The past saw the islands used as a base of whaling and exploration. With the only access being by sea and heavy use during the past, navigational hazards in the surrounding waters are known. The islands are also the location of the now inactive Argentine base "Melchoir" located on Gamma Island. The only inhabitants of the islands now are an assortment of seals and penguins. The islands themselves are fairly low lying for the area, the highest point being only 600 feet in elevation. They are ice capped with the edges consisting of calving ice faces with jagged rocks at their bases. We obtained local knowledge on where to anchor from a vessel that cruised these waters the prior year. Using that information we ended up anchored in a small finger of water adjacent to "Melchoir" base.

   We centered the Anne in the middle with heavy hawsers tied to the shore. Anchor points used were some eye bolts we found, properly set for that purpose, an old concrete dolphin and some large boulders. All of us felt quite secure moored this way as the alternative was to anchor in very deep water, 20 fathoms or greater. When you anchor in deep water the possibilities of colliding with large drifting icebergs exist.
   By sunset that night Matahiva had not yet arrived. We did not worry as the crew experience is high and more than likely are being delayed by last nights lack of wind and their slow motoring speed. Soon after sunrise the next morning the Matahiva came alongside waking the crew of the Anne.
   We spent three days in the Melchoir Islands exploring the abandoned Argentine base and the surrounding islands. The base appeared as it did when it was active, all the sleeping rooms had blankets and sheets folded neatly on the bunks. On dresser tops newspapers dating back to the 1950's are neatly folded. The room used to store the medical supplies and medicines looked was as if the doctor just stepped out for a few minutes. The kitchen was in the same state, with canned and dried goods stocking two sets of shelves and cooking and eating utensils stocking a third. There was even a propane stove that worked with full propane tanks stored outside.

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