Happy New Year!  I know I’m a day ahead, but figure I better say it now before a week goes by and I forget! 

HOT… it’s still HOT here – everything is still melting and slushy.  I added to the Dec/Jan photo album (Under Antarctica) some photos of 2 stuck Deltas. One was coming back from Willy Field and one was headed out to it!  Each run brings some new adventure as we try to figure out the best ‘route’.   We want COLD WEATHER… snow – blizzards – etc!

I had some time to go through photos and found a few more of the ice cave including ice crystals inside.

Even the Pressure Ridges are sinking/melting. No more recreational trips to those!  I get a kick out of looking over the sea to where I was once STANDING.  The area where I skied is also closed.

The high today is supposed to reach 37 F.  I guess I better get back to work. (I’m sort of working the dispatch desk at the moment.)

Happy New Year to everyone!

Posted December 30, 2008 Comments(0)

Oh wow…. yesterday was a ‘day from hell’ so to speak. The warmer temps (mid to upper 30′s) are wreaking havoc on our snow roads and the transition area between the almost frozen ocean, and Ross Ice shelf!!!  I have high hopes of seeing a LOT of open ocean this year!  The pressure ridges – where we WALKED are opening up now, too.  The Ice Pier area had to be broken or crushed last year by the Oden. There is quite a bit of open water already around it and the Breaker is not due for another 2-3 weeks.  Come on penguins and seals!!!  As for driving here, we are down to being able to only use the Delta’s and Ivan for the snow roads.

Back to yesterday morning. I had the 0630 run in a Delta (Tina Marie) out to Willie Field.  I did not make it through the potholes. I had 5 pax who then ABANDONED me to walk the 7 miles to work!  (Okay, they actually radio’d out to WF and asked for transportation from their flight crew, who met them along the way.) Meanwhile I sat in 1/2 tire deep water and waited for “FLEET OPS” to send someone to pull me out. 

It was a beautiful, sunny day. Erebus was visible; “JoJo Falls” were in full force down the side of the cliff, and I sat alone in Antarctica absorbing it all.  It was such a peaceful feeling until – - – CREAK,  the right side of my Delta SINKS a little more!   “Uh oh“.  I started feeling like the Tower of Pisa.  I had my driver’s side door open. (Good escape plan. I also kept my eye on the escape hatch in the roof, however I assumed if I tipped over – this might not be a good way out.)  I held VERY STILL.  In the 1&1/2 hours it took for the ‘tow truck’ to arrive, I sank a little more every 10 minutes!  My hero was a Cargo Delta with a GAS tank on the cargo bed!!!  Great. He ties onto my rear and says “when the chain tightens, hit the gas but try not to smash into the back of me.”  (Wise man)  It took about 4 attempts before my Delta finally came up out of the water!!!!  WOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!

After lunch I was scheduled to work the South African Air (SAFAIR) plane at Pegasus. Right BEFORE lunch Tina Marie died. She was on another run to Willie Field and simply had had enough for one day. (She is also the one who ‘dropped her reverse’ once on a trip out to Cape Evans and the Ice Cave!) She had to be towed all the way to McMurdo with her wheels locked up. There is an entire new story on her adventure back – but I won’t bore you with details yet.   At that same time, Ivan died on the Scott Base Hill.  (Let’s refresh our memory on vehicles. Shuttles has 3 deltas and 1 Ivan. Well, HAD!)

Our poor supervisor was banging her head against the wall to figure out how to continue getting our air crews out to planes and pax in and out!!!  It was finally decided to “stage” an Airporter, (These are WORTHLESS in the snow.) out at Pegasus to at least get pax to and from the planes there. Meaning, we could then have a vehicle drive to the plane – retrieve – and bring to the pax terminal out at Pegasus.  Only one small problem. There is no way an Airporter can drive through the transition holes!  She called FLEET OPS and requested they be on standby to tug it through. (BRILLIANT!)  Another driver took that job.  I was following behind in IVAN with pax to take TO the SAFAIR plane.  Driving to Pegasus now takes an hour and 20 minutes.  The road at noon was pretty good. When I returned about 3 hours later, it had fallen apart with several soft – sinking areas!! 

At Pegasus, I dropped my outgoing pax at the Pax Terminal, and switched vehicles with the other driver. When the plane landed, I took the Airporter out to the plane, retrieved the pax and brought them to Ivan. Off to McMurdo they went! I had to wait until the plane was unloaded of cargo (Yippee- my Christmas packages might be on this!!!) and then REloaded with new cargo before the crew called for the pax. I had to make 2 trips as I had more outgoing pax than the Airporter could hold.  Once they were all safely on board, I found a ‘spot’ at the airfield to plug the Airporter in and shut it down.  Hmmmm….now how to get back to McMurdo for me?  CARGO DELTA!  These critters are the man size version of our “Dainty” Shuttle Deltas. (If we shuttle drivers had this much power, we wouldn’t get stuck!)  Luckily there was room in one for me.  It was an enjoyable return ride as we listened to Fleet Ops pull yet another vehicle from the TRANSITION!

The old timers talk of the year that pax and workers had to be helo’d to Willy Field and Pegasus. Maybe that will happen again this year!  How fun would it be for me to FLY out to drive the crew to their planes!!!!

Yes, it’s a harsh continent – but we love it!

Posted December 27, 2008 Comments(0)

Oh what a beautiful day to play softball!  Temp reached 32 degrees F, light wind and plenty of sunshine!  I was placed 3rd on the batting list, (Took a PHOTO of that list to prove it!)  and was CATCHER!  I only played 2 innings as I then had to leave and drive my Willy Field route – but I had a blast!!  The ”pool” was determined by drawing out of a hat. We drew the VMF (big greasy men that fix all our vehicles) team. I figured we would be eating dust. HOWEVER…. we led the first 2 innings (then I left -cough cough) and they passed us. The final score was 14-13.  I think we all did a wonderful job.  Oh and wait until you see the photos of the ball field area!  Someone set up makeshift bleachers  – complete with a wire mesh fence for protection from foul balls. Someone else was handing out hotdogs with all the trimmings.  What a fun day. As for the equipment. We had a choice between 2 bats, and each team dropped the gloves at the position they played when heading in to bat!

It would be nice to say this happens every year, but with the weather changing so often, it’s too hard to plan so far into the future. This event was a last minute thought – and the weather cooperated for a change!

Also with this HOT day came more melting at the transition. I drove a van this morning and then voluntarily decided to switch into a delta for the rest of the runs.

This morning at 11:00, LDB was able to get their 2nd balloon launched. You could still see it – although it was tiny – several hours later.  That made many people happy as now they can try to get home for Christmas.

Posted December 20, 2008 Comments(0)

Remember to check now and then the DECEMBER/JANUARY FOLDER for new photos!  I uploaded many today.

Click on the RED ANTARCTICA menu choice and scroll down to the album folders.

First Time

Posted December 18, 2008 Comments(1)

After many weather delays – the first launch was made today!  For those who might like to follow along, here is their official website:

http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice0809.htm

Posted December 18, 2008 Comments(0)

I learned something NEW 2 days ago!!!  (Actually, I learned a few new things!)

1. I learned how to ski.Rented some cross country skis from Gear Issue. (My friend from Hungary INSISTED I go with her. Now when leave McMurdo to ski on THE SEA ICE, you must check in with the firehouse, give all sorts of info on yourself; room number, etc., and when you will return. They give you a hand held radio and will send out the search & rescue team if you do not call in to report you’re home!!! I love Ildiko, but do not trust her to SAVE me. We had a 3rd person. “Thomas the Sheet Metal Man”. He was appointed our ‘expedition leader’.  And I trusted his judgement and ability to get us back  – - – alive!

I should also point out that we are getting ‘close’ to closing the sea ice to traffic.  I’ve shown you photos of the Discovery Hut location to McMurdo.  The ice is closed from that area on north along the coastline due to melting!!!  We went south – towards Scott Base!!! The transition from land to sea ice was horrible, mushy, slushy. I tried not to think about falling through.  Once a little further away from shore, it was thicker and easier to put the skis on.

2. I learned that 5 miles is a little too far for a beginner.  Our original plan was for me to say when it was time to turn around. I was enjoying the VIEW…. the cold was actually a bonus to cut down on SWEATING! Plus, when I would occasionally get the hang of it, I would zoom along for a few feet, then slow down to ‘baby slides’ through the bumpy areas.  Before I realized it – the expedition guide hollered from his position WAAAY in the lead… “WE’RE HALF WAY TO SCOTT BASE”.  Oh poo.  I only meant to go half way to the HALF WAY point!  Sink or swim time!!!  We continued.  

The going was rougher as we neared Scott Base. Ildy took her skis off and walked.  I kept mine on – and somehow managed to get through it without falling down!  I did several incredible “saves”. (You know, the acrobatic, scrambling, flailing stuff you do to NOT fall down!)  I figured if I did fall, the rescue team would have to come and get me up.  My legs were plotting -  I knew they would never let me walk again if given the briefest reprieve!!!

3. You can get SUNBURNED at night here. This little expedition began after supper. I believe it was 7:30 PM by the time we left the firehouse.  My face, mainly cheeks and nose, are a pretty bright red now. I have the ‘raccoon’ look around my eyes where my sunglasses sit!  Nice.  I look like a REAL Antarctica woman now.

4. Always be friends with a SHUTTLE DRIVER!They are SMART, and know the secrets to getting a ride back from Scott Base! There is no way I would’ve been able to walk  – in the ski boots- up and over the mountain back to McMurdo. I could barely climb into the rescue ‘chariot’.

5. You’re never too old to try something new.  However, the older you are, the more consequences there will be to over doing it!!!! Every muscle from my lower back down – is mad at me.  Oh well. It was fun, and next I will try skiing the 7 miles out to Willy Field!

Posted December 18, 2008 Comments(0)

The weather – being so balmy and warm (at times reaching 30 F) has made a few people on station think of outdoor sports! We have an area where large equipment, plus our 3 Airporters are parked known as “The BallPark”.  Back when the Navy still owned/ran this station, they would have baseball games in that very location. We now will be re-enacting that with our new modern version of Antarctica Ball!

Of course there will be a Shuttle Driver’s Team. We held our first practice last night 7:00 PM, after my 12 hour day of work. (The temperature also dropped down to 9 degrees. ) I was lucky and could fit my gloved hand INSIDE the baseball glove. PERFECT FIT!!!  My throwing arm is still the same as back in high school. (I throw like a girl, no distance, and no real control!!!)  HOWEVER, I made up for that in my batting!!! I hit perhaps 9 out of 10 pitches that came my way. High, low, inside, outside – I would swing and connect!!!!  My YOUNG cohorts were duly impressed.   (We have our first game next sunday. The “coach” said he was going to talk to our supervisor about getting me off – at least for the game as we needed a hitter!!!)  Let’s hope the other team’s pitcher is as slow as ours !!!!!

Back to weather issues:  We were scheduled to have 2 planes land yesterday, but neither made it. The first one was CLOSE to McMurdo when it was ‘boomaranged’ due to the bad weather already at the Willy Airfield. The 2nd plane soon followed with a cancel.  The AGAP people are still going nuts – chomping at the bit to get to their projects.  The LDB launch (Long Duration Balloon) has been through several “almost launches” – for over a week now.   And the TRANSITION is soupy – we’ll be full time in deltas any day now!  The “JoJo Falls” area along the transition has beautiful waterfalls created from all the melting snow ‘further up the hill’.  Back home you have the “aaah moments’ when tulips and other spring flowers pop through the snow. I had to laugh the other day as I drove along and said: “oh… the first ROCKS of summer.”  These are in the areas that were level and all white with snow!  Also, instead of seeing rabbit tracks and other small animal prints along the snowy mountain sides, we see “rock prints”…. When frozen rocks pops free of the ice, they slide down the hillside, sometimes at an odd angle – not straight down, but a little sideways.  It’s good to know when the “little critters” are about – especially through the rock slide area of our route to Willy Field!  Last year I had to STOP for a rock slide. Most of the time they are smaller rocks, but occasionally big ones come barreling down.

Time for me to do laundry. This is my day off – and so far it looks like I can lounge around!!

Posted December 14, 2008 Comments(1)

Well, the temps have managed to stay in the upper 20′s for the last couple of days. The majority of the workers can only STAND to wear a light fleece jacket and NO MORE!  I am one of those, and yesterday I was down to just a long sleeved t-shirt and no jacket.  (You still have to haul your coats around, just in case…)

A lot has happened since I last updated here. First off – I rec’d a NEW mattress yesterday! (Several dorm floors in my building were given new ones. They sent out emails of the rooms they would do – and we had to strip down our beds before leaving for work.  As per any new mattress, you have that break in period, and l had to sleep in the DOME position…. head down – feet down and middle section stretched up over the bulging padding in the middle!   (Yawn with me now.)

I will have a few new photos to share of the SAFAIR plane that was out at Pegasus. Those initials stand for South African Air. Usually, they have been contracted out by the Italian base to bring in supplies and parts. but this year they are doing a little ‘work’ for us, too.  It was nice to have a NEW world accent to hear!  I drove them out to Pegasus and look forward to their return. (I think they said they have about 5 or 6 more missions to fly.)

The soft roads are getting softer, too!!!  We spent a great deal of time driving the Deltas yesterday. Partly to help pack the road.  I was surprised by a new crack/drop on my final run last night.  The first person to ‘find’ these things gets a good jolting. I don’t know how or why they occur in the middle of the road. This was like an entire “step down” of several inches.  I had driven that very spot on my way out to Willy Field, so it was a nice AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH when I dropped on my return!  (I do know why – the ocean current!  This driving area is constantly under ‘change’.)  Anyway, my poor old-er body was tired at the end of the day!

Oh… and I met the new priest sent from N.Z.  He wasn’t wearing his collar.  I told him it wasn’t fair to be ‘out of uniform’…. but he liked to meet people without restraint!  When another person sat down at the table, I introduced him… as FATHER Steve…. and he reprimanded me!!!  He said “Don’t use the F word!!!”  We all had a good laugh over that.

Oops… time to head out the door to work…… Should be another GREAT DAY!!!

Posted December 10, 2008 Comments(0)

Fellow Abilene-ite, Bill S and myself will be handling the Sunday Shuttles again for the next month.  My 2nd run of the day to Willy Field was a fully loaded Airporter of 18 pax.  They were the British flying team (although the ‘team’ is from several countries) that are TRYING to fly to AGAP to do the aerial surveys.  They have had one weather delay after another. Good ol’ summer time in the Antarctic! Since they couldn’t “go” anywhere, they decided to take a group photo – ride out with me – andturn around to ride back in.  All was going smoothly until about 2 or 3 miles away from Willy I heard a noise/thump-thump-thump.  I was so relieved to see it was only the FAN BELT!  Being the MacGyver type woman I am, I promptly used my bra to fashion a new belt, replaced it -applied new lip gloss,  and on we drove.

That was a big lie!  But could be the way I will WRITE the story in my future novel!  What REALLY happened is I called Bill on the radio, and asked for HELP!  He asked my location - I told him “exactly 3 miles and 17 inches from the WF transition.”  The pax got the biggest kick out of my reply. They said I should have told him I was “parked by a RED flag”…. (for new readers, there are RED flags along the entire 7.5 mile route every 100 feet.)  They asked the “fearless shuttle driver/leader” what to do next, so I told them to PREPARE for a night in the wilderness using the Happy Camp survival techniques learned.  It took Bill about 30 minutes to warm up a new Airporter and drive to our location. And in that time, this British Team couldn’t get any further into survival planning than who they thought should be eaten first!  It was hilarious to see the ‘logic’ used. For inquiring minds- it was going to be whoever was the most annoying!!   They didn’t realize how much time had passed and enjoyed their little Sunday drive with a Kansas woman.

I also had an opportunity to visit the LDB site while they were preparing the next PAYLOAD for lift-off!  I will post a photo of that!!!  To stand next to the actual ‘gadget’ that will be orbiting the earth – seeing up close and personal- every detail, was incredible!!!  They have the “payload” (that’s what the scientists call it) attached to the “Big Boss” truck. This truck will help in the lift-off as the helium balloon is filled – keeping the payload the correct distance from the filling/rising HUMONGOUS balloon!

To make the day complete…… I taught a new “Weather Watcher” gal how to knit in 15 minutes!  I had an extra set of needles in my bag – with some extra yarn, so ‘loaned’ her both.  She was getting off duty and hopped onto my shuttle. We both had 15 minutes to wait until TIME for the shuttle to depart Willy Field. What better way to use that time???

Time for breakfast – and then I’ll come back and work on loading photos!

Posted December 7, 2008 Comments(0)

My goodness, I just realized the last couple of “posts” I wrote are not in here!  (Can’t imagine what I did wrong!)

If you recall last year, I mentioned how there was an entire millvan FILLED with frozen curly fries. I wish I would have kept track of how many times they’ve been served those so far this year! No matter – they are good! (We had them served with MEATBALLS.)  I think my family can NOT make fun of my cooking anymore.

Two days ago I was toodling around in Ivan for most of the day. Took NASA/LDB people and flight crews out to Willy Field, and then after lunch drove out to the Pegasus airfield to pick up new pax coming on the big plane (C-17) from Christchurch.  On the “open road”, in 6th gear, and floored, Ivan does 25.1 mph!!! When driving up a steep incline with only a partial load of pax he did around 6 mph.  (I had a passenger with a GPS gizmo.) Ivan doesn’t even have a speedometer!

My silversmithing class is going well. Finished a turtle ring and did a simple band ring this past Thursday. I will take a photo. There are so many recreational programs to do, I haven’t had time to try ceramics! Last year I raced around trying to get it all in, PLUS teach pyrography. This year I’m doing a slower pace, and really enjoying just sitting around in the galley talking and learning from others.  We have a couple of spinners who brought down RAW wool. (Yes, you can SMELL the sheep - as though you were in the barn with it!) One gal brings hers into the galley after meals. She spins, I knit and we both watch it snow out the window! 

Time for work!

Posted December 5, 2008 Comments(0)