Wildlife

Just got back from a two day trip back over to Gurreholm. Another night spent there, making four for me this season. This time the weather was fine and it was much nicer there with only four of us and no clients. We were there because we were delivering a load of equipment for Leo Houlding who has an expedition to climb something big and hard this summer. We made a depot of kit near SydKap so a helicopter can ferry it to to his base camp, greatly decreasing flying time and therefore cost.

  Equipment depot by Sydkap huts.

 Just as we came over the hill to the Gurreholm hut, about 300mts away, we saw three polar bears there, a mother and two cubs. Great excitement and out came the camaras. I had only seen one once and the others had never seen one. Alex wanted to pat their furry bottoms! The bears moved away as soon as we came into sight and wandered off onto the sea ice and away to the icebergs. They had smashed a few windows which was a bit of a shame and we made sure we had the gun inside the hut and always went outside with a flare.

Polar bears at Gurreholm

Polar bears wandering off to the icebergs

Polar bear watch

Polar bear tracks

When we got to the huts at SydKap to depot the kit, many of the windows in those huts had been smashed by a bear. I wonder if it was the same one?

 Polar bear damage to hut windows

Raven prints

We also got some good views of these prehistoic like Musk Ox on the way back over Jameson Land. There are often groups feeding on moss and roots, but mostly in the distance. These two were right by the track. I walked closer to get a better look while they just stood there.  The others thought I was going to get charged!