prior to the expedition we had been keeping a careful watch on the sea-ice
conditions in Marguerite Bay and the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Although in recent years much of the winter ice has usually cleared out of
Marguerite Bay by January, during this season (2011-12) the ice remained
heavy in Marguerite Bay and as far north as the Lemaire Channel until much
later in the season. Figure 1 shows how extensive this ice was on December
28 th 2011.
Figure 1. Envisat ASAR WSM image showing sea-ice conditions on December 28 th 2011.
Since this density of ice was impossible for Spirit of Sydney to safely
penetrate anywhere south of the Lemaire Channel, we focussed on more
northerly venues. Since a settled period of good weather seemed imminent,
we decided to initially focus on the peaks of Anvers Island, which is close to
Port Lockroy. We then spent a few days in Paradise Harbour before heading
north to Cierva Cove, where very little exploration of the mountains has
previously taken place.
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