UAV Carnage

About a week ago, this UAV (unmanned aerial vehical) arrived in all its beauty here on the Ice. I wish I new more about what they were surveying with it. I was able to snag a couple pictures of it yesterday. Lucky me, because today.... someone fat fingered the landing. Apparently it caused a bit of a bomb hole in the runway and left pieces all over the place. Caused a bit of chaos because a C-17 was inbound. They were about to get everything under control in time. Here are the before and after pics.

Inside Discovery Hut

Discovery Hut was built in 1902 by Robert Scott. All that was left there from the discovery expedition of 1901-1904 is still there and much of it is in suprising condition. Due to the low temperatures and dry climate, there is minimal rotting. There are numerous seal carcases still in the hut. There are also traces of anthrax and asbestos inside the hut. I had a great time looking around this place and taking pictures! I hope you enjoy them!

Carcases and spinal cords!

 

Checking out some writing on the walls.

Gear

Mmmmm

Blood n guts!

Hungry for a biscuit?

Working a C-17

Here are a few pictures from the first C-17 I worked this season. It is quite the operation when it comes in. It is pretty amazing what these planes are capable of.

Sexy

Downloading. This thing can hold 18 pallets!

We use a sled load big pieces of cargo.

100th Anniversary of the South Pole!

I feel lucky to be in Antarctica on the 100th anniversary of the South Pole. I can't even imagine what Roald Amundsen and his crew went through.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501714_162-57342787/amundsens-south-pole-feat-remembered-100-years-on/

The end of night shift nears!

I am transitioning to day shift this weekend. I am really looking forward to the change. New tasks to be accomplished at work and a more things to do and people to see on my days off! Can't wait.

Here are a couple pictures as well as a video from working out at the air strip. Enjoy!

This is a video of a "combat off-load," or more commonly known as "drifting" here on the ice. They tend to do this more at the field camps where they want to minimize fuel consumption and time by not stopping to down load the cargo.When we build pallets of cargo, we get to follow a whole new set of guidelines when they are planning to do this!

Office

Pushing a big heavy metal sled up to an expensive plane. Don't mess up!

Nice clear view of McMurdo and Mt. Erebus.

"Montana"

If you are bored..

Here are a couple interesting links I came across....

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/travelnews/2011/12/pictures/111202-extreme-airports-travel/

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/antarctica-gallery/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/british-woman-heads-for-south-pole-attempting-to-ski-solo-across-antarctica/2011/12/06/gIQAe8qEbO_story.html

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/runner-sets-new-antarctica-record-16087969.html

http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/features/contenthandler.cfm?id=2548

Biking in Antarctica

Who would have thought?! Believe it, and it is quite good! Granted, there isn't much trail to choose from, but it was pretty darn surprising to me. The recreation department has bike available for us to use down here, they even received new Specialized 29er hardtails last year. So I have been able to get out a couple times to shred some single-track! I can't tell you how excited I am to be biking at the bottom of the world! I brought my camera along in hopes to capture a bit of what the trails are like here!

Soo fun!

Steeeep!

Ubikes!!!

Epic descent!

View from the top.

Loose off-camber bits!

Steep and loose ahead!

Need I say more?