January 3, 2024August 24, 2024

Hiking, Whales, and a Historic Hut at Winter Island

This post is part of our second once-in-a-lifetime expedition to the Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica. Click to expand this section and view the table of contents if you don’t want to read this sequentially, or you are looking for a specific part of the trip.

We woke up anchored at the southern end of the Argentine Islands, greeted by the sight of six humpback whales feeding as we enjoyed breakfast—a magical start to the day (even if we didn’t have our cameras with us!). A long zodiac ride brought us ashore, accompanied by a playful escort of cormorants (or shags, depending on who you ask).

Man in red jacket watches bird flying overhead in Antarctica.

Our first stop was Winter Island, home to the historic British research station and the nearby Ukrainian Vernadsky Base.

Vernadsky Research Base in Antarctica with Ukrainian flag.

Nestled on the only flat spot of the island is Wordie House, built in 1947. Named after James Wordie, the chief scientist on Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition, the hut is a fascinating time capsule of early Antarctic exploration. We toured the hut, marvelling at how explorers lived and worked in these extreme conditions.

Black wooden building with red doors labeled "Wordie House" in snowy Antarctica.

Old rusted climbing equipment hanging on a worn, cracked yellow wall.

Rustic storage room with wooden crates, shelves, and a small black stove.

Vintage pantry shelves stocked with old food cans and containers, including coffee, spices, and baking supplies.

Old books on a weathered shelf with cracked paint, including titles like "Memory Hold-the-Door" by John Buchan.

Vintage Guinness advertisement featuring a penguin, displayed on a peeling green and white shelf.

Afterward, we took a short walk to a lookout point, taking in the sweeping views of this remote and beautiful corner of the world.

Three people hiking uphill in deep Antarctic snow under a cloudy blue sky

Panoramic view of a vast snowy Antarctic landscape with distant icebergs and mountains under a cloudy sky.

Two people walking on snow toward icy Antarctic waters filled with icebergs.

Snow-covered landscape with scattered icebergs floating in dark Antarctic waters.

Andy joined the snorkelling excursion, but like the previous day, they got distracted—this time by a pod of humpback whales. He returned with about 800 photos.