Page 139 - 2003 - Atlantic Islands
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THE SHACKLETON WALK
Today was the “dream finally realized” hike for many of us on the Orion. Being so
completely immersed in the Shackleton story, we were all excited and eager to begin.
The ship anchored in Fortuna Bay around 8 and the hikers (about 28 in all counting
crew members who joined us) were on the Zodiacs about 8:30 AM We stood around
on a beach full of fur seals and some penguins, waiting for all the hikers to arrive and
enjoyed the beautiful blue skies with wonderful cloud formations, sparkling glaciers,
gleaming snow patches, arfing seals and honking penguins.
None of the critters seemed too concerned about our visit and we left them alone
too. At about 9 AM everybody had assembled and we started up the tussocky slope
following Marco who was “clacking stones” at any of the bull seals who might look in
our direction. The way up was much as we remembered, pretty steep over
interesting shale rocks which actually look like big pieces of petrified bark. The higher
we climbed the more spectacular the scenery became, opening out into huge valleys
and vaulting mountains with glaciers cascading down their sides. The world turned
white on black as the snow patches became more numerous over the rocks and up
on the dark sides of the basaltic mountains. But overhead the blue of the sky kept
the scene bright rather than gloomy or foreboding.
It is impossible on this hike not to be constantly aware of the spirits of Shackleton,
Crean, and Worley accompanying you. You know the story so well and are so aware
of the suffering they had triumphed over to reach this far in their survival story! You
can feel their eyes straining to see the outline of Stromness Bay or to pick out the
weathered buildings and grim tanks of Stromness itself. Your own senses are
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