Skiing and GSAR Training

We went out to walk on a rope line and see if we could find a stable and open crevasse to climb for a GSAR training. 

There is a nice and thick layer of solid snow over everything to there are not very many open crevasses right now. This is looking back down at our peninsula from the glacier north of station.

Taking advantage of a nicer day to ski the glacier before the snow melts away.

The peninsula without clouds. Look at all the ice out there still. It goes for over 200 miles south of us.

So much snow the flags marking the safe area are almost buried.

Huge ice burg about 10 miles away, the island next to it is about 60 feet high, so that's a huge huge burg.

Sunsets

 In between the storms we've had a few nice sunsets.

The ice is still very thick around station so we haven't been able to go boating at all yet this season. 

Wind

Someone found a starfish on the boat ramp so we had a touch tank set up for a couple hours.

The chefs put in an order for chirimoyas and they didn't rot on the boat ride down!

The snow was perfect for snow balls and snow men so we made a few while waiting for the ship to come in to the harbor. 

Sheathbill was pecking at the dome in my ceiling, so I climbed up to see what all the racket was about.

It's been really windy. For days and days. This has been my commute for about half the days we've been here.

The wind was so strong it started to roll snow balls on it's own. Did I mention that it's been windy?

First week: Weddells, Wind, Sunsets, and Snow

 There is another baby Weddell in Hero inlet a few hundred yards from my office. 

 The first week has been mostly overcast skies and pea soup conditions. We had one spectacular sunset and then back to 60+ knots winds and sleet/wintry mix of precipitation.

 Processed a few more photos from the boat ride in. It was a magical morning.

Check out the different types of sea ice. There is grease ice, frazil, shush, and young nilas ice.

 A crack in the ice from the ship crunching through towards station.

 The shoulder seasons are stormy so the nice days are extra special. There is enough snow up on the glacier to go skiing so I've been out a few times when weather has allowed.

 You can see strong winds ten miles away blowing snow off the top of a large ice berg.

My office! 

On the boat again!

I've crossed back across the Drake for another season. It was my roughest crossing yet with about 18 foots seas for the full three day transit. 

Great sunset right be turning the corner around the horn into the Drake Passage.

And then I took no pictures for the entire time until we entered the ice pack and the seas calmed down again.

The storm in the Drake left everything covered in thick rime ice.

Heading North

 The Gould showed up again and we had a week of turnover. There were several people who were only staying for the week so I got to take them out on a tour of the boating area.

It was a fun crew and fun season. We got a lot accomplished but now it's time to head north!

Off to Argentina for more adventures!

Wind Record

A few days ago we broke a 29 year wind record when winds gusted to 107 knots (123 mph). The last record was 93 in June of 1990. All the buildings sounded like they were on an old train but nothing major happened to our infrastructure, just a few broken flags.

All this snow was blown away by the big storm. 

Treaty Inspection

 A ship carrying a Argentine and Chilean VIPs showed up for a "Treaty Inspection". Any country that has signed the Antarctic Treaty can show up to any other countries base and ask for a Treaty Inspections tour. This is to make sure that whichever station is being inspected is meeting the Antarctic Treaty requirements. This means you aren't dumping your trash in the harbor, drilling for oil, or hassasing the wildlife (and a bunch of other things but that's the jist of it). The inspection team was high ranking government officials from both countries and they got a very through tour of station and all the science, waste management, and logistics that happens here. They were very impressed with our operation.

 After the tour they left via helicopter!

 It was pretty neat to see a helicopter land in the backyard!  And since I can't have a post without a beautiful sunset or some wildlife:

Seals and Bergs

 The fur seals are back gallivanting around everywhere.

 A leopard seal came to check out our boat. They look at you like you are food.

Super neat to get this close, but also quite unnerving.