Elephant Seals

      Since the beginning of our cruise was so focused on getting as far south as we could, into Marguerite Bay, we hadn’t seen much of the South Shetland Islands on our arrival.   But as we worked our way back north, returning to King George Island at the end of our nine days along the Peninsula, we did make a few stops at the northern tip of the Peninsula, and into some of the famous islands of the South Shetlands - places like Livingston Island and Yankee Harbor.

     The more northern reaches begin to have a bit of a green hue, as grasses, lichens and mosses continue to pioneer their way onto these islands.  Shores are less snow-covered, and one can walk the beaches rather freely - as long as proper distance is afforded to the seals, penguins and other wildlife.

     To my surprise, on one of these beach walks, we came upon a large group of elephant seals.  I suppose the proper term is a “herd”, or a “pod”… but the more appropriate description for this group of 20-30 individuals was a “pile”.  It was simply one giant mass of brown blubber, with random heads and fins flopping about in no particular order.  On occasion, one of these heads would stick up and begin to roar - seemingly complaining that another part of the blubber pile was moving in an inappropriate way, disturbing the slumber of the entire pile.