Log Entry No4 - 10th Mar 08. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CREWS QUARTERS

We awoke to an early start today at 07.30, and were soon tucking into some pleasant home made porridge which was prepared by red watch (Chris, Glen, Harry and Shaun). At approximately 05.30 Shaun and Windy recce’d the local area to find safe passages for the rest of us to explore and take some breath taking photos. By 10.00 they had returned with good news and we were all suited and booted and ready to go ashore. The weather was amazing and wouldn’t have seemed out of place in a Mediterranean resort.

Skipper and Mate near Ice Bury .

Once we were ashore we set off in two groups, both parties following the same general route which started at Husvik whaling station and finished at Stromness whaling station with a good stretch of coastline in between. With a little bit of bouldering and scrambling on the way. We arrived at Stromness after a four mile trek which took about 2 hrs as we were frequently distracted along the route where we then gained a well earned rest on the Scree. A large bold warning sign said “Approach within 200m of whaling station is prohibited, danger of unsafe structures and Asbestos” so we admired and explored from the appropriate distance but were still in awe of the effort it must have taken to set up and run such a site.

Glacier in distance.

After our exploration around the whaling station we set off back to the boat. Both parties chose alternate routes as far as was possible. Shore party 1 (Sohrab, Casey, Gary, Dani, Glen and Harry) took the more challenging route, up a small steep saddle. Shore party 2 (Steve, Alex, Luke, Scotty, Zac and Chris) returned down the same route to which they came from. Party 1 finally arose to the summit after an exhausting climb which took approximately 1 hr. We were delighted after finding a safe and pleasurable way down the steep Scree slope. 20m down we sighted a small patch of last year’s snow approximately 50m long. We decided to treat ourselves for a little down time and we messed about in the snow, sliding down it and having a good bit of fun. Shortly, we arrived at the bottom on the opposite side of the ridge to find a small lake of which was composed of glacial waters from the mountain peaks and decided to indulge in the age old British tradition of Skinny Dipping, unsurprisingly, we found the water freezing cold yet refreshing. We continued our trek back to the boat so that, White watch could prepare “scoff” (Dinner) for the rests of the team on board Discoverer. After much anticipation silence descended on board as we all got stuck in to dinner which was,’ Chicken Tikka Masala with Chapatti’s and for afterwards Fruit Cocktail and Cream – who says food on board is boring.

By Michael Casey (AAC) Gary Laidlaw (3 Scots)