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!