Saturday October 11, 2008, DJ writing Working in Antarctica requires using a significant amount of specialized equipment, technique, and skill. We are blessed with an amazing support staff here that helps make sure we are properly trained and aware of all the potential dangers that we face in the field. Returning Antarctic people are typically [...]
October 10, by Jim O’Sullivan At 1AM this morning, we finally lifted off from Christchurch New Zealand on the way to Antarctica! After reporting to the Christchurch Deployment Center at 10pm last night, we dressed in our extreme-cold-weather gear, checked in for the flight and received a briefing, and then waited. Eventually we were called [...]
09 October: by Marco Flagg Our flight had been called three times on account of weather. But late this evening the conditions were right and we departed for ‘The Ice’, Antarctica. As we marched aboard the huge and cavernous C-17 military transport plane, I sensed very vividly that a great adventure was about to begin. [...]
Wednesday October 8: François writing Today, we have to be at the CDC at noon for our plane to McMurdo. We have no time to spare , Christchurch is a long drive away. We leave Kaikoura just after 8AM and head South. It’s a beautiful day, the tall snow capped mountains over the ocean are [...]
Tuesday October 7, 2008, Motueka to Kaikoura, DJ writing Today we awoke in Motueka – another small beautiful New Zealand town that is often the launching point for trips to the Tasman Bay including Able Tasman National Park. We explored that area yesterday so today we are heading south – making our way back to [...]
6 October Stacy writing We called the CDC first thing this morning and got the news that it’s at least another 2 days before we are scheduled to fly to McMurdo, where the weather continues to be terrible. I am getting fairly stressed about the long delay but weather is weather and though there’s not [...]
October 5, by Jim O’Sullivan I took advantage of our time in Christchurch to catch up with some old friends who live there and explore the city a bit. Below is the Christchurch Art Museum: And the cathedral that gives the city its name: Next came the gorgeous Christchurch Botanic Gardens: After the gardens, we [...]
Saturday, October 4: by Marco Flagg At Punchbowl Waterfall Bob saw it first, the crossed fork and knife on a road sign, indicating a restaurant and perhaps a place to score a plastic knife for our picnic lunch. We had set out on a road trip through New Zealand this morning, and this little accessory [...]
Friday October 3: François writing After 26 hours of travel, we arrive in Christchurch, the largest city of New Zealand’s South island. We pick up our heavy luggage and go straight to the CDC or ‘clothing distribution center’, a large warehouse where the clothing for Antarctica is stored and distributed. The CDC is located next [...]
Thursday October 2, 2008 DJ writing We lost a day today! Well that seems impossible and technically it is, but as I write this to you, the time zone I am in is changing very fast because I am traveling in a Jet airplane. I am traveling across so many time zones so fast that [...]