Bonaparte Point

[Written by Elizabeth Leonardis for our old blog, So Civilized]

Bonaparte Point with Palmer Station in the background

Alex & I finally had an opportunity to explore Bonaparte Point. You can get there by hiking up and over the glacier (all within the flag lines) and walking out along the point. However, the middle section is closed this time of year to protect the birds that are nesting there and remains closed until March 1st. Therefore the only way to get there is to be dropped off by zodiac. It is a 30-second boat ride across Hero Inlet from where we park the boats to a suitable drop off location, but that is the only way to get there at the moment. Alex convinced me the rock would be easy to run on, so we suited up and headed over there for a run. Apart from a few angry Skua, we managed to run the perimeter without disturbing anyone else and visit with some Elephant Seals as well as a few Gentoo penguins that popped up out of the water just in front of us.

Trying not to disturb the sleeping Elephant Seals

Iceberg hopping

We were lucky to catch a break in the weather and enjoyed a brief sunny moment. We could have stayed longer, but Thanksgiving dinner was being served and we wanted to get back to join in the festivities. A boat came over to pick us up and then it was on to the big meal.

Running the perimeter of Bonaparte