Antarctica Is So Awesome!

Entry published on 12/9/2009 at 11:20pm McMurdo Station Time

Hello all,

So, where do I begin? I'd love to tell all and show all, but that'd be too much for a blog. I'd love to post some of my photos from New Zealand! I had a blast during my day and a half in Christchurch! I might post more from New Zealand later. For now, though, I will be selective and post from my time in Antarctica. I appreciate your e-mails and comments, letting me know you read my blog or that something resonated with you. It's great to know there are people reading this!

Stepping off the C-17 onto Antarctica was an amazing moment. (Photos from my last posting show my first few moments in Antarctica--the first is the classic group "deplaning" photo.) I've been in McMurdo town for four days now, and it hasn't gotten any less breathtaking or awesome than my first moment on the ice. I'm loving it! The events leading up to my arrival, including the entire time I spent in New Zealand, now seem mundane, in a way. A blur. But here's how I got to Antarctica:

One coach bus ride from Hanover to Boston Logan Airport. Lots of flights from Boston, MA to Christchurch, NZ. Delayed flights. 17 Minute Layovers (LAX). People calling my name over the PA system in the Los Angeles Terminal, beckoning me to board the plane that was waiting for me and just a few others! Lost baggage! Scrunched up seats (American Airlines). More roomy, comfortable seats (QANTAS). My first time on a 747-400 (SO COOL!!!) Short layover in Sydney, Australia, but not nearly as short as in LAX. Hmmm...such a short visit in Australia. Whisk. Nice flight to Christchurch, NZ, where it seemed half the flight was bound for Antarctica. Lost baggage! (I wasn't really surprised or worried, and in the end QANTAS was timely in getting our baggage to us.) Adventures in New Zealand... Beautiful and foreign and fun!

Two mornings later:

I reported at 0600 for bag check. At 0810 local time I had stepped onto the plane in New Zealand. Everything went very smoothly. The military runs a tight ship, so at 0855 we took off, 5 minutes ahead of schedule. During the flight I got to go up to the cockpit and chat with the pilots and take photos. Plus, there was one tiny window on each side of the cargo bay towards the fore of the aircraft. At 1330 I looked out the window and saw the ice shelf for the first time! At 1408 we landed. Naturally, I could see nothing except the inside of the military aircraft. Until the doors were opened; and then, only dazzling whiteness through the door ahead... I shuffled towards the door along with everyone else and at 1420 I stepped off the plane and onto the hard ice that makes up the Ross Ice Shelf. I had arrived, I was safely in Antarctica! Wow!

Note: New Zealand and McMurdo time is 19 hours ahead of CST in the USA. ie: subtract 5 from CST time and add one day.

Note also: Some of my photos seem dim. Don't be fooled--I have to set my camera to ISO of 50 and shutter speed of 1/4000 for nearly all of my outdoor photos!

Photo 1: From the terminal, we were bussed up to the aircraft and just walked right on! Easy as can be! I was on the second of four bus loads, making for a total of roughly 105 passengers onboard!

Photo 2: The seats had plenty of leg room and arm room. I was wearing my USAP issued wind-pants and snow-boots, as required for the "ice flight", which were a bit bulky. During the flight it was very noisy. I used my Bose headphones the whole way! There were several others with similar headphones. Others used earplugs. I slept for a good bit. Overall, a quick comfortable flight! (Photo taken by Colin Gillens)

Photo 3: From the midsection, looking forward. The center pallet seats are removable so as to accommodate different passenger loads; on the sides, two rows of jump-seats faced inwards. All seats were filled once everyone had boarded.

Photo 4: Looking backwards, taken during the flight. In the back was our luggage, palletized and shrink-wrapped along with a bit of other cargo.

Photo 5: Taken from the cockpit. Ocean and clouds are below. How cool is this!!!!

Photo 6: First view of Antarctica, the Ross Ice Shelf!

(technical difficulties...I'll try again later)

Some ideas for upcoming blog entries, replete with photos...

"Arrival to McMurdo Town"

"Life in McMurdo"

"My dorm room"

"Life in McMurdo II"

"My First Hike"

"Ground Transportation"

"LDB Site"

"BARREL"

"BARREL Balloon Launch"

"NASA's Super-Pressure Balloon"

"Why Antarctica is like the Caribbean"

"I love Antarctica"

"The Food"

"Wildlife"

...Stay tuned, I'll write more as time allows!