Day 40- November 19th

Day 40- November 19^th

Today was the first truly beautiful day.  32 degrees and very little wind. I was able to leave Big Red behind and wear just my fleece.

We had not 1 but 2 Medical Evacuations. 1 was for a gal who had her leg pinned and crushed by a Weddell seal she was studying.

Weddell Seals are not tiny, graceful seals. They are giant, huge, cumbersome ice slugs that can weigh a ton.

Hand turkeys were also on the list of assignments and things to do during our shift. It’s traditionally mandatory that everyone represent and make one. The funniest thing was written by my boss Pete, on the flight board.

“I’m sorry…we can’t support your medevac… we’re busy making hand turkeys.”

Of course he was joking, but it was used to relieve some tension from a few stressful situations that happened during the day.

My hand turkey of course could not be a run of the mill normal hand turkey. Mine must be different, be attention seeking, be creatively original. Be a – PEACOCK. That’s right. I painstakingly colored my turkey to look like a peacock. I called it a Peakey or turcocky. Everyone likes it.

Day 38- November 17th

 Day 38- November 17^th

I’m overtired and feel a cold coming on. I start hitting the juice hard with EmergenC and VirX. I took off work a little early and took a nap. I think I’m keeping it at bay.

Everything was melting and muddy ugly. Roads as bad as Alaska’s North Slope roads. A mini snowstorm dropped some minimal snow for a couple hours. I guess it doesn’t really snow here- it just white out blizzards and blows. Everyone commented on how pretty the falling snow was. I only liked it because it was covering the filthy snow.

Day 36- November 15th

Day 36- November 15^th



See that blue line in the background? That's the line where regular frozen sea ice meets up with the permanent Ross Ice Shelf.  The bigger blue mounds right in back of the buildings, are pressure ridges. More about them later.



I went to Scott Base after work in the morning to shop in there store.  Scott Base is considered New Zealand territory and is painted bright kiwi green.

 It was another beautiful day. Mt Erebus was in full view. This was the first time I had seen her in all her splendor. Erebus is next to Mt Terror. Both named after 2 of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ships. Erebus is the furthest south active volcano.



Mt Erebus from Scott Base

Mt Terror with Scott Base in the foreground from Sea Ice runway road



Ellen must have talked to the girls about yesterday’s complete and utter disregard for a daysleeping roommate. The absolute racket that was them getting ready to go cross country skiing was second only to a playground full of preschoolers being chased by a monster with a fully operational chainsaw. Needless to say, they were quiet as church mouse today and I slept very well. She did mention to them that on my nights off, I take everything I might need with me out of the room so as not to disturb them while they slept.

I get the feeling the void will not be pierced.

Blue Man is in Antarctica.....

Day 29- November 8th '11

 

Today was a beautiful, sunny, no wind day. I was going to attempt Ob(servation) Hill’s lower loop, but my hiking boots still haven’t come and my shoes were a little too cold to attempt it yet.

I will do it before I leave here. Just not today.

 Scott's Cross was placed here by Captain Scott's team as a memorial to their leader. He and 2 colleagues were found frozen and/or starved to death in their tent about 11 miles from McMurdo almost 100 years ago, on their way back from a scientific trek to collect various rocks for study. They may have survived had Scott not stubbornly refused to leave the rocks behind due to his pride.

From the sea Ice Runway

From Victor's Cross/Discovery Hut

From Building 155

From Chapel of the Snows

From the road to/from Scott Base

From sea Ice road

Day 29 – November 8^th

Day 25 - November 4th '11

Day 25 -  November 4th

Saw my first Skua. They are big scavenger birds. They are brown seagulls on steroids. They are known to dive bomb and attack people coming outside with anything resembling food in their hands. They are brazen and bullying.  They will eat anything, including baby penguins in or out of the shell.

SKUA is also where people can leave things that are still good or might be needed by others. It’s a good program to discard non trash items you don’t want or need anymore, but others might. Think of it as dumpster diving at Salvation Army. There are small SKUA cubbies throughout the dorms. It’s a source of costume building for the dozen or so theme parties thrown down here. Each department has a theme and each year they host a party.

Recently there was a MAD MAX party thrown by Fuels. So people scavenged materials to make post-apocalyptic costumes. There’s also an 80’s party and a FREEZING MAN party. That one is modeled after the Burning Man Nevada desert party, only much further south. There are lots of parties down here. They stand to break up the monotony, raise spirits, meet people, blow off steam and pass the time. People love to party here.



My friend Cargo Kristen as a MadMax bad mama jamma-her outfit created on station via Skua scavenging



Day 23 - November 2nd '11

Day 23 – November 2^nd

I’m working alone for the 1^st time tonight. I’m a little nervous that I’ll have questions and no one to ask. I was going to have a huge double bag drag, but Jamie offered to come back up at 730 to help. So thankful she did. It was a 2 ½ hour deal.

I didn’t really forget anything. I got this job almost figured out