This photo of me was taken as I stood at the south pole marker (vertical staff with circle on top). It was very cold (-35 degrees C) with wind. My face is covered since frostbite happens quickly to exposed skin.
South Pole Marker
South Pole or Bust
Big day today! We convened at 6:30 a.m. and took off in a LC-130 turboprop cargo plane two hours later for the South Pole Station, which is one of the three (along with McMurdo and Palmer) research stations supported by the National Science
Shackleton’s Hut
We toured the “dry valleys” near McMurdo Station via helicopter. The areas have little or no snow cover because they are shielded by mountains 5,000 feet or higher. The first photo that I included here is of me in the
Lake Hoare
My first photo shows me being nearly scared to death in the helicopter because the wind was strong. Also, eight of us were crammed into an area about 32 square feet (8 feet by 4 feet)—very cramped and uncomfortable. But
Landing in Antarctica
We landed today in Antarctica at the Pegasus landing strip, which is an ice surface with 200 feet of ice below it on the ice shelf off Ross Island. The C-17 cargo plane was very sparse inside. The flight time
The Bog in Christchurch
In preparation for an arduous flight to McMurdo Station, I went in search of the auxiliary “Bog” with my colleagues. Success! It is amazing how much the Illinois Tech influence has spread around the world. Tomorrow early morning we fly to Antarctica in
Arrival in New Zealand
I’m currently in Christchurch, New Zealand, after a 35-hour airline trip from home. Today we get outfitted for our extreme cold weather wear and briefed for our trip to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, tomorrow. I have attached our itinerary and some information