Another season on the ice - Antarctica. This year I got to visit a few more places. I spent 1/2 day dive tending, I am sure glad that I am not SCUBA diving in Antarctica. No full face head gear is used. I also was awarded with a trip to the South Pole (sleigh ride). My feelings is that the flight there and back, seeing the sights along the way was more rewarding than actually setting foot at the South Pole. A bit later, I got to go for a snow mobile trip up Mount Erbuis (a room with a view). [View Full Entry]

---

---

This year after my time on the ice, I decided to spend three weeks traveling around the South Island of New Zealand. To accomplish this feet, I traveled with Stray tours on what is called The Ron Pass. They took care of the driving, and I relaxed! Stray tours operate a hop-on hop-off NZ backpacker bus service that goes well off the beaten track for local culture and alternative activities. As you look at my photos, the description will explan where the photo was taken. For more info on Stray tours please go to the following link. www.straytravel.com. [View Full Entry]

---

---

My first lay-over after spending five months in Antarctica is in the beautiful city of Christchurch New Zealand. During the next several days I strolled thru-out the Botanic Gardens. Bordered by the graceful Avon River, the Botanic Gardens truly reflects Christchurch's reputation as the garden city. Founded in 1863 with the planting of an English Oak tree, It boasts the finest single collection of exotic and indigenous plants in New Zealand, with spectacular year-round displays and more than 30 hectares of walking tracks, majestic trees, sweeping lawns, feature gardens, conservatories and [View Full Entry]

---

---

All photos were taken in the vicinity of Ross Island. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Just so you all know, it is NOT all work and no play here in McMurdo, Antarctica. Please view these photos of various recreation activities that are available here. Although daylight never ceases during an Antarctic summer, finding the time to take advantage of what McMurdo has to offer can be a challenge. People have crawled on their stomach through an ice tunnel to enter a spectacular ice cave on a tour offered by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation office. In addition to such organized trips, MWR also offers recreation equipment such as golf clubs, mountain bikes, and fly rods and [View Full Entry]

---

---

These are Web Sites URL's; both scientific and informative that viewers might find interesting concerning anything Antarctic. http://www.usap.gov/researchersAndScienceProjects/ --US Antarctica Program http://www.usap.gov/researchersAndScienceProjects/ --A list of all research projects going on in Antarctica at this time. http://www.utsa.edu/lrsg/Antarctica/SIMBA --SIMBA drift station (sea ice mass balance in the antarctic) http://www.heavens-above.com/iridiumdaytime.asp?lat=-77.850&lng=166.650&alt=0&loc=McMurdo&TZ=NZST --Daytime Iridium Flares http://www.spacew.com/www/auror [View Full Entry]

---

---

Cape Evans (77°38′S, 166°24′E) is a rocky cape on the west side of Ross Island, forming the north side of the entrance to Erebus Bay. It was discovered by the Discovery expedition (1901-04) under Scott, who named it the Skuary. Scott's second expedition, the British Antarctic Expedition (1910-13), built its headquarters here, renaming the cape for Lieutenant Edward R.G.R. Evans, Royal Navy, second in command of the expedition. Scott's headquarters building still exists and is known as Scott's Hut. Located about fourteen miles from McMurdo, The hut at Cape Evans is known as the T [View Full Entry]

---

---

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 co [View Full Entry]

---

---

Happy camper School If you were going to be working at one of the deep field camps, and had never been to Antarctica before, or had been away for some time, you were required to attend a two day course on survival basics known as Snowcraft I, Snow School, or Happy Camper School. The class began at the Field Services Training Program (FSTP, or "F-Stop") office in McMurdo. Following a few lessons at FSTP on cold weather medicine, operation of VHF and HF radios, how things are done when working around helicopters, and how to operate portable camp stoves without lighting [View Full Entry]

---

---