A New Year

Wow, another year has passed and look where I am. A year ago I was only talking about coming here to Antarctica, in March I applied, in June I interviewed, in July I was offered the job, in September I got ready to come down and I have been gone from the states since October 17. How fast it has gone, but filled with so many new memories that I will never forget. From my dad riding his bicycle from San Diego to Shreveport at 71, my new niece Orly coming into this world on March 20 to going out on a new adventure with all the love and support of my family, making new friends what is in store for 2012. I hope much of the same with another new niece around the end of March, maybe some spring training in Florida, some traveling in a new country or two and hopefully coming back here again next season with the same group of individuals who have made this experience unbelievable, who have been there for me when the seasonal blues hit, those that I can talk to and relate to with personal experiences both good and bad and get a few more brothers and sisters out of it. Thank you all again for all of your support this past year.

Onto New Years McMurdo style, having 2 days off work in a row for the holiday is great. We had wonderful weather on Saturday and a large group of us went on a hike to Castle Rock. Castle Rock is about a 3 mile walk from McMurdo, mostly on a glacier. The nice thing with the large group that went with we all found our own little group for a comfortable walking pace and we were all at Castle Rock in under 2 hours. Once at Castle Rock to climb to the top you need to use a rope for hand holds in certain spots or you will fall off, it is a weird feeling being that close to falling off but well worth it. Once on top you could see for miles around, open water to the north, Mt Erebus, both White and Black Islands and the Royal Society mountain range. After spending some time onto we climb down and did a little sledding on a tray from the galley and if you had one a slick jacket worked well to. We laughed a lot on both the walk and while sledding, in the end a great time.

We got back from our hike about 4 in the after noon and relaxed for the festivities for the rest of the night. On New Years Eve they have both a chili cook off and a music festival called Ice Stock where different bands that have formed or people that play together here put on a show. It was a great time. It was weird being outside at midnight with the sun out to ring in the New Years. We had great weather all day which was nice, people said last year was cold and crappy. I was even wearing shorts for most of the festivities.

Now that the new year has come, redeployment is on everyones mind here. It is hard to believe that this adventure is coming to an end soon. So this week I have a redeployment meeting to go to so I can figure out when I am leaving. I need to start thinking about where I am going after I get back to New Zealand. Hopefully I can find some people to travel with and want to got to some of the same places I would like to go to but also see something that they want to. I hope that I have a job lined up for when I get back, but I am not letting that worry me and just live in the now down here. I have also finally been checked out on the Kress vehicle, now named "Lucifer". It rides a lot like one of our large loaders but with a lot more speed and power. From the sounds of it, we may not use it this year for moving cargo but there is always next year.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Holiday season and are enjoying the new year.

Tim

Most of the photos came from 2 of my coworkers. I have realized my point and shoot just doesn't give good quality photos in the bright sun and snow here. I was also in the moment while on the walk and at Ice Stock and didn't take a lot of photos. Hope you enjoy these. So I think a new camera will be making the trip with me next year.

Leaving McMurdo for Castle Rock

A little warning

Hiking down off Castle Rock

Using the rope to hold on

Castle Rock

Hiking back from Castle Rock

Mt. Erebus behind me

All of us that went hiking

Sledding on our backs

Using a tray to sled down

Wearing shorts on New Years in Antarctica!

Having fun on New Years at Ice Stock

Most of the department at Ice Stock

"Lucifer" the Kress vehicle

A few photos from last week at the airfield

I didn't see these Adelie penguins since I was at Happy Camper but they will be back and I will see them than. I saw about 40 from off Hut Point on Tuesday evening about 100 yards away.

Running the loader behind a LC-130. If you look carefully you can see how close the tail and the cab are to touching. The antennas on the loader rattle around when you are under the plane.