We found ourselves in Horsund this morning after sailing
south from Isfjord overnight. We turned in the sound then up and into
Burgerbukta for a morning landing. In
every direction there were icy peaks interspersed with blue glaciers. And if
you cared to look down, you were delighted with many Arctic plants and rocks of
various colours, in a totally natural alpine rock garden! During the landing we
were situated in front of several blue glaciers all sourced from the icefield
above. There was an opportunity to stretch our legs on a hike up the ridge,
around and down again. Some of us opted for a guided hike up onto a nearby glacier,
and yet others kayaked in to the end of the sound and the foot of another
glacier, always of course keeping a safe distance away. This late in the Arctic
summer (tomorrow is officially autumn!) there were only a few birds flying over
such as Arctic Terns and a few Arctic Skuas. Down the beach there were
footprints on the beach running up from the water. Because of their
dinner-plate size they could be created by only one animal- the Polar Bear!
However, during the landing we were lucky not to encounter this top predator of
the Arctic.
After the landing we sailed further into Hornsund to
Brepollen. There we gathered on decks to take in the incredible landscape of
this area. Some of us were comparing what we were seeing to similar locales
such as Alaska and Antarctica, but most admitted that for today anyway, this
was the most beautiful place they had ever seen.
