Getting Settled

Sorry for the extra delay in getting an update sent. Things have been busy in the 2+ days since we arrived at McMurdo Station. The first few days can be rather intense as you have training after training mixed in with meetings to start coordinating and planning for the field activities. For example, yesterday (Thursday in McMurdo) the day started with a science in-brief where the National Science Foundation (NSF) personnel introduced themselves and we had quick introductions with the coordinators of the major science support staff. Around mid-morning, we had an orientation and tour of the Crary lab, where we will be working while in McMurdo. Later in the morning we went up to the cargo line to retrieve some of the equipment and supplies that are stored year-round. In the afternoon we had a 3 1/2 hour Antarctic Field Safety and Training course. This morning started off with "core" training including brief (10-15 minute) presentations on health/safety, fire, light vehicle driving, and waste management. Later in the morning we met with the fixed-wing coordinator to go over our plans for the Twin Otter flights into the field. In the afternoon we had a meeting going over the radio and satellite phone communication protocols. Amongst all of these meetings we are also trying to get the lab setup and make some progress in being ready to go out into the field in a few days. In reality, it has been a very good and productive couple days because the quicker you are able to get through all of the training and meetings, the faster you can get into the field and more into a work mode.

The housing in McMurdo is dormitory style. I'd classify the dorms as somewhere between college dorms and summer camp housing. The rooms and hallways are setup like a college dorm, but they are somewhat rough and cold because of the harsh conditions and frequently wearing bulky and heavy clothing as a part of everyday life. Thus far I have basically only been in my room to sleep. It is time to do laundry but I have been putting that off so far. I also had my first major casualty of the trip. I squatted down in the cold to pick up a box of hardware and the back of my jeans ripped leaving about a 12" tear. That can be rather significant on the first full day when you've only brought two pairs of jeans and two pairs of pants for two months. Fortunately, I randomly showed the tear to two IT people, when I was getting some computer help support. One of the IT people does mending as a side job. Somehow, she'll patch them so that they are wearable again in a few days.

We had a beautiful late October (spring) day on Thursday. Today the weather changed fairly dramatically with temperatures in the negative single digits fahrenheit. More than the cold temperatures, the wind really picked up today as well. These are easily the coldest temperatures that I have thus far experienced in Antarctica, although a big reason for that is because I have always been here at the peak of the summer.

My ripped jeans on the first full day out of two months in Antarctica.