Pine Island Glacier

I was lucky enough to get assigned to spend four days at a field camp known as Pine Island Glacier (PIG as we call it) in west Antarctica. My task was to help package up two helicopters that were slatted to come back to McMurdo via LC-130s. I couldn't have been more excited for this trip and it turned out to be an experience that I will never forget. The people at camp were amazing, food was fantastic, work was fun, and I got to see some really special things. PIG is probably the 2nd largest field camp this season and has been one with the highest priority. Last year they attempted to send two helicopters but were unsuccessful due to weather. This year, it went off without a hitch. They used the helicopters to fly out to numerous places on the glacier to conduct seismic tests to learn more about the glacier. PIG was also the main camp for a series of three drill sites on the glacier. Aside from preparing the helicopters to fly back to McMurdo, I also got the opportunity to help pull out the last drill camp. Everything went smoothly and we were successful in the first ever deep field on load of a helicopter. I suggest taking a look at these couple links to learn more about the area. I wish I could have stayed longer!

Rapid Retreat of the glacier

Wiki Info

PIG Crack

PIG Camp

Using the gantry to prep the helos

The Twin Otter

Crevassing

Melt pools

Exploring the tongue of the glacier

PIG Drill Camp C

What is takes to load in the deep field

Loading the last bird

View from the cockpit of an LC 130

In the heat of the summer.

Seriously... It has been crazy warm down here. Temps as high as 43F. It is pretty funny to see all of my fellow Coloradans dealing with temps in the negatives while I am working outside with my cut-off carhart overalls! The weather has been super great, but it does come with consequences. Things just aren't meant to be so warm down here. It has been causing some serious issues for work around here. The heat wave has managed to turn the airfield into a massive slush pit and the road to and from it, a bog from hell. I have nearly dug myself into a giant pit numerous times while loading and unloading LC-130s in a 40k Lbs + loader with monster truck tires. But the worst of it has been getting to and from the airfield, no wheeled vehicles can pass the last miles of the road near the airfield. We have resorted to hauling everything behind a Challenger on a giant piece of plastic. It is quite the spectacle! Here is a picture from the other day, we called it The Mother Load. There were 70+ people aboard!

The Mother Load

I have also been lucky enough to see a bunch of penguins lately. I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing these little guys. I sat and watched two Adelies play in the open water off of hut point, got followed through around the airfield, also got to see my first Emperor that wasn't molting. They are amazingly beautiful, really like nothing else.

Skua-Adelie face off

"Wait for me!"

Looking the part

Nice kicks

He wasn't sure what to think of my shorts

Awesome colors

The Adelie play pool

The heat is bringing more open water, I can't wait to see some whales.

My Christmas weekend!

The holidays just aren't same being away from my family. I miss them so much. I know we are all together in our hearts! My Christmas at the bottom of the world was one to remember this year. I was transitioning back to day shift over the holiday, it is going to be nice to see more faces around town. We had our town Christmas party to start off the weekend, it was a blast! I danced my ass off. Christmas Eve started off with a visit from 25 Adelle penguins. That night we had MAAG. I forgot what it stands for, but it is basically an art show with work that people have created down here. This year they also incorporated a cabaret. There is some serious talent down here. Christmas day was jam-packed with good stuff. Stated out with a White Elephant gift exchange with a bunch of my co-workers, I made away with a super trashy romance novel.. haha Then I went on a hike out to Castle Rock with my room mate Kyle, and a handful of people. The weather was iffy at the beginning but turned to be one of the nicest days yet. We made out way around the Castle Rock loop and arrived at the Kiwi ski hill! We lucked out and scored some gear and a bunch of laps on their rope-tow! This was a pretty huge deal for me, first day back on skis in over 2 years. Felt so good to get back to the sport that I have been so passionate about my whole life. Then Kyle and I hitched a ride up the hill in a rad Tucker snow cat. Finished the day off with some much needed sleep. I hope your holiday is one to remember as well!

 Merry Christmas!

The best department on station!

Wildlife! Adelles and Seals

The tree

Kiwi ski hill

Skiwi!

My roomie!

Merica'

Back on skis! Thanks Alasdair Turner for the amazing picture!

The Bike Age, Antarctica..

Stumbling upon this bike inside Scott's Hut at Cape Evans was a pleasant surprise. This was the last place I would expect to find a bike. It has been there for a century and it is showing its age. How did they ride this skinny tired things around on the snow anyways?

 

Side Job

This season I took on the task of getting the community bikes out and tuned up for everyone to enjoy. It has proved to be quite the project. I have formed a heaping mound of bikes that will make better lawn ornaments. Luckily I have managed to help a few of them to get rolling again. It is a nice change to throw my headphones in and turn some wrenches. This is my little place to get away...

Quite an interesting collection of parts/tools

Exploring the Pressure Ridges

I finally made it over to Scott Base to explore the Pressure Ridges. They are lucky enough to have these right out their back door. This is a section of sea ice that is under stress from currents and winds.  You end up with some really neat formations of jagged ice. Check it out!

Don't forget your change!

Nothing beats a quick dip in an ice pool!

Cape Evans

Road trip! The time finally came for me to take that special trip out to Cape Evans for all the hard work on my Halloween costume. I new it was going to be an awesome trip, but didn't expect it to be epic! We set out in a Hagglund to cross the crack-infested sea ice. It is an amphibious track vehicle that the program uses often down here for trips out on the sea ice. We bumped around for about an hour out to Cape Evans, making a couple stops along the way, some of which I am not supposed to say much about, but I will tease you with a couple pictures! The hut itself was outstanding, rich with history and chocked to rafters with artifacts from Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Expedition. Find more info about the Hut HERE .

The season is trucking along steadily, and work is going well. My team has changed completely from what it was at the beginning of the season. There have been some exciting nights and some not so... I am supposed to head the "Operation Bikes of McMurdo Tune-up" sometime soon. Looking forward to turning some wrenches again!

Out of this world.

Gravity defying.

I could have spent hours...

Ready for a feast.. or famine..

Science!

Dinner?

Scott't Hut with Barnes Glacier in the background.

The Hagglund

This picture does it's size no justice...