Blogs from Antarctica, Antarctica - page 35

McMurdo Station sits with in the Ross Dependency, and is the largest community in Antarctica (capable of supporting up to 1,258 residents and a science research center operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National Science Foundation. Located at 77°51′S, 166°40′E, McMurdo sits on the southern tip of Ross Island in Antarctica, on the shore of McMurdo Sound, 2,200 miles (3,500 km) due south of New Zealand. The station is America's largest, and serves both as their Antarctic research facility, and the logistics base for half the continent. All personnel and cargo going to or coming from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station first pass through McMurdo. The station owes its designation to nearby McMurdo Sound, named for Lieutenant Archibald McMurdo of HMS Terror, which first charted the area in ... read more

Nov. 20 ushuaia I'm in the cafe on the waterfront with a couple of cups of cafe con leche, fresh OJ and croissants, all the things we don't have on the ship. Lots of other staff here too, but I'm hiding away in the back with my cold - just caught myself dripping on the keyboard so I hope it doesn't go boom like the last one!). Orlova also in town, Susan EL, so I'll have to look her up on my way back. Last night was fun: had a couple of glasses of wine with Kim, Hannah and Sarah in the nice quiet crew mess while Richard got started with his final concert, then went up to be sociable and had a good time with my favourite pax and even danced a bit with my ... read more

This was my first week of work in my new hometown for the next 3 months. I definitely had the “first day” jitters (complicated by a noticeable lack of caffeine due to the fact that I forgot to bring a full coffee mug that morning) but they were quickly abated when I met my future coworkers. Everyone in town works 6 days/week, 9 hours/day so I'll be spending a lot of time doing carpentry with these people whether I like it or not. After our morning safety meeting and group stretch, I was treated to an in-depth tour of both sides of the Carp Shop (Town Carpentry and Science-Support Carpentry) and an extensive training about each and every machine. After lots more mandated safety and protocol stuff (blah blah blah), I was asked to build a ... read more

Here's a blog of just photos to catch you up on the visuals of my adventures so far. Not that my little digital camera does any of this scenery justice. I don't think they make wide enough angles for that... you might just have to come down here and experience it for yourself!... read more

White. White. White. Geeze, it's beautiful here! I've been in Antarctica now for about 26 hours and have yet to see the sun set. They tell me the next one is expected mid-March. The last one was in September. Wowzers! Backing up a little... on our 5th scheduled day to depart New Zealand we finally got the all-clear and shuttled to the airport at 5:30AM. We put on all of our ECW (extreme cold weather) gear that we had been fitted for the week before (surprisingly, it all still fit after all the great food in Chirstchurch!) and then dragged all of our bags to the weigh-in. They made sure we packed less than 75lbs (although a smile let my 85lb bag through!) and then the Load Master weighed us and our carry-ons. After a quick ... read more