Pio XI Glacier - Chile

Early this morning the ship stopped in another Chilean Fjord, also part of the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park - the same park we were in yesterday. The day started as usual with fog, overcast skies that looked like rain. Then it warmed up slightly and the sun tried to come out, making for great views...
Today we visited the Pio XI (roman numeral 10) Glacier named after a Catholic Pope. It is the largest glacier in the southern hemisphere, and one of the few actively growing glaciers in the world. The glacier had huge deep blue sections of very dense compressed snow into ice over the millennia. This glacier is very active in its movement from the mountains into the fjord and the ice calves off into the water very often. This time of year it is very active. We were able to see multiple calvings from our Zodiac tour. They stay a distance away due to the danger of the glacial ice calving into the water and since the ice is so dense, it's extremely heavy. They described a couple of distinct calvings, one where the spike of ice falls directly from the face into the fjord, and one where the glacier face collapses vertically into the water below. We were able to video the second, collapsing type from our Zodiac. The view of the immense glacial ice was just amazing. White and blue ice based on the age. Brown strips where the glacier ground the mountain surface as it progressed toward the fjord. Huge cracks and shards where the glacier is expanding before it calves into the fjord.
We had a Special OPs boat excursion in the afternoon. Unfortunately it got colder and started to drizzle slightly. We were still able to bundle up, go out and still enjoy more of the glacier since the boats can travel farther and faster than the small Zodiacs. More great views, pictures of a few birds and then back to the ship...
Unfortunately this was the last day for our Zodiac and Special OPs excursions and the rest of the trip will be the usual guided excursions on land. Soooooo, we'll have to retire all our layers of cold weather gear - gloves, glove liners, wool underwear, gators, hats, puffy jackets, and weatherproof outer jackets - And best of all the 15 pound life jacket we have to wear when out on the water with the huge clunky waterproof boots.Read more