From the Field: Bill Buck in Cape Horn, Day 15
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on February 27th, 2012 by William R. Buck – Be the first to commentFebruary 4, 2012; Isla O’Brien, Caleta Americana, approximately 54º53′S, 70º23′W
I told myself last night, shortly after I went to my bunk, that I would have a better attitude today.
The ship moved in the early morning to our field site for the day, Seno Ventisquero in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. I was summoned to the bridge from my bunk, so I quickly dressed and went upstairs. The seas were very rough and the captain wanted to explain that rather than heading for our tentatively agreed upon site, we would instead be tying-up in a calm harbor at approximately 54º45′S, 70º19′W. I always leave these decisions to him anyway so it was just a formality.
Last chance to collect next to a glacier
The day didn’t look like it was going to be a good one; the clouds were so low that they seemed to be barely hovering above the waves, and sleet pelted the ship’s deck. As a consequence, most of us were a little slow in getting ready to head into the field. Lily and I boarded a Zodiac and were taken to what appeared to be a coastal southern beech forest with a small river running through it. Throughout the entire ride we suffered through continual sleet, but, the moment we stepped ashore it stopped! Surely a good sign!
