Saturday, December 20, 2014

Williams Field, McMurdo, Antarctica

Here are some more photos I've taken of Willy Field and the NYANG LC-130's (NY Air National Guard C-130's on skis) that use the skiway to supply field camps all over Antarctica.  A busy, active functional airfield serving the entire continent.

Beautiful machine and blue sky.

Hut 19, the Cargo & MC1 office.

Shed, Plane, Delta and the Royal Society mountain range.

Engine heaters & planes all lined up and ready.

Attaching JATO canisters and
Kerry, the Load Master. 
Welcome to Willy Field skiway.

A KBA Basler (DC-3)

A Basler coming in for a landing.

The Shuttle stop and Galley.

The 'Beach Ball' on the top of the hill.

The Control tower (on skis too).

Three LC-130's with Mt Discovery in the background.

Loading JATO canisters (Jet Assisted Take Off).

Take off sequence (four photos).




Happy Holidays!

Scott Base & Air New Zealand Flight 901

Air New Zealand Flight 901, or The Mt Erebus disaster, occurred 35 years ago on November 28, 1979 killing all on board.  The Kiwi's at Scott Base hosted a memorial service last Friday for family members of the victims.  I was tasked to drive them to and from the Pegasus white ice runway in Ivan, the Terra Bus.  It was a sobering day, but an honor to be a small part of it.  They flew down on the Australian Airbus.  My Kiwi friend Trudie was one of the escorts. A quick trip on a beautiful day.








Don't Date a Girl who Travels

No matter how interesting, fascinating or beautiful she is, don't date a girl who travels.

She’s the one with the messy unkempt hair colored by the sun. Her skin is now far from fair like it once was. Not even sun kissed. It’s burnt with multiple tan lines, wounds and bites here and there. But for every flaw on her skin, she has an interesting story to tell.

Don’t date a girl who travels. She is hard to please. The usual dinner-movie date at the mall will suck the life out of her. Her soul craves for new experiences and adventures. She will be unimpressed with your new car and your expensive watch. She would rather climb a rock or jump out of an airplane than hear you brag about it.

Don’t date a girl who travels because she will bug you to book a flight every time there’s an airline seat sale. She won’t party at Republiq. And she will never pay over $100 for Avicii because she knows that one weekend of clubbing is equivalent to one week somewhere far more exciting.

Chances are, she can’t hold a steady job. Or she’s probably daydreaming about quitting. She doesn't want to keep working her ass off for someone else’s dream. She has her own and is working towards it. She is a freelancer. She makes money from designing, writing, photography or something that requires creativity and imagination. Don’t waste her time complaining about your boring job.

Don’t date a girl who travels. She might have wasted her college degree and switched careers entirely. She is now a dive instructor or a yoga teacher. She’s not sure when the next paycheck is coming. But she doesn't work like a robot all day, she goes out and takes what life has to offer and challenges you to do the same.

Don’t date a girl who travels for she has chosen a life of uncertainty. She doesn't have a plan or a permanent address. She goes with the flow and follows her heart. She dances to the beat of her own drum. She doesn't wear a watch. Her days are ruled by the sun and the moon. When the waves are calling, life stops and she will be oblivious to everything else for a moment. But she has learned that the most important thing in life isn't surfing.

Don’t date a girl who travels as she tends to speak her mind. She will never try to impress your parents or friends. She knows respect, but isn't afraid to hold a debate about global issues or social responsibility.

She will never need you. She knows how to pitch a tent and screw her own fins without your help. She cooks well and doesn't need you to pay for her meals. She is too independent and won’t care whether you travel with her or not. She will forget to check in with you when she arrives at her destination. She’s busy living in the present. She talks to strangers. She will meet many interesting, like-minded people from around the world who share her passion and dreams. She will be bored with you.


So never date a girl who travels unless you can keep up with her. And if you unintentionally fall in love with one, don’t you dare keep her. Let her go.










Monday, November 24, 2014

Cape Evans, Icebergs, Boondoggle!

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


I was fortunate enough to be chosen for a boondoggle (get out of town adventure) to Scott's Hut at Cape Evans about 13 miles from McMurdo.  We rode on Delta Gale which pulled a sled of survival gear (just in case).  It was a very warm day here, in the upper 20's F and no wind.  What a difference that makes.  Bernie and Liz were awesome guides.

Robert F Scott's hut was built at Cape Evans on Ross Island by the British Antarctica Expedition during Scott's Terra Nova expedition in 1911.  The 25' x 50' main building is insulated by seaweed and was heated by coal.  25 men lived here during the winter of 1911 in support of Scott's trek to the South Pole. It was abandoned in 1917.  It's in amazing shape and is full of historic artifacts.  A truly remarkable gem in the history of the exploration of Antarctica.

The icebergs trapped in the sea ice were cool too.  It was so quiet you could here them melting and the water dripping off the surfaces.  Once the sea ice melts in a month these bergs will move on with the current.

Mt Erebus from the sea ice.

Icebergs.


Inaccessible Island.  Coolest name ever.

Delta Gale and survival sled.

Liz, the coolest scientist.

More icebergs.

The gang.

Taking pictures.

A crack in the sea ice.  
In 4-6 weeks, this will be open water.

Scott's Hut at Cape Evans.

The kitchen area.

The science research desk.





Liz checked the integrity of the crack in the ice.

I thought Delta's were big.
Kind puts things inperspective.



Liz

Bernie

Sunday, November 16, 2014

LC-130's at Willy Field

I spent some time at Williams Field (Willy Field) a couple days ago with a group of DV's, so I took some pictures.  The Distinguished Visitors were from the NSF and were heading to the South Pole for a quick visit.


Heaters and planes at the ready at Willy Field.

NYANG Skier 02 getting ready for flight.

Taking off with Mt Discovery in the background.


Ski's instead of wheels make this work.

Heading to the South Pole.

Mt Erebus letting off steam.

Another view of Mt Erebus.