Antarctica 20022003

1
Antarctica 2002-2003

• The long journey across the US and New Zealand
  ends with an 8 hour trip in an LC-130 down to
  McMurdo Station, Antarctica

2
Arrival at William field

• My first step onto
• the ice

3
McMurdo Station

• Bags unpacked and posing for a tourist picture in
  McMurdo

4
Birdseye view of McMurdo

• This is the largest human settlement on the
  entire content of Antarctica. Just over 1,100
  people during the Austral summer (Oct-Feb) and
  200 during the winter.

5
Life in McMurdo

• This is McMurdo General Hospital.
• Note the Penguin
• These vehicles are McTracks. I am thinking we
  could use
• a few in NY too.

6
More McMurdo life

• Most of the residents of McMurdo live in cramped
  housing like Hotel California.
• Military folks
• with the 109th
• have separate
• housing. I
• lived in long brown
• building in the
• background.

7
Not all work

• I have no pictures of me at work. I was too busy
  working.. )
• However, I did make some friends during my stay.
  Here are two priests and a co-worker after daily
  Mass.

8
Chapel Life

• The chalice here was brought to Antarctica during
  the Ross expedition in the 19th century.
• The stained glass
• is also interesting
• in the manner it
• incorporates
• Antarctic elements.

9
Adventure after work

• The grand trek to Castle Rock was a great
  experience.
• These apple shelters are set up every mile to
  give travelers respite from wind and cold.
  Maintaining life in this environment is always a
  challenge.

10
Castle Rock

• After a long journey we arrived at Castle Rock.
  Plenty of opportunity to take goofy pictures. I
  have
• spared you
• from many.

11
Continued Inspiration

• I went on a hike almost every day after work.
  Mostly, the hills surrounding the Station.
• Incredible views! Note the approaching Coast
  Guard Ice Breaker on the Ross Sea.

12
An international desert

• This is the largest, driest and highest desert in
  the world. A beautiful land where all water is
  frozen.
• We are not alone in Antarctica. In the distance,
  you can see Scott Base owned by New Zealand.

13
Scott Base

• Named in honor of Capt. Scott, the New Zealand
  base is a fraction of the size of McMurdo.
• How do you like the bus stop. Looks like a
  freezer to me but actually a good shelter

14
Ice and Seals

• One of the cool things about Scott Base are the
  huge ice rifts that form when sea ice and the
  Ross Ice shelf collide. The collision site
  creates openings where seals gather. The seals
  are there
• I promise.

15
She blinded me with Science

• The sole reason we fly to Antarctica is to
  support the National Science Foundations research
  efforts.
• Here Antarctica Cod are being studied for their
  antifreeze properties. If we can figure out how
  they live in sub-freezing sea water, we can
  expand to possible human medical applications.

16
More geek stuff.

• That starfish is two feet across. The water is
  actual sea water circulated through the tanks
  every hour. They dont need no stinkin filters.
  Its au natural.

17
Long Duration Ballon

• How can a grown man get so excited about a
  balloon?
• This LDB measures meteorological data in one of
  the most interesting parts of the planet. Not
  the best picture but you get the idea.

18
Are you crazy man ????

• During my stay in sunny Antarctica, I decided to
  ice camp on the Ross Ice Shelf.
• Home for the nighta nice warm quinzhee. Despite
  the flamingo, you are not in Florida.
• All you need is a little hot chocolate to keep
  warm.

19
Snowed in..

• Just dont stay too long in the outhouse.
• Blue moon has taken on a whole different meaning.

20
Tribute to earlier explorers

• One thing to keep in mind about Antarctica is
  that many of the earlier explorers here did not
  return home. The many crosses on hills, to their
  memory, are tribute to that fact. This cross
  made of wood from Australia took two days to be
  carried up Observation Hill by a group of men who
  wanted to memorialize their fallen friends.

21
The inscription..

• To strive for,
• to find,
• and not to yield.
• Thank you Gentlemen.