I left Seattle on Sunday Aug 8th and flew to Denver for three days of orientation and training. On Wednesday approximately 80 of us flew to L.A. and then took a 13 hour overnight flight to New Zealand. We changed planes and then flew to Christchurch where the Unites States Antarctica program is headquartered. We spent three days in Christchurch and on Monday Aug 16 we boarded a C-17 for a 5hour flight to Antarctica . We landed in total darkness at 6 in the evening. Currently we are experiencing about 5 to 6 hours of twilight with a actual sunrise taking place within the next week Daylight will increase to 12 hours by late September and24 hours by late October.
The weather here is cold and windy , 15 to 35 below zero and an average wind of 8 to 15 mph. However the extreme weather gear we have been issued is very toasty and I have ventured out for 20 to 30 minutes on three occasions. I'll post more photos and another bit of info next week Love to all.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The journey to Antarctica
I traveled to Denver on Aug 8th and spent three days there going through orientation and safety training. The evening of Aug 11th approximately 80 of us flew to Los Angeles and at midnight boarded a plane for a 13 hour flight to New Zealand. We landed in Auckland and changed planes and arrived in Christchurch at 2 pm in the afternoon of Friday the 13th. We lost the 12th when we crossed the International date line. My first time in the Southern hemisphere. The sun traverses the northern sky making everything just a little skewed.
We spent two full days and two half days in Christchurch leaving for Antarctica on Monday the 16th in the early afternoon. WE flew on a C-17 and landed on the Ross ice shelf in the dark at just after 6pm. The temperature was about -30. Everything is snow covered and the wind blows almost constantly at about 10 to 15 mph. Everywhere it is either snow or volcanic rock. No plants, no animals yet, no trees, nothing. However it is beautiful and fascinating.
The kitchen is state of the art. Large great equipment and seems to be a terrific staff.Looking forward to a great season.
Will write again in a week or so. Photos follow.
I traveled to Denver on Aug 8th and spent three days there going through orientation and safety training. The evening of Aug 11th approximately 80 of us flew to Los Angeles and at midnight boarded a plane for a 13 hour flight to New Zealand. We landed in Auckland and changed planes and arrived in Christchurch at 2 pm in the afternoon of Friday the 13th. We lost the 12th when we crossed the International date line. My first time in the Southern hemisphere. The sun traverses the northern sky making everything just a little skewed.
We spent two full days and two half days in Christchurch leaving for Antarctica on Monday the 16th in the early afternoon. WE flew on a C-17 and landed on the Ross ice shelf in the dark at just after 6pm. The temperature was about -30. Everything is snow covered and the wind blows almost constantly at about 10 to 15 mph. Everywhere it is either snow or volcanic rock. No plants, no animals yet, no trees, nothing. However it is beautiful and fascinating.
The kitchen is state of the art. Large great equipment and seems to be a terrific staff.Looking forward to a great season.
Will write again in a week or so. Photos follow.
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