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Videos:
Landing at Saunders Neck
Windy day on Saunders Neck
King Penguins fighting
Rockhopper Penguins and Imperial Shags
Small Black-browed Albatross Colony at Saunders Neck
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Itinerary
Fly to Stanley, Falkland Islands via Santiago and Punta Arenas, Chile. Flights within Falklands via FIGAS. Total luggage allowance for FIGAS flights is 45 lbs.
6 nights camping at Saunders Neck, 6 nights camping at Volunteer Point.
Equipment
Camping
- Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy
- Nemo Nocturne 30 sleeping bag
- Cocoon microfiber mummy liner
- Therm-a-rest Trail Pro Mattress
- Ground sheet
- Outdoor Research Backcountry Organizer #2 and toiletries
- MSR Dromedary Bag 10L
- Platypus 2L water bladder
- Water purification tablets
- Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes
- Campsuds
- Spork
- Delorme inReach Explorer Satelllite Messenger
Camera gear
- 2 X Canon EOS 1D-X camera bodies plus charger and two spare batteries
- Canon EF 16-35/4L IS
- Canon EF 100-400/4-5.6L IS II
- CF cards (8 X 64GB, 8 X 128GB)
- Lens cleaning supplies (blower, brush, pre-moistened wipes)
- Rain covers
All camping gear fit in an REI duffle bag and was checked in, while all camera gear fit in a Gregory Targhee 45 backpack and was carried on.
Camping Experience
It is extremely windy in the Falklands, and the blowing sand and wet surroundings can be unforgiving on your gear. Try to keep things as covered as possible. A simple rain cover like the Storm Jacket covers I used won't keep the sand out. You might consider taking a roll of plastic food wrap and use that to wrap your camera bodies and lenses. That will allow you to see the screen and use the buttons while still providing a barrier to keep the sand and water out.
The camp site at Saunders Island is on the side of a mountain, under a large rock formation affectionately known as the "Swiss Hotel":
A dry toilet is nearby, but drinking water must be filled at the porta-cabin (about 1 mile away). Electricity to charge batteries is available in the generator shed at the porta-cabin. There is also an emergency radio there, but I highly recommend taking a satellite communication device of your own for emergencies. You can either buy food in Stanley, where there is much more selection, and fly it in (counts against your weight allowance on FIGAS), or you can purchase basic food items at the "store" at Saunders Settlement. It is basically a large pantry with canned foods, dry pasta, instant soups, and other generally non-perishable items. I am a vegetarian, but I understand it may be possible to get fresh meat from the Settlement.
Camping at Volunteer Point is much easier by comparison. There is a small corrugated metal wind barrier near the visitor rest area that serves as the campground. You may also be able to get permission to sleep inside the visitor rest area, but you will have to clear out early before the day tours arrive. There are dry chemical toilets next to the rest area. There is no drinking water, food, or any other supplies available at Volunteer Point, so you have to purchase everything in Stanley and bring it with you. You can charge batteries in the shed at Volunteer House.
Edited on Feb 24, 2017 at 10:17 PM · View previous versions
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