Blog 8 - McTown and Greenhouse

I know a lot of you still wonder what McMurdo is like. How is it set up, what does it look like, etc. etc. Well to tell you the truth it’s not that amazing a place! You can tell that this was a military base and that there a buildings here and there spread all over the place. There really is no hearsay to how this place is set up or the buildings are numbered, but this is how it is and this is how we deal with it.

McMurdo from Space

McMurdo from Above

I have a few pictures that give you some looks at the town from different areas. You’ll see the dorms, the large blue building (155) that holds the Galley, the store, offices, and some dorm rooms. You’ll also see some of the open storage areas where a lot of the stuff that comes in on the ship is stored all winter until it is needed for the field camps next summer.

Dorms and Storage

Blue Building 155

NASA Golf Ball

In the pictures you’ll also see a little bit of the town here and there and you’ll also get a chance to see what kind of weather comes through here at times. In McMurdo they have the weather split up into three conditions; Con 1, Con 2, and Con 3. Con 3 is when all is going well here in McMurdo. The wind is less than 55 mph, visibility is greater than a quarter mile, and the wind chill temperature is greater than -75 degrees. Usually with Con 3 here it’s clear, a light wind, and maybe around 20 below.

A little windy

Windy and Cold

Con 2 is where wind is between 55 and 63 mph, visibility is from a quarter mile to 100 feet, and wind chill temperatures are between -100 and -75 degrees. We’ve only had Con 2 here a few times and it has come from higher winds and cold temperatures. Finally, Con 1 is the worst! Con 1 consists of winds greater than 63 mph, visibility less than 100 feet, and wind chill temperatures less than -100 degrees. I’m told Con 1 hits a few times here during the winter and when it does you can’t see the building next to you, or sometimes your hand in front of you.

Con 2 from Dorm (white lights on pole in front mean Con 2)

(pole also has red lights for Con 1, if you can see them then!)

When Con 1 does hit there is no travel allowed outside of any building unless it is a dire emergency and unless you are escorted by the Safety and Rescue crew. This is where there are ropes set up between buildings so you can hold onto the ropes and not get blown away!!!!

So the pictures will show you some of McMurdo and some of the weather conditions here. Most of the weather scene is Con 3, but the ones with the nastier looking stuff is Con 2.

Also included in this group of photos are ones I took from inside the Greenhouse we have here in McMurdo. The Greenhouse isn’t very large, but it is our only place we can get some fresh vegetables during the winter, and it’s the only place you’ll get temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s with some welcome humidity. I volunteer to take care of the plants in the greenhouse on Sundays, so it’s a great time to get a little warmth and some welcomed UV light. It’s also relaxing to be in the Greenhouse alone, listening to the water running from the plant trays into the catchment basins, and feeling like you’re in a little Japanese Rock Garden somewhere in the warmth.

Tomatoes in Greenhouse

Herbs in the Greenhouse (Herbs Sure????)

More Tomatoes and Cukes in Back

Lettuce Room

So that about does it for now with my photos of McMurdo. I need to get you all some photos of our galley and talk about what we eat down here, more photos of the town itself, and of course some photos of the fire house and what we do and have here.

Enjoy the photos and let me know if there is anything you all would like to see and hear about!! Cheers!

Blog 7 - Trip to Castle Rock

Recently there have been a couple of trips put together by the Recreation Coordinator for people to get a ride out to Castle Rock in the evening to enjoy the ride, see Castle rock, and get a chance to see the sunset and enjoy the colors before the sun finally leaves us on April 24th, or next Saturday!!

Castle Rock is a large prominence of rock that juts out of the snow and ice in the middle of white. It is along the one trail we can hike on from McMurdo if we want. The hike is a loop that runs from McMurdo from the north, east toward Mt. Erebus, a volcano, and then back west again heading past Scott Base (New Zealand base) and returning to McMurdo. It’s a nice hike or cross country ski, but to see the sunset there, or along the way, it’s better to take a vehicle.

So they put together one of these trips for about 12 people total. Anyone heading on the trip got the luxury of riding in a wonderful Nodwell track vehicle. Now this Nodwell may look cool and all with it’s tractor treads and all, but let me tell you, it’s not very comfortable, whips you around like crazy on so call turns, and lets you enjoy the ride without heat in the back!

Once we all got loaded into the Nodwell we started off for the rock. Well it didn’t take more than 2 slight turns to make one guy say, “That’s enough, let me off!” Guess the wonderful jerking motion, sitting in the far back, and the smell of diesel was enough for him to call it quits! Once we offloaded our one passenger we continued our journey.

Nodwell

Since the Nodwell is equipped with tractor treads, it can move well on packed snow, ice, etc. without much trouble. Because of this maneuverability though, the speed is quit hampered. Now it’s only 3.6 miles from McMurdo to Castle Rock, but with the speed of a tortoise, it took us about 45 minutes to get there. Luckily we didn’t do the entire 9.7 mile loop or we would have been there forever!!

Well we make it out to Castle Rock and get out to hike up to the rock, enjoy the views, take some photos, look at Mt. Erebus (volcano), and to watch the sun turn to the moon across the wide open white of the peninsula. It is pretty amazing to see how vast and white it is out there, with not very much to get in your way between there and the South Pole.

Castle Rock

We spent about 45 minutes there and then loaded up and headed back to McMurdo. It was a nice trip with a chance to see more of the area and get a chance to see one of the last sunsets before April 24th. All I know is I can do without the Nodwell, so next time I think I’ll hike the route instead and maybe even do the loop and borrow some cross country skis to make it a little more fun!

Here are a bunch of pictures from the trip with a chance to see how wide open and white it is down here. Enjoy the photos and just remember it was about 55 below, with the wind, when we were out on the trip. Thank goodness for the Extreme Weather Gear they gave us!!!!

Hike up to Castle Rock

Wide Open!

Mt. Erebus Volcano

Nothing but White till the South Pole

Sunset from Castle Rock (Open Water in Distance)

Another Sunset Shot

Moon and Rock

Nice Night!

Rachel Making Her Way Down

Blog 6 - Recreation and Horseshoes

So a lot of people have been asking me what there is to do down here at McMurdo in the winter. Well to be honest, they’ve thought about that and have a plethora of activities to keep people busy.


First off there is one weight gym, a cardio gym, and another full scale gym, ok it’s not completely full scale, but it’s pretty darn close! After that there are tons of activities set up from basketball, volleyball, dodge ball, swing dancing, soccer, rock climbing, and aerobic classes in the mornings. Oh, almost forgot the yoga that goes on!

After the physical sports are complete there are lots of other activities to get involved in. Periodically they have a bingo night, a trivia night, chess night, pool tournaments and dart tournaments all the way to a staring club! OK, that last one is kind of weird, but this is Antarctica in the middle of winter!!!!

There just seems to always be something to do around here on the base. There is a bar, Gallagher’s, and there is always a band, a party, or something going on in there most nights. If Gallagher’s isn’t hopping then there is usually a party being thrown by one of the work groups here on base. Tonight the MEC (Mechanical Equipment Center) is throwing a big party at their building where there will be a few bands, lots of alcohol, and a bunch of crazy WinterOver folks hanging out!

This weekend is a big weekend because it’s a full two day weekend for most of the folks here in McTown. Most people work 6 days a week here, so about once a month they all are given a full weekend to relax and enjoy. This is when the big parties usually happen and this is when the VMF (Vehicle Maintenance Facility) guys throw their big Horseshoe Tournament.
VMF throws a horseshoe tournament about once a month for a few people who can get in on the list. The competition consists of 4 pitching lanes inside the VMF work bays consisting of large metal pitching targets made by the guys at VMF. These targets are about 4’ x 4’, welded together, and filled with some volcanic gravel and dirt to cushion the horseshoes blow. It’s a pretty cool set up and you can tell these guys have been doing this for a long time now.

Here are some pictures from the last tournament. A new tournament takes place tomorrow, on Saturday, and will consist of the same 4 pitching lanes, some grilled burgers, hotdogs, and steaks and, Oh Yeah, a lot of beer! When they send out the invitation they ask for people to bring beer. Well let me tell you, everyone did bring some beer! You’ll see the picture of the big container in a second!

So that’s about it. There is always something going on here at McMurdo. There is sports, parties, get togethers, the bar and if those don’t work there’s the library, the craft room, a gear checkout place, and a bunch of hikes you can take around the area, that is if you are ready for the slight chill and the wind!!

Enjoy the photos and I’ll fill you in on more soon! Cheers!

Horseshoe lanes

Pitching Stops

C the Shoe?

The Games Begin!

Action!

What Everyone Really Came For!!!!  All BEER!!!!

Blog 5 - Walk To Hut Point

     On my first weekend here in Antarctica, and at McMurdo, I went for a little walk out to Hut Point. Now Hut Point is the place where in 1902 Captain Robert F. Scott erected a hut to survive in while they tried to make their way to the South Pole. Twenty Five men spent two winters at the hut in an attempt to reach the South Pole, which they unfortunately did not. Scott did come back ten years later, reached the pole, and then died on his way back with three other companions.

    The Hut and everything in it is an Historical Landmark. This hut, and others around Antarctica, are maintained by the Kiwis of New Zealand and actual tours of them are kept to a minimum. The huts all stand as they did when they were abandoned over 100 years ago, with all the supplies, food, gear, and whatever they left behind still there. Because there is nothing here in Antarctica like bears, mice, squirrels, whatever, and because the climate here is very dry and cold, all that is in the cabin is in pretty pristine condition, or petrified, from the surrounding conditions. The huts are so well preserved that they even have the grease or lard that fell on the floor still there!

    So my hike was a short one by myself. The hike is only about 1.4 miles roundtrip and not difficult at all. This hike is one of the only hikes you can do by yourself here at McMurdo. There are about 10 different hikes you can do here, but because of the conditions and safety, you can only do about 3 by yourself. All the other hikes you need to have at least one other person with you and you have to fill out what is called an eFoot plan before you leave. This plan has information on who's going, when leaving, when coming back, and where going. When you fill out an eFoot plan you need to come to the Fire Station Dispatch office, sign out, get a radio, and make sure everything is completed on the plan. It's a good way to keep track of people around here just in case something bad happens, like someone falls into a crevasse, that way we can get to them pretty quick.

    Anyway, I went on the Hut Point hike on Sunday, only got to look at the outside of the hut, which had a small mummified seal next to it, and then went out to the point to get a better look at McMurdo Bay. Lots of ice, and some open water on the bay, with a large ice hole containing about 5 or 6 Weddell Seals floating in it. The sun was very nice and I was able to get some good pictures. At the point there is a wooden cross there in honor of George T. Vince, the first man to lose his life in McMurdo Sound in 1902.

    After a little time at the point I headed back to town and did a little walk around to get a view of my new surroundings. You can tell that this was an old military base, the way the buildings look and the random set-up of town. I took a few pictures of town, and the Sound, so hopefully you'll get a little better idea of the area, but I will take more pictures of the buildings and the vehicles we have down here on the ice.

    Before I headed back to my room I stopped at the greenhouse to take a look around. Luckily when I arrived the greenhouse technician was there doing a little work. The greenhouse was going under some construction upgrades, so there was only one room growing some plants at the time. The greenhouse is the only place we can get some fresh vegetables from while we are down here on the ice. Plants grown are usually lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, and maybe some others. I asked to volunteer there when they need help, so hopefully I'll be able to spend some time in there this winter.

    That about did it for my first weekend. Here are a bunch of pictures I took on the hike, so hopefully it gives you a little better idea of the surroundings. Enjoy!

McMurdo Sound Edge

George Vince Cross

G.T.V Cross

Cross, Sun, and Sound

Wide, Frozen McMurdo Sound

Weddell Seals in Distance (Had some closer, with no photo)

Mt. Range across Sound

Scott Hut, Ice Pier (brown), & McMurdo Base

Mt. Discovery across Sound

Dorms and Wind Turbines