Pictures from Race Around the World

All these Photo's are from the Community Hard Drive down here at the Pole. So I can't take photo credit for any of them. This is what the "Race Around the World" looked like.

Christmas and the Race Around the World...

Christmas down in Antarctica is always interesting. For one there are no children down here, so most of the festivities are slightly different from the norm that we are used to in the United States. At Pole, we have a traditional Christmas dinner of Lobster tails, and Beef Wellington. It was nice to have a good group meal with all the other firefighters and also townspeople. After that, I got a sweet gift from one of Danielle and Bethany (one our firefighters and one of the cooks, respectively). It was a really sick sleeping hat, with mooses on it, designed to look like the hats a beta movie we watched this past week "Three Angels". It was an old Christmas movie with Humphrey Bogart. They made all of the guys (Howie, Corey, Myself and Ryan) on the Fire Dept down here hats, because we are basically angels...or thats the the thought I'm going with.

Then we had the after party up in the galley. It was pretty fun. As per Antarctic Tradition, there was also some Christmas caroling in Comms down here. Every year they sing Christmas Carols to all the field camps and also to McMurdo. I hear it was pretty good this year.




Today (Boxing day) I ran in "The Race around the World". It is a 2.4 mile race around the Pole and the Station. I did it in 26 minutes, which isn't too bad. This is also when it was -30 outside and we were at 10,500 ft as well. It was challenging and I was wicked tired after the race. I took a 2 hour safety nap, and considering I didn't go to bed early the night before...it worked out well. I will upload photos from that race, as soon as I can steal them from the I-Drive down here. I didn't bring my camera's battery, rookie mistake, I know. Anyway have a great rest of your Christmas or Holiday season and take care.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone from the South Pole, I'll be posting the celebrations up here soon.

mail...

Hey y'all. This is a quick text post for you guys. Basically, If you haven't mailed anything yet to me (and you plan to) please do it soon. Packages can take up to a month to get to me, flat mail maybe a couple weeks...

I'm not trying to guilt trip anyone into sending me mail, but please mail before New Years...otherwise I may not get it (they stop bringing mail in sometime in January for the summer people, so that the winter-overs mail will make it). Anyway, Take care y'all. That is it

Airdops and Traverses and Sky Divers, oh my...

Okay, So I've been wicked busy the past couple of days...I know not really a decent excuse; but there has been a ton of activity down here. This week we had the C-17 airdrop. They dropped food and other random cargo from about 1,000 ft above the station in a semi-combat off load. It was cool to see such a big plane fly overhead and drop 14 huge boxes with parachutes. The C-17 can't land down here due to its mass and the way we built our ice runway. This type of air drop only happens once a season down here, so it was very neat to witness. They drop the supplies a little far from the station, so one must walk to the edge of the station property to see it. Usually the parachutes open up and in theory all the crates land gracefully ontop of the snow...but there have been issues years past of the crates sinking a couple feet into the snow.

Another neat event that happened the same day was that the South Pole Traverse showed up. The Traverse is a group of bulldozers and such that drag basically several large bladders of fuel. The were able to complete the 800+ miles (from McMurdo) in roughly 28 days. They brought about 110,000 gallons of fuel with them. This helps out greatly because the only other way to get fuel down here is via the LC-130's. The LC-130 typical fuel offload is around 2,000 gallons or so. The Traverse also drag bathrooms, living quarters and a showers, so that way they are fully operational. I must say that it is a very cool job. I mean who wouldn't want to road trip across Antarctica? They were able to complete it fairly quickly because they have been using this same route for 2 years or so, so they know that it is crevasse free.

This morning (Saturday) we also had a group of sky divers jump down to the station. We'll not really close to the station, aroudn 25 miles out...but they did eventually visit the station. I guess this group has done this before...though I heard a rumor that 2 jumpers didn't make it last time. They aren't with the USAP program, it is a private company...so I imagine that kind of trip is major cabbage to do (like around 30 g's).

That covers the major events thus far. Be prepared Christmas should be wicked entertaining and I'll have a lot to blog about. Take care everyone!

Catching up

Sometimes I feel guilty that I don't write that often on the blog. But, to be honest it is hard to balance both the blog, my job and have that also go with the shifting internet times.

Unfortunately the internet times are shifting to earlier and earlier times. So when I actually get up to work out in the morning it is up. Right now it is on as early as 5:30am but it is usually off at noon-ish. The small blips of internet in the afternoon, don't really facilitate writing either, which is too bad. Let's see what to catch you all up on. We'll I was able to get certificates for the flags I flew in honor of Travis. So in theory, Tracey, Joe and BJ should get them relatively soon...depending on C-17 bringing mail from Antarctica to the APO system and all that jazz.

The tourists periodically show up down here. But they often keep to themselves, which isn't bad. They all have to camp outside, if they spend the night...but often they are only down here for a couple hours. They get a quick tour of the elevated station, and a trip to the store of course. They all seem to be friendly, and out of breathe...due to the elevation.

Tomorrow one of our firefighters is going back to McMurdo, he requested an early switch. I don't blame him, his girlfriend is coming to McMurdo (she works down here). It is sad to see this group leave, mostly because I think they are a good crew. The newer crews will be hard pressed to equal the talent that our first group of rotators. The next two rotators should be coming around the 28th of December.

Oh, and this week we got our standard issue uniforms. There were many set backs for these, considering we were supposed to be issued them in August (when we first got to Denver). It is hard to place the blame on one organization...but the uniform store in where we order them from is defiantly sub par when it comes to communication and providing stocked uniforms. For a business that takes several thousand of dollars from our outfit, you would think they would anticipate or at least attempt to make an effort to please us as a client. But, these are things that are above my pay grade.

I think I've vented and brought you guys up to date. Enjoy your Wednesday night or Thursday morning (depending on when you read this). Take care and Stay Safe.

Day 100

So today is my 100th day on the ICE. Thus, far time seems to be flying by. I really enjoy working down here at the pole. I won't make a top 100 random thoughts list, because I plan on doing that when I leave (for day 180!). But lets see, I could talk about some random South Pole fun facts in the meantime. Did you guys know about the shower situation down here? Some of you might, but in case you don't....water conservation is key down here. Yes we are surrounded by ICE/Snow...but it takes a ton of energy to melt down everything to water. So, when working at pole one is only allowed Two 2 minute showers a week. Some employees get 3 a week, but their jobs are mechanics and such. My job only allows me to use 2 showers a week. That is sometimes the negative drawback. Considering I love at least 20 minutes showers usually.

What else is new? We'll I haven't spoken on this yet, but remember last year when I didn't get my full uniform? Same old, Same old. There was yet another snafu and I have yet to receive my full uniform. I have 3 times more t shirts though this year (Not really hard to do, I had 1 last year I had to return for the winter crews...now I have 3, my assigned amount). It is slightly annoying to have this going on again. But, this is a regular issue with this department. Not to be throwing stones or anything.

Tourist season has also started at the pole as well. Yesterday we had our first group. They flew in with a Twin Otter airplane and are camping outside our station. Since they are not part of the NSF/USAP program, they aren't allowed full access to our facility. They are given 1 tour and can buy stuff at the store (booze/food not allowed...thats for USAP people only). Then they sit out and huff and puff around the pole camping in tents. They camp outside the Galley side of the station, so I can enjoy my breakfast watching them take photos of the pole and the vast landscape of nothingness. When I get some decent photos I'll upload them of the tourists. They will be coming for the entire months of December.

We'll that should update you all. Take care, and much love. 80 days to go...not that I'm counting, I really do like it down here.