McMurdo in Pictures

The folloing pics are from McMurdo Station in Antarctica.




Most building are referred to by a number or abbreviation.



"155" is where i live and is also where the galley (dining hall), gift shop/general store, computer lab and some offices are located.


This is the living room section of my room which i share with Kirsty who is doing our gravity measurements for the expadition and Morgan who is on her was to the South Pole to work in Communications.


This pic was taken on my first night. Morgan now occupies the top bunk and Kirsty is on the other side of the room.


Dormitory buildings.




A bad ass looking fire truck.



The medical center. Just in case you were wondering they don't have a morgue. They keep bodies in the real deal ice.



Some buildings have freezer doors.



This is Crary where all the science happens! All of the science grantees have offices and labs here. We are also doing our videoconferences from the library of this building which has an amazing view. It's one of the nicer newer buildings here.



This building is referred to as the Chalet. The National Science Foundation (NSF) operates out of this building.


That's the abridged town tour folks. Things i left our are the 2 bars, a bowling alley, firehouse and lots of other workie buildings.

Pictures!

Sorry the last blog was lacking in pictures. Here are a few from the journey.

New Zealand, First Flight and McMurdo

After around 35 hours of traveling i finally made it to New Zealand. We arrived at night to the Windsor B&B. The next morning at breakfast we were served up a lot of gossip. Due to bad weather at McMurdo flights were not landing. Some people had been in Christchurch for a week waiting to fly out or in some cases boomeranging (flying out but having the plane turn around and return to Christchurch). In one case the plane circled around McMurdo and then flew back to Christchurch. The thought of staying a while in Christchurch sounded good to me. It would give Eric (our shooter) and I some much needed time to do some shooting and planning and maybe i would actually get to see a bit of Christchurch. The thought of flying out and having to return to Christchurch.... not so pleasant.

That afternoon we headed back to the airport to the US Antarctic program's CDC (Clothing Distribution Center). At the CDC we were given our gear to try on for size and check for damage.


"Big Red" and other Parkas in the clothing storage facility.



I was issued the hot white boots called "Bunny Boots"




While we were there we were given the word that we would actually fly out the next day. What??? I just got here! They must be mistaken! Then the panic sunk in. I am flying on some crazy military plane to Antarctica tomorrow afternoon. What am i doing? Everyone around me was so excited. Some people had been waiting years for this moment. I tried to block out my fears and harness everyone's positive energy and excitement.

The next day everyone showed up to the CDC to pack their bags (75 pounds including issued gear, 1 carry on and 1 boomerang bag). After packing our bags we moved through baggage check which is located next to the CDC. There our passports were checked, bags were weighed and scanned and dogs sniffed around us. By 2 PM we were bused out to the plane and boarding. At 3 PM they were fixing an engine problem which was delaying our take off. Always reassuring. At 4 PM we were taking off.

The plane was a U.S Air force C-17 with a crew based out of Washington State. Their mission, "Operation Deep Freeze". No joke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Deep_Freeze)

After a 5 hour flight we landed on Pegasus Airfield. It was incredible. The sun was setting behind the air field as we all ran in a gust of wind to the vehicles waiting to take up to McMurdo. My sunglasses fogged up so i couldn't see a thing but i kept clicking away with my camera. At that moment i just could not believe where i was. It was so surreal, the vast stretches of white and the tiny shapes in the distance that made up McMurdo.

More to come on life at McMurdo next time.

Still en route!

Welcome to Sydney Australia! We left LAX at 1 AM and due to our delayed flight by the time we made it to Sydney we missed our connection to Christchurch. As we exited the plane they herded us Christchurchers to a spot to give us the low down. Apparently there are 46 of us! Most of which are a group that work for Raytheon Polar Services (http://rpsc.raytheon.com/) and were coming from orientation in Denver, CO. We were escorted to immigration, given visas and bussed to a hotel where we were given rooms and lunch. So here i sit in my hotel room till a 4 PM shuttle takes us back to the airport. Not bad. Man i like how things are done around here. Although i do love the surly people at JFK who would leave you stranded on the curb with no luggage or a dime to your name.

I must say through these travel adventures i am starting to meet some interesting Antarctic bound people. At lunch i met this awesome old man with a handle bar mustache who is a shuttle bus driver at McMurdo. Back home he owns a farm in Illinois. At the airport i met a young man who quick his job in marketing a year ago to travel and here he is going to Antarctica to work at the dining hall. Not your normal bunch. Love it already.

No Sleep to New Zealand!

And so it begins....

Welcome to Antarctica! JK...welcome to LAX. Right now my flight is delayed and i am hanging out with the rest of the sleepy Antarctica crew. We are headed to Sydney where we will catch a connection to Christchurch, New Zealand. Although at this rate we will miss our connection.

The airport is crawling with people going to Antarctica. Who knew LAX would be the hub for the deep south? I am have no idea what all these people are up to down there but i am sure i will find out.

Although it is 2.38 AM EST, i am in good spirits. What can i say i am just very excitied to be embarking on this journey.

20 + hours of travel still ahead.