Blogs from Antarctica, Antarctica - page 8

Greetings from a blisteringly hot Buenos Aires! I have been assiduously writing up my Antarctic trip but if you just want to skip straight through to the photos for the first part of this Antarctic Blog then feel free to click here..... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=315899&id=691995235&l=a6138dac97 If you want cut yourself another slice of Xmas Cake or grab a mince pie and a brandy and settle down to read and imagine the first part of my Antarctic odyssey and then look at pictures...read on! The White Continent has fascinated me for years. Stories abaound of the explorers, mere mortals who survived or died epic voyages to, through and across it by land, by sea. This frozen desert - the coldest, driest and windiest place on the planet - has always captured my imagination and I’ve always longed to travel ... read more

Ice Ice and more *&^%$ Ice! But in this case its wierd and wild, a Dr. Seuss-esqe view of the polar world, a penguins' sweet dreams or maybe just a polar acid trip? These are Pressure Ridges, caused by tidal forces under the thick sea-ice pushing the ice against the shoals or shoreline. They change regularly, are unstable, and therefore we have to follow the flagged route through after they have been surveyed, thanks to the staff at Scott Base! (These ridges are located adjacent to Scott Base, our New Zealand neighbors down the road.) ... read more

Now the bit we came all the way down here to do, search for white nosed polar bears (I don't care what the guy said yesterday about antarctic mammals). At 05:30 general announcement that land was in sight and then something about low visibility so we decided to have a lie in. Rouse for 07:30 breakfast call. Still very low visibility and wind speed is 40 knots (nautical term for 50 mph?). Other boats in the area have abandoned any hope of landings for the day but our boat wants to give it a go anyway. My sort of people. We head to Yankee Harbour. Feel over dressed wearing thermals, layered clothing, winter riding suit and waterproof layer. Until I step outside, should have packed another scarf. Only cold parts of me are the exposed parts, ... read more

(Chicago) Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane (Note) can be out of the leg injury, he played in Sunday's parliamentary suffered three weeks earlier Calgary.The 22-year-old Kane won the 11 goals and 16 assist This season in Chicago after struggling the first two months, due to loss of salary cap limitations.Kane, who made riveting goal, many players in the champions Blackhawks' win the Stanley Cup Finals in June in Philadelphia, check injury , he by the Calgary 科里萨里奇 (Note). In the Blackhawks, who on Wednesday night, Dallas Stars, has no star forward Marian Hossa (Note), who suffered physical injury in practice last month lower. welcome to visit:www.base-price.com... read more

Hola, As many of our readers know, Ushuaia was not the furthest southernly destination of our trip. That title would be reserved for Antarctica. We had organized a cruise (but we are using this term very loosely as one will learn later) before we had left Vancouver that would take us from Ushuaia to the South Shetland Islands and then to the Antarctic Peninsula. As part of this trip was a night at the Hotel Albatross. The hotel was 4 stars, and therefore our nicest accomodation of the trip by far so we made the most of it and hung out there for most of the day. The next day, we packed our bags and wandered around Ushuaia before getting on the bus which would take us to the ship. We started chatting to the couple ... read more

For Brett Favre(notes), the 2010 season has been a hodgepodge of frustrating inefficiency, disappointing results, and unnecessary drama (most of it created by #4 himself). However, it is still possible to see - once in a very great while - the Favre that has prompted all that sickeningly sweet announcer and pundit love. Yes, every now and again, Brett Favre will just be Brett Favre, and be just a kid out there, and move the team as only he can. The Minnesota Vikings' 27-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, as wrapped up in possible coach-firings and franchise upheaval as it may have been, was just such an event. Minnesota was down in this game by as much as 14 points with less than five minutes left in regulation, but the Vikings benefitted from two ... read more

Working and living in the Antarctic environment requires specialized training, especialy if your job has you off-station out on the ice or up in the mountains. Whether you are a scientist or merely supporting science (as I and most of us on station do) there is needed training. From snow- mobile operation to what we call 'Happy Camper' school, (basic polar survival skills) the training is usually intense given the environment, but it can be fun and sometimes awesome! Sea Ice School is one of these, learning how to 'read' the Ice for signs of its condition and thickness, how to drill down and see if its safe to walk or drove over-your life can literaly depend on it, and others with you. Plus you get to go to some cool places! In this class we ... read more

testing new site.... read more

well some traditions transcend locations, oceans and ice.....one would be Halloween, at least for Americans, so here we go --its cold and scary down here!!!... read more