Today the ship stopped in Ushuaia, Argentina. This is the southernmost city in the world, a fact disputed by Punta Arenas, in Chile. I’ve been to Ushuaia four or five times now. Twice before I’ve taken a taxi then a chairlift up to the Martial Glacier, and climbed as high up as possible before the ice turns too treacherous. I didn’t plan to repeat the trip for the third time, but I left the ship too late to go on the longer excursion I had planned.
So, for the third time I climbed to the glacier, and it felt completely different again. This is the earliest in the season I’ve done it, so there was a whole load more snow than I was used to. I took some fun photos on the edge of the glacier, and then tried to slide down on my waterproof jacket. This didn’t work due to the snow being way too soft and wet. Instead I just ran as fast as I could down about 1km of soft, wet snow. This was a lot of fun, but my feet got completely soaking wet. And cold.
In the afternoon, while cruising through the Beagle Channel, I mostly sat in a hot tub. The glaciers along this coast are amazingly spectacular, but I couldn’t be bothered to take any photos. I’ve taken photos there twice before, and will cruise the same route twice more in the next month and a half. I’m sure the glaciers will still be there.