Landing at Port Lockroy

February 1, 1994

When we got to the landing site, we stepped out onto rocks and water. Large rocks, ranging from several feet to about half a foot in diameter. They were dark gray with lighter streaks and speckles, and were mostly wet and slippery. I was extremely glad that I brought the boots that I did (heavy and with plenty of tread on the bottom, not the light rubber boots that most people had) during this entire landing.

Greetings from a Gentoo penguin at Port Lockroy

The landing area was very low, and there was water on all sides with just a narrow path of rocks up to higher ground. The water on the far side of the landing area was enclosed from the surrounding way somewhat, and was filled with ice floating on the surface in large chunks. There were penguins swimming in the water and hopping in at one end and jumping onto the rocks at the other. They would line up at one end and then either jump in or turn around and go back onto the higher rocks.

Gentoo penguins at Port Lockroy

As I walked farther into the island, I noted more and more guano muck. People were instructed to walk in the muck instead of taking risks on the round rocks or disturbing the penguins that were nesting on the these rocks higher up.

The ground (and muck) at Port Lockroy

You can explore Port Lockroy, or return to today's table of contents.