It's been two months since I arrived back home. Things have been extremely hectic. When I got home my mom had left a message to call. She informed me that my dad had been diagnosed with prostate cancer while I was in Antarctica. They had decided not to tell me because they didn't want to put a damper on my time in Antarctica. After several weeks and numerous tests, my dad was told that he would need radiation treatment but that the prognosis was very good. He started treatment this week and we are very optimistic.
It seems that while I was in Antarctica the world had still gone on. I spent six weeks in an amazing place that is a world of its own. Sometimes it feels like that whole experience was a dream. However, I know that it was very real and that the experience has changed me...
I was really lucky because I got a ticket home the next day. I had about thirty minutes to pack and the taxi arrived in less than five minutes. I flew to Auckland, New Zealand and then caught a flight to Los Angeles. This trip takes almost thirteen hours and during the first three hours of the flight my DVD player kept stopping. The flight attendant tried several things to fix the DVD player but nothing seemed to work. Finally, she escorted me to a seat that had a working DVD player. The seat was in the first class section and it was very nice. The seat was much bigger, much softer, and it reclined out to make a sort of bed. Needless to say, the next ten hours were much more enjoyable.
I landed in Los Angeles and collected my luggage. I went through Customs and then headed for...
This morning I woke up at 3:10am and I quickly realized that I had five minutes to get dressed, grab my bag, and hike up a hill. I rushed around and I was only a few minutes late. It turned out that a lot of people must have woken up late because less than half of the people were there when I arrived. They gave us earplugs and a box breakfast and had us board "Ivan the Terra" bus. One poor lady really overslept and they had to call and wake her. The bus drove out to the airfield and we waited for the South African plane to finish getting ready. We boarded the plane a little after 5:00am. The plane was full and everyone buckled up for a long flight.
I was very lucky because I had one of the very few seats that had a small window. As the plane took off I took some last...
Today I got to sleep in and boy was it nice. Of course, I was up by 8:00am and working on the computer. Today I was planning to work on the computer, do a little last minute shopping at the store, and then meet Scott at 1:00pm to take a hike. However, Scott came over to tell me that his roommate had offered to give us a tour of the LDB or the Long Duration Balloon facility at 2:00pm and we jumped at the chance. Scott, Seth (he is the guy from the USGS that we met on our way to Antarctica), and I caught the 2:00pm shuttle to the LDB facility. Scott's roommate, Chris, met us and proceeded to give us a tour of the entire facility. The first thing that you notice is that the facility has an awesome view of Mount Erebus.
Everywhere you go in this area you are greeted with the sight of...
This morning we all came to work at the usual time. All except for Scott, who was several minutes late. The rule is if you are late then you have to wear one of the silly hats. Scott thought he was safe because the hats were already packed. However, Stacy quickly pulled out a hat and placed it on Scott's head. As usual, he was a really good sport about it and even posed for a picture.
The cost of being late to work is that you have to wear a silly hat. It actually looks good on Scott.
We all were wondering why our flight wasn't listed on the "Departures" board. A little after 10:00am we were informed that our flight had been delayed by a day. A plane from Christchurch, New Zealand had been cancelled and this was the reason our flight was postponed. Stacy wanted us to finish packing...
It's my last Sunday in McMurdo Station and I have the day off. Of course I woke up at 6:00am and couldn't go back to sleep. My roommate also woke up early and we both got dressed and spent the morning doing errands. My errands included washing all of my clothes, including the ECW gear, and starting the packing process.My new roommate's name is Michelle and she is really nice. She is from the Midwest and works for GIS. Her job is to make maps for scientists and others that need them. The rest of her team will arrive the first week of January.
Michelle is such a good sport. I asked her if I could take her picture just before she went to bed and she quickly agreed. As you can see, she is also very cute.
Stacy told me and Scott that we could have the day off. However, by 12:...
The first thing we did this morning was to check the floats. It appears that most of the foam sealant has cured. Bob then drilled a hole in each float. He then injected each float with ""Plastic Welder II" and then screwed the floats back onto the frame like it was before we started to fix SARA. Now we just have to wait for the "Plastic Welder II" to cure (that means dry and get real hard) and then we can put her in the water.
Bob applies a very strong adhesive tp attach the floats to SARA. Time is an issue so he must focus.
SARA looks a lot like she did when I left Virginia. She has had a few modifications but the general design and work is the same. She just looks a little more streamlined.
SARA has been refitted and given some much needed TLC. Now...
Once again SCINI is the star of the show. Today Stacy, Bob, and SCINI were on a webcast for the Exploratorium. The Exploratorium is a museum in San Francisco that believes that a museum should be a learning experience. They set up filming in a small building that is usually used to observe seals.
The building is small with Plexiglas windows on three sides for viewing.
The hut may be small but it has a lovely view.
The view is of the back side of the Carp or Carpenter's Shop.
If you would like to view the webcast go to the Explo.tv section of http://www.Exploratorium.com and watch "Ocean Ecology". You can also check out the other webcasts that are being done with scientists working in Antarctica.
After the webcast Bob and I began some much needed work on SARA. For...
Stacy told us we could come in at 9:30am. Of course, Francois arrived at 7:30am, I arrived at 8:00am and Scott (the newest sick child) arrived about 9:15am. It's time to start returning everything and pack up. The first thing we did was make piles of things to be returned. These included drill flights, generators, field gear, and pee bottles. Scott and I loaded up the Pisten Bully four times and made deliveries. We took the generators back and they used a forklift to get them out of the Pisten Bully. Wish we had one of those.
They used a forklift to retrieve the generators. We were really grateful because they are extremely heavy.
Then we returned the rest of the gear. The heavy things were the four survival bags that were on top of the Pisten Bully. You can't just throw them...
I got to go out into the field today. I was so excited, especially because it was our last day. We packed up the Pisten Bully and Stacy, Scott, and Francois headed out to Cape Evans. I had to go see the doctor this morning for a follow-up so Bob and I got snowmobiles and joined them. As I pulled up on the snowmobile I was struck that this was indeed our last field day. It was the last day that I would be working on the ice. I wanted to impress the image on my brain and I thought a picture would be helpful.
This was our field set-up for our last day at Cape Evans.
Our last field camp was in front of the last and biggest glacier at Cape Evans.
This was the last and largest iceberg that SCINI surveryed at the Cape Evans site.
We helped finish getting SCINI ready and then it was...
Stacy and the team were going to Cape Evans today but she felt that I should stay in the lab and get another day of rest. I was understandably disappointed but I was also exhausted because I had spent most of last night coughing.
I told Stacy that I had plenty to keep me busy because I have several journals to make up. Between being really busy and then getting sick, the journals just kept piling up.
I really enjoy writing the journals because it gives me a chance to remember all of the amazing things that I am doing. It also lets me stop and reflect on this experience. I realize that for the past five weeks I have focused on just one thing - my job in Antarctica. All of the little things that usually consume a big part of my day don't seem to really matter. It's amazing how something...
I was at the Medical Center first thing this morning. In fact, they open at 7:30am and I was there before they unlocked the door.
The hospital has two doctors and a dentist. If you get too sick or hurt, then you have to go back to the United States.
I have been getting progressively sicker the last several days and Stacy thought it was time that I saw the doctor. He examined me and then handed me three types of pills. My only question was "Can I go to the field camp today?" I know that it will surprise you to hear that he said "No". I was not very happy. Today was our last day at Heald Island. Not only did I not want to miss anything, but I also was disappointed about not helping the team. Stacy told me that I should take my antibiotic and go to bed. I did what my boss told me to do...
Today is Sunday. I know that is Sunday because I got to sleep a little later. We all met at the lab at 11:00am and got right to work getting ready for SCINI's Open House. My first job was to put a sign up for people so that they knew which way to walk. I took two flags, the sign, and some tape and headed to a place that everyone calls the "Transition Area". This is because it is where you transition from walking on land to walking on the sea ice. I put up my sign and even Bob thought it looked good.
I put two flags in the ice and then I attached the sign. I thought it looked pretty good.
We are really lucky that they approved the Open House because they don't usually encourage activities that involve people walking on the sea ice. You usually require special...
Stacy offered to let me stay in the lab today and rest my back. To be honest I was happy but I was also sad. I wanted to take a break and let my back rest but I was sad that I would not be going to Heald Island with everyone. They had an awesome time and the weather was perfect. I am happy for them but I am also a little sad that I missed it. I also am disappointed that I wasn't there to help the team. In Antarctica it is all about the team. No one talks about what "I" did but rather what "my team" did. It is amazing how so many people from so many different backgrounds are able to work together. It gives you hope for the rest of the world.
I did work on my journals today. I was feeling pretty lousy. On top of everything I think I am getting a cold. Isn't...
Every morning as I walk to Crary Lab I stop and enjoy the view. I have a lovely view at home of the Chesapeake Bay but nowhere else in the world would I get to enjoy such a view. Don't you agree?
My view of Mount Discovery. I get to look at it from McMurdo and then look at the other side when I am on Heald Island.
It was another glorious day on Heald Island. The team was working like clockwork and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of everyone in action. The first is of Bob. We forgot the connector piece that allows us to use some teth er as an extension cord. Luckily, Bob is able to rig something up that works just fine.
Bob is figuring out a way to connect the tether and use it as an extension cord.
Francois is setting up the navigation system. He takes...
Today we decided to take a break from going to Heald Island. It is incredible at Heald Island but the days are very long and the work is especially hard. I keep reminding myself that in a few weeks I won't be able to work in such an awesome place. It is hard to believe that I have been here for over a month. I could easily stay for several more months.Now don't think that this means that we had a day off. We have only a set number of days left in Antarctica and we have a lot of work that we need to complete. We decided to go to Cape Evans and check out a new iceberg. It took most of the morning to get things ready and by 10:30am we were ready to go. We packed up the Pisten Bully and made sure to get lunches from the galley.
The first stop was the jetty to pick up the trailer....
This morning we went to Heald Island again. As we land it is necessary to wait until the helo tech tells us that it is alright to exit the helicopter. The helo tech also unloads the cargo and the survival bags. Those survival bags are really heavy and the helo tech today was a fairly small young woman.
The helo tech has a really fun job riding around in the helicopter but it is also hard work.
Today we are moving the camp. We also brought another tent to put up that is bigger and hopefully more comfortable than the Kiva tent. We had to drag everything down about a quarter of a mile using the banana sled and straps.
We have to drag everything over the ice using straps and the banana sled.
The new tent is known as an Endurance tent and it looks like half a circle. Putting up...
I went to Heald Island today. I was excited to go back to this amazing place and I didn't even mind that it would be a lot of hard work. It's interesting how your priorities change. I haven't had a chance to do laundry or take a shower in over a week. At home I would never be alright with wearing dirty socks or having dirty hair. Here, I don't even notice. The main thing is that I have enough warm clothes on, whether they are clean or dirty. As we were walking to the helicopter, I noticed that another helicopter was taking off and it had some cargo attached. They use helicopters to deliver supplies to the field camps.
They use helicopters to deliver much needed supplies to remote field camps.
On the ride out to Heald Island I sat by the window with my camera. The landscape is...
Today I am staying in the lab while the rest of the team goes to Heald Island. This is to give me a chance to get caught up on my paperwork. It is amazing how easy it is to get behind. I love writing my journal entries but they take a lot of time. I am also going to do a few errands. It is not a day off but it definitely feels like a little break. One of my errands was to go to the post office. I was thrilled to receive a package from Jillian Worssam. She is a PolarTREC teacher that went to the Arctic this summer and her trip was entitled Bering Ecosystem Study '08. You should read all about her adventures on a Coast Guard ship in the Bering Strait. Jillian sent chocolate which was much appreciated by my whole team. There is a limited selection of candy here. We have one store...
It is Sunday and we are all working to try and make up for the time we lost due to the bad weather. I actually enjoyed the snow and wind but that might be because I grew up in Tennessee and snow falling was a special occasion. However, it can look pretty scary at times. The weather today is really nice. The sun is up in the sky, the wind is mild, and not a snowflake in sight.
When the weather is good, the view is spectacular.
We all met at 7:30am for our regular team meeting. The primary objective today was to try and get SCINI 2 in working condition. Bob, Francois, and Scott each worked on trying to get SCINI 2 able to conduct research. Stacy and I had lots of work to be done on the computer. The morning was fairly quiet in the lab with everyone focused on completing their...
The rest of the United States celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27th but at McMurdo Station we are celebrating on Saturday, November 29th. The reason for this is that Sunday is a day off for most of the people on the station. If we celebrate on Saturday, then most people will get a two day weekend. What a treat! I walked out of my dorm for brunch and I was struck by the weather. It looked just like a winter wonderland with the snow blowing everywhere. Of course, in Antarctica this can quickly turn into a winter watch. I was not surprised to look up and see the lights lit that signify a Condition Two.
The snow was falling and the wind was so strong that they declared a Condition Two.
I have to admit that I still thought it was beautiful. I love to walk in the snow...
This morning I looked out of the window in my dorm and it looked clear. However, when I walked out I could barely see the building that houses the galley. It wasn't snowing that much but the wind was blowing hard and the snow was everywhere. I looked over and saw this little vehicle. It looked so out of place among the other mammoth ones. I have had a little trouble getting in and out of the various vehicles because they are all so high. The tires are super duper big and they lift the vehicles high above the road. This little vehicle almost looked like a toy and the snow seemed to have started to swallow it. I wanted to pick it up and take it with me so that I would have a vehicle that was my size.
This is the first vehicle I have seen that I could get into without a step stool...
When I walked out of my dorm this morning I was greeted with a blanket of snow. It was a continuous snow flurry that looked like a giant was dropping salt all over McMurdo Station. I was thrilled because I don't get many chances to see snow. It was not going to be a lot of accumulation but I didn't care. It just looked so lovely coming down.
The first real accumulation of snow since I arrived in McMurdo Station.
I was scheduled to remain on station today to get a chance to catch up on some things. Stacy is going to give each of us a chance to have a day away from the field camp. This is not a day off but rather a catch-up day. I still have plenty to do and I will even do an errand for Stacy. However, the helicopter flight was cancelled due to the weather. Stacy decided that...
We get to go to Heald Island again. Yippee! That means another ride in the helicopter. Yesterday I was running around trying not to miss my flight. I was so excited about everything that I didn't really get a chance to properly tell you about the helicopter. This is a picture of the helicopter that I am riding in today.
This is one of the helicopters owned by the National Science Foundation.
It can carry 8 passengers, 2 pilots, and a bunch of luggage. There are several things that you have to do to insure that you have a fun and safe trip. The first things you have to do are to weigh and tag all of the equipment. Then you grab a helmet with a bag, your ECW bag, and get weighed. You only approach the helicopter when you are told to. You climb into the helicopter and fasten your...
This morning we had an IPY Live Event. It was my first and I was a little nervous. I also was saddened that none of the classes from my school were able to participate. They had computer problems. I certainly understood but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I was disappointed. I do a lot of travelling and I don't' remember being homesick. However, I must admit to a bit of just that. I really love what I am doing and I would jump at the chance to come back to Antarctica again, but I do miss my life back home. I was cheered up by an e-mail from my cats.I didn't get to be sad for long because Stacy and I literally ran from the presentation to catch a helicopter. We are heading out to Heald Island. This is one of the sites that we want to take SCINI to and see what we find....
