As predicted, National Geographic Endurance encountered pack ice in the far north at 6:00 a.m. Having left the last land of the archipelago the evening prior, our plan was to spend the day in the ice: looking for, hoping for, and mentally manifesting more wildlife.
Before breakfast, guides were already up on the Bridge. A few harp seals were spotted, along with several ivory gulls. Soon there were ringed seals, as well as a bearded seal mum and pup together on the ice.
Several presentations were given. Dennis spoke on lichen, and Sergei discussed glacier sand ice. In the afternoon, Shell spoke about polar bears. Of course, we had the shifting visual of ice and wildlife.
In the evening, a few of us had the treat of dining at Charlie’s Table on deck 8, a true journey of culinary precision and passion. As the evening progressed, we exited out of the sea ice, southbound again for tomorrow’s land-based adventures on the north coast of Spitsbergen.
