The Language Remebered

Location: McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Weather: Overcast, 20F


This was from a post that I made about two years ago describing the language that is used here in Antarctica. Most of these terms are derived from when the US Navy ran all US operations here in Operation Deep Freeze.

Once again, the language:

Big Red - the large, very warm, very red, USAP parka that is issued
Little Red - the issued USAP, not so warm but still very red, windbreaker (only wore this twice, I'm still in 4 layers on top, including Big Red)
Cuddling Kitties - Nalgene bottles filled with boiling hot water before bed.
Town - McMurdo Station
Carps - Carpenters
Freshies - Fresh food (a rarity)
Fueley - A person who fuels things
Beaker - A scientist
ECW Gear - Extreme cold weather clothing
Bunny Boots - US Army cold weather boots that are issued to beakers
Rocket Toilet - A propane fired toilet
On the ice - in Antarctica
Off the ice - going to New Zealand
Hurdy Gurdy - A thing to transfer fuel to Jerry cans
Happy Camper - Snow survival school (the coldest night of my life)
Night Sun - When the sun finally is above the valley peaks and gives your tent (and you) sun at night
U Barrel - The 55 gallon drum in which you relieve yourself in
P Bottle - A Pee Bottle
ASPA - Antarctic Special Protection Area
ASPA - Anti Scrabble Play Area
Hotsee - A device to melt holes in the ice
Glacier Berries - Ice chunks that come off the glacier that we use as our only source of water at camp
House Mouse - The person who makes sure the chores are done in the hut at the end of the night

Holiday Weather

Location:  McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Weather:  Blowing snow, 21F

I guess the video says it all.

No Flight No

Location:  McMurdo Station

Weather:  Blowing snow, 18F

We were trying to fly out to Lonewolf Nunatak for the second day in a row but the weather here at McMurdo has grounded us.  As you can see from the weather slide posted this morning the weather doesn't show any sign of improvement.

Weather is part of life here.  The personnel at USAP do a good job of trying to plan the flight schedules way in advance and do a pretty damn good job of being flexible when changes happen, but you just can't predict the weather many months ahead of time.

I would like to wish you all in the US a Happy Thanksgiving.  It's already Friday morning here and it is traditional for McMurdo to celebrate its Thanksgiving on Saturday (your Friday).  As I said two years ago on this date, all that is missed is the Lions on the TV.

The pictures are of the morning weather brief and Condition 1 weather on the sea ice.

Lay your hands

This old life seemed much too long
With little point in going on
I couldn't think of what to say
Words just vanished in the haze
I was feeling cold and tired
Yeah kinda sad and uninspired
But when it almost seemed too much
I see your face
And sense the grace
And feel the magic in your touch

Back and forth across the sea
I have chased so many dreams
But I have never felt the grace
That I have felt in your embrace
Oh I was tired and I was cold
Yeah with a hunger in my soul
When it almost seemed too much
I see your face
And sense the grace
And feel the magic in your touch

Now you made me feel so good
Yeah like I never ever thought I would
You know you make me feel so strong
And now our laughter just goes on and on
So c'mon lay your hands on me
Cause close to you is where I really wanna be
And if it ever gets too much
I see your face
And sense the grace
And feel the magic in our touch

Beaker Desk

Location:  McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Weather:  Sunny, 21F

Not much of an update today.  Planning for camp has almost wrapped up.  It's been sunny and warm.  The pictures are of my desk in the Crary Science and Engineering Laboratory and of the Transantarctic Mountains across the sound from McMurdo.

Ice Stories and Tango 1

Location:  McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Weather:  Sunny, 8F

I just wanted to let you all know that my first dispatch as an ice stories correspondent is published.  You can find it here.

Other than that, it's just been more training plus a lot of work getting the camping equipment checked and ready to go to Tango 1 camp on December 1.

Tango 1 is going to our deep field home for about 2 weeks.  It is located at 86 degrees south (obviously South Pole is at 90 degrees) and sits just above 8000 feet.  What does that mean?  It's going to be COLD.

We will be staying in tents, sleeping in sleeping bags, the whole nine yards.  But the combination of the temperature and the altitude is going to make it....well...interesting.

One thing about altitude in Antarctica is that it changes.  No, the land elevation doesn't change but the physio-altitude does.  Ok english?  Barometric pressure affects what you body thinks is altitude.  The lower the pressure in the atmosphere, it makes you feel like your at a higher altitude.  Antarctica is known for really low pressure systems coming across the mid-continent...exactly where our camp is.  Depending on how low the air pressure gets, an 8000 foot high elevation can change to +10,000 feet...this change can be done in hours.

I will start taking my Diamox the day before.

Fun huh?  I think so.

Mactown...again

Location:  McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Weather:  Sunny, 15F

Well I finally made back to Mactown yesterday. 

Not much of a post but to say you can check out a live webcam of McMurdo Station here and that I have posted a picture that has pictures from various parts of this trip.  My picture page is located here.

Go, No-Go

Location:  Christchurch, NZ

Weather:  60F, Sunny

Well, I am still here in Christchurch awaiting my flight to Antarctica.  We were scheduled to go down yesterday.  After a two hour weather delay we boarded the large USAF C-17, got strapped in, engines fired, taxied to the runaway, almost off the deck, and then a maintenance issue. Flight cancelled.

No problem.  Thank you to the USAF for providing a safety first mentality.  

Yeah, it's tough, another day in sunny, warm Christchurch.  Checked out my second favorite thai place in town.

I'll be setting up a separate picture page so check for the link in the next post.

Here's to trying it again today.  Maybe hit McMurdo by midnight.

Déjà vu

Location:  Christchurch, NZ

Weather: 80F, Sunny

Well, it all starts again after four flights and a little over 24 hours in the air I have arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand.  Last time I lost a Sunday on flights here, and this time it was a Friday.

Christchurch is still beautiful.  All the plants are in bloom and my room at the B&B smells like roses.  I remembered today about how there is nothing  to smell in Antarctica (besides human created smells).  I also remember the last time I got off the ice and walked out of the Kiwi LC-130 at Christchurch airport how hard all of the smells of normal civilization hit me.  Exhaust was overwhelming, smelling peoples perfume, but to even it out--the smell of good thai food.

Speaking of thai, I'm off to Anne's tonight--probably the best thai I have ever had.

Well, I am ready to get this party started.  Tomorrow is clothing issue and then my flight to the ice will be on Monday.  I want to get down there, turn the jets on for a month, and get everything we have planned accomplished.

Which includes a week in a remote tent camp at 87 degrees latitude.  I have always wanted to get to the South Pole, but I guess I'll have to settle for 2 degrees away.  More on that later.

Well, as with the last time, the next update will be from the ice.