Well, after a long long journey down through LA and Auckland, I arrived safe and well in Christchurch and flew to Antarctica a few days later. Good to be back as always - amazing place and some wicked people here at McMurdo station - run by the United States Antarctic Program.
At around 1200 people, it's the biggest research station on the continent. A bit of a eyesore mining town in beautiful surroundings. Captain Scott built a hut here in 1902 and it still stands in good shape, looking out over the monstrosity of the station alongside.
Captain RF Scott's hut built more than 100 years ago looks out over station.The station has a series of sculptures as you walk around...
I spend a LOT of time on this motorway and thought this was a suitable symbol...
I'm working with a team of people aiming to put out a grid of seismic monitors across the summit region of Mt Erebus (3794m), an active volcano with a bubbling lava lake at 78 Degrees South, drill a series of holes around Ross island and the volcano itself, fill them with explosives and blow them up. Sounds pretty exciting and hopefully it will be!
Mt Erebus from the sea ice
Mt Erebus from the sea iceThe idea is that the high resolution seismic array will be able to use the information gathered from the blasts to create a 3D image of the insides of the volcano and the magma chamber leading to it. Phew.
First we have a few days on station - people have to do training courses and other bits and bobs including skidoo school - a school to train people in the use of skidoos on difficult terrain (side traverses, steep slopes etc)
First we have a few days on station - people have to do training courses and other bits and bobs including skidoo school - a school to train people in the use of skidoos on difficult terrain (side traverses, steep slopes etc)
Practicing skidoo control on blue ice
The volcano just goes straight up from sea level to 3794m in one go.
We've also got this man on board - he spent ten seasons here from 1978-88 and hasn't been back since. He's now a middle school teacher and is sending stuff back to his school every few days as part of an outreach project run in association with the National Science Foundation. He's Mr Enthusiasm and will be lots of fun!
Tomorrow we're scheduled to head up to Fang, an acclimatisation camp, for a couple of days before hitting the high hut and starting on the seismometers. Busy season ahead as always....
2 comments:
Tim, don't get into too much trouble up there, and where is that little sculpture you photographed? last year you said to me, atop room with a view, "we're lucky bastards, aren't we". and you were right. have fun on the mountain,
Hey Tim, sounds like you have got a pretty awesome season ahead of you, hope it all goes to plan! Also hope your presentation goes/went well...take care mate.
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