12/8/2011

No one showed for the women's "Self Awareness/Defense" class on Monday. Not surprised as there was only one name on the sign up sheet and it had been up for less than 24 hours. I didn't know they only post flyers every Sunday night at around 5PM. Will wait and see what happens the coming Monday. I see there are two names now on the list as of last night. I gave Darrell a quick orientation on the holds and embraces he will be using on the girls if he decides to show up to help. He's a BIG boy. I can barely get my arms around him and his arms and I sure can't lift him.

Snowing again. You probably think "Well No $&!# Sherlock"!! But in reality it doesn't snow much in Antarctica. Antarctica is classified as a desert. Less than 2" of precipitation annually. This year we've had an uncommon amount of snow and it's been warmer all year So warm we weren't able to freeze 12"+ of ice in the harbor to construct an "Ice Pier".

Went up to Crater hill on Tuesday night at 7PM to mark all the shelters and antenna masts with GPS coordinates. That was a Hike! Almost straight up. Usually the techs and riggers take a Pisten Bully up there since a wheeled vehicle can't climb it.

A "Pisten Bully" tracked ice vehicle.

Top of the crater and the communications sites with antennas.

The "Crater" in "Crater Hill".

You would normally be able to see Erebus, Terror and all along the front of the Royal Society Range. It's higher than Observation Hill here in McMurdo.

Lower slopes of Mt. Erebus, the most southern active volcano in the world.

Royal Society Range across McMurdo Sound with Ferrar Glacier to the right taken about 10PM at night.

But tuesday night was overcast with low clouds and Mt.s Erebus and Mt. Terror were both obscured. I could see all the way across McMurdo Sound though and had good views of the other side all along the Royal Society Range, Mt. Discovery, Black Island and White Island.

Base of Mt. Terror, the ice cliffs. All I could see this night.

Looking over McMurdo, across McMurdo Sound into the Royal Society Range and Ferrar Glacier. Sun never sets now. Still strange to have it this light almost at midnight.

Looking over the Crater to White Island. Still 10PM

Looking North towards open sea and a couple of massive glaciers 60+ miles away at 9PM.

Black Island on the left, Mt. Discovery to the right of Black Island.

Me with Castle Rock off my right shoulder and the base of Mt. Erebus in the background, top shrouded in clouds.

Castle Rock, then the base of Mt. Erebus miles away.

All in all it was a good hike, though it took me four hours to complete the antenna survey and take pictures of locations and of the scenery. Took a total of 187 shots. A few were washed as the settings on the camera changed from "Auto" to "Shutter" and the shutter was set on 1/10th of a sec.

Later!