Fata Morgana and Frost on my Eyelashes

What a week! But still, no penguins. I've made it really, really clear to everyone that seeing penguins is my secondary purpose for being on this freezing cold continent. I'm looking for my Mom, and I'm convinced she's with the penguins ;) I know, I know, that sounds ridiculous. But I've been surprised more than once in my life, so just let me be hopeful please!

Two things I want to share in this post and both happened on Sunday, my only day off...

On Sunday morning, I decided to eat a good brunch (they serve specialty cheese with brunch on Sundays) and do some hiking. I was really, really lucky because the weather was beautiful (It was 7 degrees and no wind for once!) and I saw something amazing. But first, I'll tell you about the hike. I chose to hike Ob Hill, which is a couple mile hike to the top of a steep single peak hill just outside of McMurdo Station. From the top, you can see out into McMurdo Sound, all of McMurdo Station, Scott Base (the New Zealand station), and a very beautiful view of surrounding mountains, including Mt. Erebus which is a very active volcano that is always erupting. The hike is mostly loose black lava rock with about half being covered by packed icey snow. It wasn't easy, but it felt great to get my body moving. By the time I got to the top, my body was warm enough to take my big down parka off for a few minutes and feel the air. And it felt GREAT!

The very best part of the hike was what I saw across the sound, where it looked as though a giant wall had been built with a painting of the mountains behind it, upside-down, and very abstract. It was a visual trip. I squinted and stared at whatever I was looking at for a few minutes. Obviously, I knew there wasn't a giant wall built across the bay that someone had painted on. There is absolutely nothing across the bay except mountains and lots of frozen snow. It was odd to look at something that you can't identify, while hiking in broad daylight, completly sober, in black-white-and dark blue. I started to question my visual ability, considering last week I didn't have a clue who I was. Later in the day long after the hike, while chatting with a friend, I was enlightened. He asked me how my hike up Ob Hill went, and I told him what I saw. He told me it was called a "Fata Morgana", or a mirage. I learned that what I was seeing is an optical phenomenon because of temperature inversion. Google it. It's very interesting, and bizarre to see. I also attached a picture from my hike, but you have to look for it in order to see it.

The other thing I want to share is about our science lecture last Sunday. Every Sunday evening, a science lecture is scheduled for anyone on station to sit in on. Typically, a scientist working in Antarctica gives a short educational lecture about what they're working on this season. Last Sunday was Dr. Chadden Hunter from BBC. You may recognize his name from the very popular natural history documentary series "Planet Earth". He is a biologist turned wildlife videographer, working with the world famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough. BBC is in Antarctica this season filming "Frozen Planet", the next landmark documentary scheduled to premier in January 2011 (date pending). The crew, including Sir Attenborough, has been filming in the poles for the past 18 months, and are wrapping up filming this season on the Ice. Not only is it exciting to be here with the BBC crew while filming such a high profile, awesome documentary - but it's even more exciting to see clips they filmed last week from a helicopter. Penguins, Orcas, Weddell Seals. AMAZING. Nate may be one of Sir David Attenborough's biggest fans, and I wish he had been here to see that science lecture and meet him himself :) The BBC crew is here for the season, coming in and out of McMurdo Station, thanks to NSF and Raytheon's hospitality.

Yesterday after work, I joined a mini tour of Discovery Hut just outside of McMurdo Station, a historic hut that is over 100 years old used by the Scott Antarctic Expedition in the early 1900s. Truthfully, it wasn't that exciting, so I won't talk anymore about it. However, on my way back to McMurdo I experienced the coldest, windiest weather of my life. I have never been that cold in my life. I couldn't feel my skin, my legs, my arms, or my face. I attached a picture for everyone's amusement!

I was supposed to go to Sea Ice survival school today, where I would learn how to survive on the sea ice, but it was canceled this morning due to weather. It's a COLD one today...not that I can recall what warm weather feels like!

Today is Taj's 8th birthday and I'm sick to my stomach to be missing it. Happy birthday, my baby boy - I love you.

Until next week...

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