I have made history on this first day of December, 2008 by CLIMBING Observation Hill for the first time! I spent lots of time last year LOOKING – OBSERVING it, but never made the actual ascent.  This morning it was sunny and above 0 degrees so I had no excuse.  Another shuttle driver (Jen) who oddly enough, LIKES climbing mountains, agreed to get me safely to the top and down. 

This MOUNTAIN is famous in history because the Explorer Scott , would have his men climb this hill all the time to watch for ships.

I hesitate to point out that I’m not exactly the ‘athletic type’, but if I am to tell of the journey-  I probably have to confess to my complaining within the first 5 minutes of PAIN!  Or was it lack of Oxygen?  I can’t remember the exact height of the climb when my thighs decided they didn’t like it.  Jen let me lead so I could set my own pace. (Poor thing could of run UP the hill and back down several times while waiting on me to do ONCE!)  … yeah… she’s also 10 years YOUNGER. 

Ob Hill is nothing but a giant pile of rocks, most of which have broken apart so you can slip and slide at any moment.  Knowing her love of the sport, I tried to keep my opinions about stupid mountain climbers to myself. (But I thought them.) She was beneficial in calling out the areas where I needed to “hug the rocks”. I would pause, look up and say “NOW which way?”  Sometimes I couldn’t tell where the supposed TRAIL was.  I pretended to stop and blow my nose A LOT just to rest a minute and take in the view. (Of course the higher we climbed, the more I had to HUG THE ROCKS for fear of falling down!)

The descent was actually okay.  I loved that part of it.  I kept my eyes DOWN at my feet  – looking out over the horizon made me dizzy, so I didn’t look.  Piece of cake!!! I then walked back to my dorm building feeling great, until I remembered I would have to CLIMB STAIRS to get to my room!  (I thought a few more colorful comments about mountain climbers as I used the handrail to haul myself up the flight!)  Now I’ve been sitting in this chair for too long typing and loading the photos … (NEW ALBUM – ANTARTCTICA…scroll down to Dec-Jan folder!)  PROOF that I did it!  

Jen says next Monday we will hike to Castle Rock.  7 miles.  Sure, no problem.   

(Unless I’m still sitting in this chair – unable to get up.)

Posted November 30, 2008 Comments(0)

The entire station is pretty much closed down today to celebrate Thanksgiving. The weather turned bad yesterday and is continuing again today!  On my down time, I gathered up more photos to post!

***Photos are found under “ANTARCTICA” … scroll down to current album – which is October/November 2008.

The first new one added is of myself and Bill Sunde (Abilene’s finest shuttle drivers). We braved the condition 2 storm to stand at the McMurdo sign. The snow had let up – but NOT the wind. Luckily there were some other ‘crazy people’ out – so we could get a photo showing both of us here. 

Somewhere in the new photos added is the LC-130 with the 8 bladed props.  The other photos are of the ‘local scenery’!!  I’ve discovered if you click on a photo in the album and use the “next” buttons to look – any description I have added will be visible.  When you view them “as a slideshow” – those descriptions are not seen.

This morning I met a ‘driller’. He will be going to the top of Mt. Erebus to drill holes for blasting. (I actually said YIKES to that.) He explained that they have little charges set all over – that will be ‘read’ using the blast waves as a way to draw a diagram of what is underneath Erebus. They hope to find out the plumbing of this old gal! (Not THIS old gal – the volcano old gal.)

And last but not least, I must tell of another menu item that made me go ‘hmmmm’.  Spaghetti with pork-n-beans in it.  Call me old fashioned, but I like mine with MEAT BALLS.  I think CARE PACKAGES are now something I might consider!  (just kidding!!! – I am still adventurous and try whatever they toss my way!)

Posted November 28, 2008 Comments(1)

It’s a typical McMurdo summer day down here. Let me QUOTE from the weather page.

Pretty much a horrible day weather-wise as a massive system pressing from West Antarctica pounds the tar out of the area…

We have Condition ONE and TWO all over the area so no one is venturing out! But it’s beautiful!!!! Yesterday there was almost no snow left on the roads and today I wake up with everything WHITE again!  It’s hard to guess how many inches of snow due to the blowing and drifting.  All I can say is I almost didn’t make it up the hill to work. The wind and snow was blowing so hard, I was STOPPED in my tracks – and even blown/slid back down a little.  (That of course made me start laughing as I waved my arms back and forth trying to not fall. I did not!!!)

Yesterday morning I volunteered in the Galley. I worked with Marcie (A gal who was inspired by my blog last year, and ended up getting hired to cook this year!)  No onion chopping for me this time. I was upgraded to chopping frozen bacon slices! When I had this HUGE pan filled, I got to move onto ‘breaking down’ the turkeys that will be served tomorrow for our Thanksgiving feast!  I explained to Marcie that when I cook a turkey – the wings FALL off. (These things were only partially cooked, so still gobbled as I tried to remove the legs and wings.) I can only assume Hannibal got his start by doing labor like this. It was gross.  I believe there were 35 whole turkeys and “tons” of turkey breasts that will be used to feed our little gang of around 950 people.

Late in the afternoon, the C-17 was due to make a quick landing, pick up 44 pax and take off for Christchurch before this weather rolled in.  It took 2 deltas and 1 van to get the people out.

I’m actually at work now.
The road crews are heading out to open the way to Willy Field as the NASA people need to get out there.  I volunteered to drive!  We have to hurry while there is a small open window in the storms.  Time to warm up Ivan  – and get my ECW gear on! 

Hope your holiday travels are less exciting….!

Posted November 27, 2008 Comments(0)

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I last updated here. The days are running together, and many of us are experiencing the “what day of the week is this?” syndrome.  We remember the DATE, but not the day. Weird.

Okay – onto McMurdo news. It’s HOT here. Yesterday was +14 F, and the forecast is for a high of +16 F today!! The snow is melting rapidly at these temps, with the ensuing RIVERS running throughout McMurdo. I think it’s more dangerous to walk around in the slop-goo-slush, than on snow/ice.  And when everything is UP HILL on this little island, you can watch people sliding all the time!  I stood beside one of the culverts yesterday, listening to the gurgling sounds of water running. Someone asked what I was doing, and I replied that I was pretending it was a “babbling brook”!  We do need to give credit to the Fleet Ops men and women who dig out the ditches – and also “grade” the roads to direct the flows. It doesn’t always work as mother nature likes to throw in a few twists and turns, but they know where some of the major rivers appear, and had the grooves cut, right before the melting began!

I see that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We will wait to celebrate it this weekend. Most people will have Saturday and Sunday off. (A TREAT to have 2 days in a row.) I won’t.  I get to work Sunday, and have signed up to work in the Galley on Thursday morning.

Last night I attended a “travelogue” of a man who sailed from Thailand to Egypt. You know where the pirates are wreaking havoc now? He did this trip in 2001 (I think), and encountered some trouble. The “thugs” shot holes all over his sailboat, and 2 men were about to board when he fired his shotgun, “they fell down”, and he has no idea what happened except that he got away. Usually when people are sharing stories of their travels, it is carefree and tropical!

Wow… time to eat and be on my way to work!

Posted November 25, 2008 Comments(0)

Newsworthy…. we are testing an 8 prop (vs 4) on a C130 now.  I will get a photo to show you what it looks like.  The design enables the plane to have that extra “oomph” to take off in the snow. (The current C130′s use tanks of ATA or some call it JATA -  like little rockets- to get the plane up.) Those tanks are almost used up now, and it will be very expensive to make more. Also if a 4 prop gets damage to ONE – the entire unit must be replaced. The new design allows for the individual prop to be replaced. BIG savings in time and cost.  The new props are also quieter – and have less vibration.

 The designer is down here with the pilots to watch it perform.  It had done beautifully all the way down, but when it tried to get to the South Pole, some seals started leaking at -47 degrees F.  Not good. He was very, very sad.  However, that’s why we test things!  His concept is right on – and only needs some work on the seals.

Speaking of flying – I also met a Helicopter pilot from Bulgaria. He shared his reasons for leaving his homeland, but I won’t post it.  He’s a very nice person, and we’re lucky to have him!

I almost forgot to tell about my ring making class. It began this past Thursday night. So far I have my “idea” drawn out and will begin working on the project this week.  It runs 5 weeks (or until my money runs out!) hahaha… just kidding!

Time has begun to run together for me now. I have to go back to the “cookie day” way of looking at things. “Did it happen BEFORE or AFTER cookie day?” I think the 24 hr sunlight DOES affect people. (Or the 12 hour work day followed with a 3-6 hour tour makes for little sleep time.) I didn’t sign up for any this week!

FOOD, we should discuss food. I hate to say anything negative about the hardworking people down here, so I will delicately say the menu is NOT like last year.  I have pretty much gone to “soup of the day” at each meal. (And the soup of the day is made from the STUFF we wouldn’t eat YESTERDAY.)  As an example: One “soup’s” ingredients: Sweet potatoes, Cranberries, and Onions.  (Had a Heebie-Jeebie thinking about it!) Then I had to use a knife to cut my red jello. My tablemates had an enjoyable time watching me chew and chew and chew. There was NO fruit in it. Just plain jello. So, more times than not, I resort to FROSTY BOY as my main course. (Frosty Boy is not really ice cream, but with enough hot fudge, nuts and sprinkles – it certainly passes for it!)

Posted November 22, 2008 Comments(0)

Aaah… it feels great to sleep in.  My little eyes didn’t open until 0800. (We won’t mention that I sort of worked an hour and 1/2 at 0430 to fill in for another driver, and THEN went back to bed!)

My laundry is started and I can play catch up on the computer. There are always interesting people to meet down here.  One of the latest was “Butch the Bomber”. His real name is Butch, and that is really what he does! In fact, he is pretty darn good at blowing things up. He was hired to plant the dynamite in precise areas with precise amounts needed to take out whatever ground needs taking out! (We are always leveling something around here for another building or fuel storage tank.  Hats off to Butch who has been doing a PRECISE and safe job of blowing up frozen ground without damaging any other surrounding buildings or people!  “Fire in the Hole” …. (They really do say that after the countdown!)

My next interesting person is “Ildy” (I pronounce it “eel -dee”)  She is from Hungary and is our “Barber/Hair stylist”.  I know you’re wondering HOW in the world she was hired to cut hair at McMurdo. She moved first to Canada – (to live with a daughter) then to Denver (to live with a daughter).   …..I plan to do that very thing (move in with a daughter) -  however, I need the 3 of them to move to some exotic locations so I have interesting places to live!   She was on one of my Ice Cave tours, and is thinking she might want to be a SHUTTLE DRIVER next year!

Oh… the “company” who will take over Raytheon’s job of contract labor for National Science Foundation was not finalized. We have ‘bidders’ from several companies down here doing “walk arounds” now. It looks like about 2 dozen or more people – in little groups taking notes, and photos- talking with whoever will talk to them to get an idea of how much it may take to run something like this!  The rumor mill says Raytheon is putting a bid in again, too.

That should do it for now!

Posted November 20, 2008 Comments(1)

Shackleton was an explorer who ALMOST beat Scott. He was within 96 or 97 miles of the South Pole and knew if he continued on- all would die because they didn’t have enough food and fuel to return.  He did get his party safely back and wrote a book about his experiences. His descendants are trying to reenact that journey. They began a few days ago – walking (pulling) sleds using the very compass Shackleton used! I have some photos.  I’ll have to get them posted.

Okay… back to yesterday! It was a LONG day for me. The C-17 left Christchurch late – which meant it would touch down at Pegasus airfield late.  (Of course I would have to volunteer to work it!)  I finally crawled into my little bed at 10:45 PM.  The 4:00 AM alarm was not a welcome sound, however I do get to drive IVAN so that gives me the little ‘boost’ to get going!

Posted November 18, 2008 Comments(0)

Yesterday was long and eventful!  To start off (at 5:30 AM) I had beautiful SNOW. Visibility was limited, but fine now that I’m such a SEASONED driver! I was hoping it would continue all day but it cleared up by 10:00 AM.

Then I left ‘work’ to ‘volunteer’ as the Team Leader of a trip out to Cape Evans and the Ice Caves. The schedule showed I would be riding in Tina Marie (My favorite delta) which made me happy! At the last minute, Delta Dawn develped a leak, so she couldn’t take the 2nd group.  To make a long story short- I ended up in GAYLE – the smaller, sissy delta. (I may have grumbled and mumbled a TINY bit under my breath.) Point to note- I remained POSITIVE to the public!   Soooo… I waved as Tina Marie headed off with the first group.  30 Minutes later, I had Gayle loaded and off we headed to the SEA ICE.

I don’t care how many times one drives onto the sea ice – it is always a THRILL. Little thoughts run through my mind – “is it thick enough?” – “are there any NEW cracks that haven’t been tested?” – “how HEAVY is this delta fully loaded with 18 pax?” etc etc. 

The ‘arrangement’ was for the FIRST delta to drive past the ice cave and tour Cape Evans with the 2nd delta stopping at the ice cave first – then continuing on to Cape Evans. (Keeping the numbers of people and weight of deltas spread out!) Lo and behold as we approach the ice cave – there sits Tina Marie!!! Apparently she had a ‘part’ fall off (“Mechanical mishap” as broadcast on the radio!) It was only the REVERSE.  (I know it has another more technical name, but I can’t remember it!) Basically, she could still drive slowly FORWARD.  I laughed and laughed as the driver told how they did stop and retrieve ‘the part’. (We don’t litter out here!) All of a sudden GAYLE was looking pretty good!

The rest of the trip went smoothly. Once the snow stopped – the sky cleared and it got COLD. It amazes me how I can be so darn cold and yet enjoy every moment of it. The ice cave, (which by now – people have figured out I love leading those just to get to SLIDE down the ice chute!!!) was even COLDER inside than being out in the wind. When I brought the first group out – I told the next group I had to come out to warm up. They thought I was kidding. (We only allow 7 bodies or less in at a time.)  …oh, how quickly they apologize!!!

Last night’s Science Lecture: GHOST MOUNTAINS
Hidden Under Ancient Ice     - AGAP stands for Antarctic Gamburtsev Province.  In 50 years , this is the largest coordinated mission, with 6 countries teamed up, to ‘discover’ this EASTERN ice sheet of Antarctica. I gave a little WOO-HOO when I read on the slide that KANSAS UNIVERSITY is in partnership on this too!  To simplify what is going on – when you fly over this area – you see one huge mass of ice – scientists say it is 4 Kilometers thick. UNDERNEATH that little ice sheet are MOUNTAINS!  Mountains that are about the size of the Alps!!!  As luck would have it – I had the 3 British men/scientists on my Cape Evans/Ice Cave trip that will be flying to AGAP to do “Airborne Geophysical Surveys”.  Of the many goals listed, one that I recall is the hunt for the OLDEST ICE on the PLANET!

That’s it for now. It is my day off and I will now leisurely head to breakfast!

Posted November 16, 2008 Comments(0)

Wow… it was great to be back at work again. The day was perfect! As I drove back and forth from Willy Field (Williams Airfield), I realized how wonderful I felt. I don’t know how to describe the  feeling of euphoria when I view the mountains. Today they were TALLER and more GRAND.  The live volcano, Mt. Erebus was spewing plumes a great distance upward before being swept to the side in the unseen current.  And although the sun is melting the snow on land, the snow roads are still holding up. The seals have started arriving – giving birth out among the pressure ridges. I know there won’t be too many more perfect days like this ahead.  I tried to absorb as much of it as I could!

Even waiting for pax to board the shuttle was awesome. The skuas are back, and I get to watch them as they watch the people, waiting for their opportunity to score some food!

Tomorrow – I will work from 5:30 until 11:00 AM. (I don’t know if I want to tell you that I’ll be leading a tour group again to Cape Evans and the ICE CAVES!!)  That will take a minimum of 6 hours to complete.  I realize it may be pushing it a bit after my recent bout with the “crud”, but the sea ice will melt soon (or rather the sea ice CRACKS will be too dangerous to drive over.)  There is a new (safer) route we will be trying out.  (nervous hee-hee)  And we will be careful to keep the deltas FAR FAR FAR apart.

I’ve had supper and will now go relax in my room. (Or lay down on my bed and fall instantly asleep!)

Posted November 14, 2008 Comments(0)

I’m not working today – but am up…. and doing laundry. 

Last night, one of my roommates was attacked by a skua as she walked from our dorm to the library entrance! Of the 4 in my room, I am the ‘experienced’ one.  And I do remember telling them – IN DETAIL – what happens when skuas are around and you try to carry food outside!  She had to learn the hard way!

I don’t get to go back to work until Saturday morning – my supervisor is making sure I take plenty of time to get over this “crud” before heading back to work. (I’m not a good patient. I’m here to be OUT and ABOUT, not lie in bed coughing and hacking!)  When I do get out again, I will be sure to update you all with new photos of the skuas!  Hopefully, I can find the ‘nest’ again.  (Remember McMurdo is basically a pile of rocks, and the skuas build their nests out of a pile of rocks! You have to be in the right place at the right time to see them sitting!)

Posted November 12, 2008 Comments(0)