Heavy ice, tension as 3 ships assist each other breaking through sea ice.
An email arrived today from Phil Wickens, co-worker expedition staff, mountaineer extraodinaire, geology lecturer and good friend.
"We have unexpectedly come into heavy ice, so I finally have a little breathing space to write.
We're now in the middle of our second trip; both groups have been wonderful and with very different experiences thrown at us up here.
The first had few polar bears, but lots and lots of ice (we were trapped and breaking leads with 2 other ships), and good walrus sightings at the end.
This trip we've had better bear encounters; again plenty of ice, but nothing quite so stressful! We haven't been able to get around Spitsbergen yet; judging by the satellite images it should be possible providing there is no threatening northerly wind, but that's the call of the Expedition Leader! It's a matter of careful interpretation of the ice charts, satellite images and weather charts and keeping a dead close eye on how it changes each day; or to stay more south until the season advances.
As for shore excursions, we did quite a few on the last trip, but no calorie-burning yomps, though I think EL, Brando, will be up for some on future trips as we have hardly got off the ship on this trip.
I am currently reverting to chasing staff around the decks, mock polar-bear fighting on the bridge and other energy-burning foolishness to stave off cabin-fever..."
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