Good Times in MacTown 11.2.06
Week 4…it’s hard to believe that on Saturday it will be one month since arriving at McMurdo. As of Tuesday the Polies (those headed to the South Pole for the summer) were finally able to fly out as temperatures climbed above -50 degrees, the minimum temperature required for flights to reach the pole. Just to clarify, that's -50 at the Pole, not at McMurdo. Before Tuesday the station was bustling at 1085, 15 people below capacity. From what I've been told, temperatures are about 10 degrees below average for this time of year, giving us highs of between 5-10 degrees. I was told today that certain weather websites have been reporting highs of 20-30 degrees for McMurdo. Since we arrived on Oct. 7 the highest temperature I’ve seen was about 12. If it was 25 degrees I think we'd all be sporting beach wear! It's amazing how quickly you adapt. Today temperatures topped out at 9 degrees. I just walked over to the coffee house with only a sweater and no jacket.
Other than below average temps the weather has been quite agreeable. There has been little wind with more and more days of blue skies and sunshine. If there is one thing I don't like about my job it's that I don't get to spend much time outside. If only I could clean outhouses! I'm planning to start cross training with cargo next week which is a good way to secure a job for next summer in case I decide to return.
The Halloween party was last Saturday night. It actually seemed a little mild compared to some of the stories I've heard but definetly still a trip. The people on base proved to be quite creative. Some of my favorites were King Kong and the Empire State Building, Richard Simmons, Thing one and Thing two, a complete "flight lunch" (each person dressing up as an item you would recieve on an airplane lunch), Mr. Clean complete with a sprayer full of rum, a helicopter, catholic school girls...myself as a viking!
It was a fun Saturday night follwed by an even better Sunday. Each Sunday, sea ice permitting, there is a delta trip out to Cape Evans. Cape Evans is about a 1.5 hour delta ride (see pic of a delta below) away and also the location of the Terra Nova Hut which was built by Englishman Robert Falcon Scott and his party. Scott and his men were the second party to reach the South Pole, after the Norwegian party led by Roald Amundsen, and also died on their return trip. Inside the hut, things are kept precicely the same as they were found after the men died, so much that you feel that they could have just left. If you look close enough you can see inscribings on the bunk walls where the men had recorded when members of their party had not returned or someone perished. It is incredible to imagine the strength of these men to have lived in such conditions with none of the modern communication abilities we have today. In the stables there is still a stack of seal blubber in the corner as well as full trays of penguin eggs. This was all great but the most exciting part of the trip was the ride home when we were lucky enough to see a seal and 3 Adelie penguins! The little tuxedo wearers were about 50 yards away and very comical! Some people return to McMurdo for years and never get the chance to see a
This Saturday the Kiwis are having a "beach party" over at Scott Hut that we are all invited to, as well as a dance party at Gallaghers AND the housing department is having a hut 10 party for the department. I'm sure I'll have some more interesting pictures on Sunday! Enjoy the pics!
Week 4…it’s hard to believe that on Saturday it will be one month since arriving at McMurdo. As of Tuesday the Polies (those headed to the South Pole for the summer) were finally able to fly out as temperatures climbed above -50 degrees, the minimum temperature required for flights to reach the pole. Just to clarify, that's -50 at the Pole, not at McMurdo. Before Tuesday the station was bustling at 1085, 15 people below capacity. From what I've been told, temperatures are about 10 degrees below average for this time of year, giving us highs of between 5-10 degrees. I was told today that certain weather websites have been reporting highs of 20-30 degrees for McMurdo. Since we arrived on Oct. 7 the highest temperature I’ve seen was about 12. If it was 25 degrees I think we'd all be sporting beach wear! It's amazing how quickly you adapt. Today temperatures topped out at 9 degrees. I just walked over to the coffee house with only a sweater and no jacket.
Other than below average temps the weather has been quite agreeable. There has been little wind with more and more days of blue skies and sunshine. If there is one thing I don't like about my job it's that I don't get to spend much time outside. If only I could clean outhouses! I'm planning to start cross training with cargo next week which is a good way to secure a job for next summer in case I decide to return.
The Halloween party was last Saturday night. It actually seemed a little mild compared to some of the stories I've heard but definetly still a trip. The people on base proved to be quite creative. Some of my favorites were King Kong and the Empire State Building, Richard Simmons, Thing one and Thing two, a complete "flight lunch" (each person dressing up as an item you would recieve on an airplane lunch), Mr. Clean complete with a sprayer full of rum, a helicopter, catholic school girls...myself as a viking!
It was a fun Saturday night follwed by an even better Sunday. Each Sunday, sea ice permitting, there is a delta trip out to Cape Evans. Cape Evans is about a 1.5 hour delta ride (see pic of a delta below) away and also the location of the Terra Nova Hut which was built by Englishman Robert Falcon Scott and his party. Scott and his men were the second party to reach the South Pole, after the Norwegian party led by Roald Amundsen, and also died on their return trip. Inside the hut, things are kept precicely the same as they were found after the men died, so much that you feel that they could have just left. If you look close enough you can see inscribings on the bunk walls where the men had recorded when members of their party had not returned or someone perished. It is incredible to imagine the strength of these men to have lived in such conditions with none of the modern communication abilities we have today. In the stables there is still a stack of seal blubber in the corner as well as full trays of penguin eggs. This was all great but the most exciting part of the trip was the ride home when we were lucky enough to see a seal and 3 Adelie penguins! The little tuxedo wearers were about 50 yards away and very comical! Some people return to McMurdo for years and never get the chance to see a
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penguin...we were very lucky! See for yourself...This Saturday the Kiwis are having a "beach party" over at Scott Hut that we are all invited to, as well as a dance party at Gallaghers AND the housing department is having a hut 10 party for the department. I'm sure I'll have some more interesting pictures on Sunday! Enjoy the pics!
Me in my Viking get-up...
None other than Richard Simmons...
Alison and Leah as Blackjack...
I need to figure out how to download a video because my Halloween videos are much more exciting than my Halloween pics!
The Delta...
Barn Glacier, near Terra Nova Hut...
Terra Nova Hut with Mt. Erebus in the distance...
Ice slug...
Cuties...
WHEEEE....
posted by PolarSweep at 9:29 PM
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