Christchurch is where the Antarctic Center is located. People going to McMurdo check in here and get their gear and everything else we needed to know.
This is an example wall of all the gear we are issued and have to wear on the plane down to the station and while out an about on the ice. They call the big red coats "Big Red" and the boots are called "bunny boots". It all keeps you nice and warm.
Here is 3:00 in the morning on the day we left and we just picked up all the gear and were going through security to get on the C-17 we were taking to the ice.
Packed in like sardines in a tin can. :)
View from my seat.
I'm ready!
My first view of the ice and Antarctica. Brr!
The first polar stratospheric clouds I'd ever seen! This is exciting for me because my thesis is all about these clouds and you can only see them in arctic environments. I'll explain more about these later.
Heading to McMurdo Station from Pegasus (the airstrip). The big mountain is Mt. Erebus, an active volcano and the little pointy one on its left is where the station is. We are driving on the permanent ice shelf right now. I'm on the ocean!
McMurdo! My new home! The vehicle in front of us is "Ivan the Terra Bus" and I'll take a picture of him later.I'll get some more picture up later of some the scenery from around the station and other interesting things I found! Woo I'm in Antarctica!! The bottom of the earth!!
Looks like you took a luxury flight to Anartica not to mention 20 some other people too!! What do the dorms look like? What do you do all day - are you outside in the elements much? What do they feed you and how many other people are there with you?
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