I want to start with an apology, I failed pretty hard at blogging during my Palmer Station trip in August. It was a very quick trip and I landed back in Denver during the busy season. Then I failed again at getting this updated as I headed back to my summer home AKA: Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
I've been on station for 19 days now and only 3 flights have made it from McMurdo. Nothing like starting the three month season one month late.
For the sake of time, this post will be mostly photos with a little backstory for each one.
Part I: Getting Here
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| USAP Hanger at Christchurch, New Zealand |
I started here. After teaching about a week's worth of safety classes I finally got on a C-17 headed for the ice.
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| C-17 on Phoenix Field, Antarctica |
After a 5 hour flight on a C-17 Globe Master, we touched down on Phoenix Field, Antarctica. Last year was the first year for this new White Ice Runway. My flight out last year was actually the first time a C-17 landed on the new runway.
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| Hut Point, Looking at McMurdo Station and Observation Hill |
Looking back on McMurdo Station from Hut Point. The hut was built in the early 1900's to support Scott's expedition to the South Pole. I got to go inside, but that's a later blog post.
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| 'Ivan' the Terra Bus |
Once my time at McMurdo was done we boarded 'Ivan' the Terra Bus to head out to Willie Field (Skiway).
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| Mt. Erebus |
Mt. Erebus, the most southern volcano.
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| F-350 on Mat-Tracs |
Sometimes you need your F-350 to be more like a snowmobile.
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| LC-130H on Willies Field |
The largest plane with Skis in the US Military. Based out of New York, I used to watch these fly over, little did I know 20 years later I would be riding them to work.
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| Inside the LC-130H |
Still more comfortable than a SouthWest Fight.
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| Me |
"I hope this doesn't suck"
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| LC-130H At the South Pole |
ZSP-001, the first flight into the South Pole since February. This marks the end of a long winter of isolation for the 'Winter-Over" staff.
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| Welcome to the South Pole |
The staff have been isolated at the station since last February and did an amazing job keeping it running. There was a week this winter where they stayed below -100*F. Some of them were a little "Toasty" by they did a great job.
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| Destination Alpha |
The front door to the station, Destination Alpha. When I arrived it was approximately -50*F with a -80*F wind chill. The snow isn't really snow, it's more just 9,000' of ice crystals. It's really hard to describe the sound they make as you walk across but it's a sound you'll never forget. It was really strange to come back to such an isolated place to be greeted by familiar faces that remember your name.
Part II: Goings Ons
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| Fire Brigade Drill |
Part of station turn-over is making sure the new folks are ready for the task at hand. The fire brigade will be the only source of firefighting during the isolated winter. With minimal training, team two got a taste of going "on air" in the station for the first time. There is a lot of room for improvement but everyone did great for their first drill.
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| Wall of Doggos |
The logistics team started this wall last summer. Being away from human loved ones is tough, but the four-legged furry friends are the ones we really miss. Ollie is up there twice.
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| ZSP-002: Second LC-130H in for the Season |
Flight 2 of 3 that has made it to Pole this Season. Three successful flights in 19 days is rather challenging. We haven't had real eggs or good beer in a few days now. The struggle is real.
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| C-17 Globe Master AirDrop Flight |
Only Aircraft on skis can land at the South Pole. As a worst-case scenario, they do an annual training to do practice delivering goods to the South Pole. If there is an emergency, this is a way to get emergency supplies to station in the darkness of winter.
Part III: Science Lecture Sunday
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| Who needs a whiteboard when you have the base of the South Pole Telescope |
Every Sunday there is a science lecture put on by one of the various projects we support. It is very easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget why we are here so it's nice to get to learn about why we are here.
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| Me with the South Pole Telescope |
Because sometimes you need a pic with a piece of equipment that looks at the microwaves left over from the big bang.
OTHER NEWS
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| -50*F Looking for a GeoCache |
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| Current Conditions at the time of Publishing |
