Friday Jan 8 2010 - Arrival on the Ice!

On Friday January 8th, 2010 at around 2:00 pm we finally landed on the ice! The flight down was larger this time, with close to 120 people. About 3 hours into the flight I lucked into getting up to the cockpit to have a chat with the pilots and to see a panoramic view of the continent of Antarctica far in the distance. It was at this point that I knew we were definitely going to make it that day as the pilot was giving us the thumbs up. One hour before landing we were instructed to get dressed into all our Extreme Cold Weather Gear (ECW). They even cool down the plane so we all don't sweat to death in our hats, mitts, snowpants, down-filled parkas and yes, the bunny boots too! I was sitting close to one of the tiny port windows and was able to watch our approach and landing on the Pegasus White Ice Runway. This runway is 10,000 feet long and is on top of 110-feet of glaciated ice shelf (The Ross Ice Shelf) covered by a few inches of snow.

After disembarking we were greeted by hoards of people and vehicles. Another full load of passengers was already out on the ice waiting to board the plane once we were off. These folk consisted of many people who had been on the ice for months, and were just as anxious to get off the continent as we were to get on it! We were quickly boarded upon the craziest looking vehicles that I do not know the name of, but I'm quickly realizing that many things here look like they belong on the moon or mars.

McMurdo Station is approximately 30 km from the Pegasus runway and the drive there took us just over an hour. As we bounced around in the back of this moon-vehicle all of us first-timers were given the guided tour by the few that had made the trip numerous times before. In the distance we could see Mt. Erebus (an active volcano) and stopped to have a look at our first Emperor Penguins. I'm still wondering if they were planted there as some sort of "Welcome to Antarctica" joke. Unfortunately we weren't able to get out to get closer shots as we need to go through various training courses before having those privileges. So my digitally cropped shot through the foggy vehicle window will have to do for now.



After 40 minutes we made the crossing from the Ross Ice Shelf to the actual continent. The road went from snow to brown, coarse rock/dirt. From here we snaked our way up past Scott Base (this is the New Zealand base that is strictly off limits to the American base residents, unless it is a Thursday night and then we are invited over for beer between 6:30 and 11 pm) and finally to McMurdo Research Station. This place is a complete contrast, with the dirt roads and industrial buildings set up against the most stunning backdrop I've ever seen in my life.

In addition to being awestruck by the beauty of my surroundings, I'm still pretty exhausted from all the travel and trying to adjust to life in a VERY busy and bustling research station. We are nearing the end of the summer research season many people are returning in from field camps and the station is at it's maximum of >1000 people.

I'll sign off for now as it's past 11:30pm, and despite my 14 hour day of lectures and training, my brain is not getting the sleep signals. It probably has something to do with the crisp blue sky and sunshine that is beaming through the dorm room window. Time to shut those curtains!

j

ps. these are the only two photos I managed to squeak through the connection tonight. I'll try to add a couple more tomorrow.