Go for Cargo Tim!

Well here is hoping that this post finds all my loyal readers well and happy.  So it has been a few weeks since my last post and things are finally getting into the swing of things down here.  The weather has been fantastic, the sun has been out with clear blue skies almost everyday over the past 2 and 1/2 weeks.  This is great news for us since our backlog of flights have been caught up and we are now working flights on the continent.  We have been busy building cargo to go to field camps and to the South Pole so our shifts are flying by fast so now our season will.  Our department night shift all get along and hang out together after hours and we have all gotten to know one another very well.  My role this year as a senior is leading a team of 3 again but I am also helping and assisting all the other new staff to the department to get them on the right page and understanding of what goes on down here and why we have some of the procedures in place that we do.  So I have heard my name called on the radio numerous times every shift.  I am still enjoying my job and helping everyone out just like others did down here my first season.

Today I said goodbye to my good friend and former roommate Dale from down here.  He and I both flew in together and worked together our first year together down here and were roommates our second season.  He has spent almost 22 of the last 24 months down here working.  He had a small break between his first winter season and third summer season before wintering at the South Pole.  I am lucky to have gotten a chance to have experienced this place with him and see Dale change as he saw me change with living and working in the wonderful place.  It is weird knowing that he is not going to be working here this summer and that there are now even fewer people who remain here who I met back in Denver for our orientation before coming down here the first time.  I know Dale and I will remain friends for a long time after this.  In the end we both consider each other to be brothers.

Not much else new has occurred down here this season so far that I haven't mentioned before.  Hope you enjoy the new photos and I hope to have a better post in the future about life on the Rock!  Till next time.

Tim

A shot from the mirror of the Kress with Mt. Erebus in it.

Bored at work and ensuring the rules of the road are followed by wearing a seat belt.

The portion of Hut Point that broke off last year right after I left.

The FAA sends down this plane every year to certify the runways that we use here at McMurdo.

All 98' of the Kress, I get to drive one of the 2 longest vehicles on the continent time to time.

Mt. Discovery and the tail of Skier 93

Can you find the "White Buffalo" and the "Pelican" in this shot?

The following photos are of the Traverse tractors that make the journey to the South Pole every year!

The next tractor is a brand new one that just flew in 2 weeks ago.

Dale and I before he left to go home for the first time in over a year!