Williams Field, McMurdo, Antarctica

"People don't go to Antarctica. They are called to Antarctica."

Williams Field, affectionately called Willy Field, is the ice runway used by planes with skis here at McMurdo.  Willy Field is on the Ross Ice Shelf.  The planes with skis include the NYANG LC-130's and Ken Borak Air's Baslers & Twin Otters.  These planes are used to supply and support science in field camps on the continent.

Welcome sign.

LC-130's on the apron awaiting assignments.

KBA Basler.

Airfield control tower.

A Basler taking off from Willy Field.

A Loader used to load and unload planes.

The Shuttle stop and Galley in the background.

Skier 93 in the fuel pits.

Maintenance Operations Center tower.

Willy Field town site.

Antarctica, Part II

"People don't go to Antarctica. They are called to Antarctica."

Here are some random images from last week in McMurdo, LDB, Pegasus & Willy Field.

Welcome sign on Scott Hill 

with Observation Hill in the background.

Pressure ridges, waves of ice.

The "beach ball" on Scott Base Hill.

Two NYANG LC-130's at Willy Field.

The Kress with the passenger box 

and Mt Erebus in the distance.

A Basler (DC3) leaving Willy for a field camp.

An LC-130 leaving Willy for the South Pole.

The Royal Society Range on the horizon.

Skier 93, a LC-130 in the fuel pits at Willy Field.

These are the planes used to haul fuel, supplies 

and people to the South Pole and field camps.

View of McMurdo from T-Site.

Vehicles in Antarctica

"People don't go to Antarctica. They are called to Antarctica."

Here are some  images of the vehicles we use in the Shuttle Dept at McMurdo where I work.

The welcome sign on Scott Base hill.

The Kress with Mt Erebus in the background.

Ivan, the Terra Bus.

 

Delta's.

Ford vans.       Photo by friend and coworker Brian Stetson.

Ford vans.       Photo by friend and coworker Brian Stetson.

The Kress in town ready for loading.

Ivan on the ice road.

the KRESS

This is the Kress (the Other Big Red), one of our transportation vehicles carrying friends, co-workers and scientists from the ice runways (Williams Field or Pegasus) to town or to the LDB (Long Duration Balloon) site.  Shuttle Bob is driving the Kress on this day.

Mt Erebus in the background.

Antarctica Boondoggle

"People don't go to Antarctica. They are called to Antarctica."

Helping Science in Antarctica.
Last week a co-worker & I rode a Pisten Bully out onto the ice to help a Seal research team (B017). Our job was to clean ice out of holes, the manual labor detail. The drill made 48" wide holes in the 5' -6' deep sea ice on the Ross Sea. We used dip nets to clear out the ice chunks. It took hours! (well, one actually). It was cold, very windy; we got wet and were exhausted. But it was great to help in the study of seal behavior and be a part of the Science in Antarctica!

Mt Discovery.

Mt Erebus.

Ice snow road from town, 

McMurdo on the left, Black Island on the right.

Pisten Bully on the flagged route.

The Royal Society Range.

Drill here.

The drill is on skis pulled by a Cat.

Drilling a 48" wide seal hole thru 5'-6' of sea ice.

Windy & cold but a beautiful day!