Amsler Island

Now that the ice is largely blown out from around the station and we're through the more hectic, first half of the season, the reason that people keep coming back to Palmer year after year after year (which a lot of them do--contractor retention rates are way higher here than at other stations, I am pretty sure): the surrounding area is gorgeous and if boats are available, we can take them out to surrounding islands and go for hikes.


These pictures are from the visit I got to make to Amsler Island, which is where Palmer Station was originally established in the 1950's. For a number of reasons, a decade later they moved it to where it now is. But there are still some signs of the former station here, even as beautiful and abundant moss and lichen have taken over much of the island's surface.

It was so peaceful and gorgeous to wander around...



Though when we got to a part of the island called Sheathbill Cove, the peace was usurped by the extraordinary number of elephant seals sprawled about (probably at least 100 of them in view at once) and making their very distinctive, appalling sounds. It was such a mesmerizing experience to just sit and watch and listen to them.