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2007

Date: October 26, 2007
Location: McMurdo Station
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees, 40 minutes East
Temperature: –14°C (6°F)
Wind Speed: 0 knots
Wind Chill:  °C (°F)
Elevation: 50 meters (164 feet)
Written by: Nicky

4:30 AM could not have come any slower...and when it did finally arrive it was after a sleepless night much like those of childhood's Christmas eves. This is so exciting (and a bit scary!). Our shuttle arrives at 5:30 and fills quickly with mainly Polies (those who will be living and working at South Pole station). Upon arriving at the Antarctic Centre, my first task is to dress and/or stock in my pockets the six required items (blue boots, red parka, gloves, hat, facemask and googles) and my second (and considerably more difficult) is to make the baggage limits. My checked baggage initially weighs in at 82lbs, but through clever rearranging (and passing off my tripod to Elena) I squeek through at 74lbs. Breakfast is hurried, we watch a movie explaining how the next 48 hours will go and then boarding begins.

The C–17 is a huge plane and, I would imagine, fascinating for anyone with mechanical inlcination. Its inside is like that of an unfinished building with color coded wires, vents, and tubes splayed in all directions. The five of us fill the 2nd row and settle in for a loud 5 hour flight (earplugs strongly suggested!). Elena and I take the opportunity to take a quick tour of the spacious cockpit once we're over the continent and then right on schedule at just about 1300 local time (0200 zulu) we land on the sea ice of the Ross Sea. The landing is incredibly smooth and its a little mind blowing to think that 1) we just stopped that quickly on ice (Yeah for reverse thrusters!) and 2) that ice will not be there when we leave McMurdo!

Deplaning is a bit of the challenge with all the gear on and once on the ice its hard to resist the urge to snap a few pictures of the plane and the scenery. So, I snap as I walk because even as we take pictures we are being instructed not to stop walking to the bus. The bus, called the Ivan, is cooler than any school bus I've ever ridden. Bright orange, rolling on six very large jacked–up tires. The bus takes us directly to building 155 where we hang up our coats and head directly to a welcome briefing where we learn the the ins and outs of life in MacTown (i.e. who to call when you get locked out of your room, in what weather condition you can do recreational activities (Condition 3 only) and when quiet hours are). While waiting for our room assignments Luke, Luci and Josh arrive in the galley and a mini–reunion ensues. Next stop is the post office to pick up our luggage (once again its all there!), we begin moving into our lab space in Crary Science building, get our computers connected to the system and then dinner.

I'm not ashamed to admit that once dinner is over, I'm ready to sleep. So, what if its only 8PM? Tomorrow brings new adventures.

 

Date: October 27, 2007
Location: McMurdo Station
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees, 40 minutes East
Temperature: –16°C (4°F)
Wind Speed: 1.7 knots
Wind Chill: –18°C (–1°F)
Elevation: 50 meters (164 feet)
Written by: Nicky

After a refreshing 10 hours of sleep its time to get serious. Dan D. and I go to the Light Vehicle Training seminar (a must if you want to drive any of the trucks or vans around town) and then head to the Science Support Center to be given a walk through of vehicle check out procedure. There's a lot of extra things to remember with these trucks. They have to be unplugged before use and plugged back in after use. They have special "parking" brakes and a chock block needs to be put behind the tire (in the downhill direction) each time you park. Additionally, if you're the first to take the vehicle out for the day you must check for leaks, check the fluid levels and make sure there is no cosmetic damage to the vehicle. Phew! If you can pull all that off, don't forget the in-town speed limit is 15mph.

At 10:00 the eight of us have a meeting with Cara Ferrier, Woody (head of the Carpenter Shop), and Shannon (also of the Carp Shop) to discuss the progress that has been made on those things that need to be made or fixed, when each group will go to the field site, and when crevasse training for Elena and I should be scheduled. The meeting is brief, but productive. Next stop: our lab space in Crary Science building and then up to Science Cargo to see if we can track down packages shipped from Orono. After some unsuccessful searching, it is necessary to enlist the help of professionals; the Science Cargo crew track down all of our packages successfully (and quickly)! The satellite phones are brought from the cage to the lab space to charge and then we unpack.

Eventually each member of our crew begins working on those things of the most immediate importance. Mike puts together the weather station, Dan B. does some fine work on the control panel for the down–hole logger and Dan D. and Luke compare notes on the BFC list (a document showing exactly what and how many of each requested item we've been assigned, where they've been put, and how many Luke has packed for his, Luci's and Josh's departure to the field site on the 30th).

Today is McMurdo's famous (or infamous?) Halloween party. The whole town goes all out and the recreation crew plans a costume party complete with DJ in the gym. I've already seen a "my little pony". It doesn't get much better than that.