Like we never left…

It’s only been just over two weeks back in Antarctica and it already seems like we’ve been here forever! After arriving on the C-17 and completing all the necessary training, we did some revisiting of Observation Hill, the Armitage Loop, Arrival Heights, and the pressure ridges by Scott Base. Back at LDB, BLAST was waiting […]

Another season begins!

It’s 2019 and we are on our way back to Antarctica! Although there will be limited internet availability while on the Ice, I’ll be sure to post lots of pictures and interesting stories during my 2-3 month stay at McMurdo Station. Here’s to a great season and to a successful BLAST-TNG flight!!

A Night of Birds, Bugs, and Goodbyes

Some final pictures from the 2018-19 campaign.

Our Antarctic Home

Essentials

Before leaving our Antarctic home, we (thanks to a few friends on base) had the opportunity to tour some of the essential facilities that keep McMurdo alive and well. In addition to the food preparation and storage in the galley, these include the power generation and storage plants as well as water treatment and reclamation […]

Penguins, Payloads, & Politics

Well, there you have it: PENGUINS!! This large group of penguins (known as a “waddle” on land or a “raft” in the water) was spotted in the early hours just outside of town towards Scott Hut. This particular waddle of adelies looked to be heading out toward the open sea ice, which by this time […]

Hike to Castle Rock

A few weeks ago, we had the amazing opportunity on our day off to hike to one of the more distinctive rock formations on Ross Island known as Castle Rock. As one of the most difficult hikes on Ross Island, this 7 mile excursion out on the land-borne ice shelf led to some spectacular views […]

It’s a harsh continent?

Yup you heard right: it is a harsh continent. That being said, the accommodations at McMurdo Station are certainly more than I could have imagined, complete with a weight lifting gym and gerbil gym, climbing wall and training equipment, a “full size” recreational gymnasium, a dance/yoga studio, a fully equipped band room, and chapel with […]

BLAST Assemble!

We have been extremely busy over the past couple weeks prepping BLAST for launch. Aside from typical integration snags on all fronts, lots of progress has been made, and we are looking to be flight ready within the next week if all continues to go well. Forecasts currently predict about a week of bad weather […]

It’s a harsh continent.

Well, it’s our first Condition 2 weather here in McMurdo, so I have some time to post a few pictures highlighting a phrase that we hear all the time here: “Antarctica: it’s a harsh continent”. Up until now, we had, as a group, repeated this over-stated slogan incessantly (e.g. someone spills a glass of water […]