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2007

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Date: November 3, 2007
Location: McMurdo Station
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees, 40 minutes East
Temperature: −28°C (−18°F)
Wind Speed: 33 knots
Wind Chill: −46°C (−51°F)
Elevation: 50 meters (164 feet)
Written by: Nicky

Woah...its cold! Weather in McMurdo to this point has been benign by Antarctic standards, but today we awoke to the weather conditions you see outlined above. Although it seems a little unpleasant at first, its a good reality check, the temperature with wind chill today is much closer to the temperature we'll be experiencing daily on the East Antarctic Plateau than what we've had here in McMurdo lately. Weather rarely stops work though, and today is no exception. There are so many last minute things to do. Dan B. frantically works to get M.A.D.G.E reassembled and functional in time to get her TCN'd and into the cargo line for Monday's impending flight. This urgency is elevated by the fact that today is town meeting day in McMurdo and most of the Science Cargo crew will be leaving at 3:30 instead of 5:30. Fortunately for both Dan and myself, Keith is willing to wait and (with a little help from Brian as well) both M.A.D.G.E and my light table are punched into the system and ready to go at 4:30.

Today's work on the light table is a story in itself. The carpentry is finished and the wiring is redone (they got professionals to do it properly!) around 2PM, but when the "on" switch is flipped it trips a breaker in the carp shop. I can't see the problem (professional electrician, I am not) and its not solved by jiggling the lights (strange?). So, the foreman of the electric shop is called in. He says that 99% of the time the problem is very obvious, and in this case, thats the truth. The neutral was wired to the hot! This was figured out after one more flip of the switch results in sparks and smoke in the switch box!! Despite these mishaps, the end result is excellent and I am truly grateful for the generous (and last minute) help I've recieved from Woody, Graham, Roxi and James.

Meanwhile back in Science Cargo, Elena works to package up some of our most precious cargo and Paul and Gordon switch out one of the 2 therma–rest pads in our sleep kits for 2 thinner (but much less slippery) ensolite pads (these were found at the last minute). Once we get going, we'll need all the gripping action we can get in our bunks. The weather again makes Paul, Gordon and Brian's scheduled fly–over of the traverse route impossible, so their time is spent in the lab making sure all our loose ends have been tied up. Dan D. and Josh each continue their recuperation in hopes they'll be able to join the team in the field as soon as possible.

 

Date: November 4, 2007
Location: McMurdo Station
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees, 40 minutes East
Temperature: −16°C ( 3°F)
Wind Speed: 5 knots
Wind Chill: −22°C (−8°F)
Elevation: 50 meters (164 feet)
Written by: Nicky

Today is spent anxiously awaiting the posting of our flight manifest. Will we fly tomorrow or not? What's the weather supposed to be like tomorrow? Are the carpenters, electricians, and welders at the winter over site finished?? Our flight depends on the answer to all these things and finally, around 3PM it appears as though all those questions have been answered favorably and the flight manifest is posted (or I finally look in the right place).

This is officially, the last day in MacTown! We are scheduled for transport to the ice-runway at 7:30AM tomorrow morning and take–off shortly thereafter. This means we're really down to the wire. Fortunately, we've been diligently preparing for this day and most of us are able to relax a bit. Elena and I do laundry, make last minute phone calls, and work on packing our bags (don't forget those weight limits). Dan B. continues to plug away on his project and Brian, Gordon and Paul coordinate with the field site to determine things like how much fuel we currently have and how much we'll need, based on previous years use, to get from the winter over site to the first core site.

At 7:30PM, those of us flying tomorrow (everyone but Josh and Dan D.) take all our checked baggage to MCC to complete a fun process known as "bag drag". Here, all your checked bags are weighed and then you are weighed along with your carry–on and all your ECW gear. This is done to keep tabs on what the weight of the plane will be and despite sounding like chaos is quick and painless.

I'm not sure how others spend their last evening in town, but this evening brings me to the realization that I have gotten so caught up in the buzz of MacTown that I almost forgot where I was. I use this realization to muster the courage to finally climb Observation Hill with Dan B. Its only from way up there that you can understand McMurdo in the grand scheme of this amazing continent. We got out to Hut Point last night and this helped a little with perspective too. Tomorrow is the last day of mountains and sea ice, maybe on the return trip we can conquer Castle Rock, but tonight my remaining plans are hydrate, hydrate, hydrate (and get a little rest).