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Feb 17 After 25 hours of flight time I am home. The 5 months I spent
in Antarctica have been one of the great adventures of my life. Everyday the scenery amazed me. Many people have asked if
I would go back again and to that I say "absolutely". Maybe not next season but I will go back. The work was physically
demanding and the hours very long. The living conditions were not the best but I met people that I will be friends with the
rest of my life. I also met people that I would not greet if I passed them on the street. By far the hardest part was being
away from the people I love. I want to thank all of you that emailed and sent letters to me. I also want to thank my cargo
handlers Ben Owen , Bill Schultz and Eric DeAngelo. It was an honor being your leader. For a group of first timers
we did a hell of a job.
Feb 15 I am off the ice !! The weather was perfect when the C-17 lifted
off to carry 126 of us to Christchurch. We arrived about 7 PM and just before we touched down the plane smelled like
new cut hay. It was such a great experience to suddenly smell vegetation and see trees after 5 months of nothing but rock
and ice. It took about an hour to turn in all our cold weather gear and finally get to my motel. I ordered a room service
dinner of half a roast chicken, salad and assorted warm breads. It was was the best meal I have had in 5 months.
It was so nice to stretch across a king size bed and to have a sparkling clean bathroom all to myself
| My first meal off the ice |
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It was a real treat for night to come and have darkness. It was the first sunset I have had since last
Oct. I slept in and took a long shower before heading across the street to the airport. I am now waiting for my flight to
Auckland and then the long hop across the Pacific. I will post photos and my final thoughts about this exerience
as soon as I get home
Feb 12 The cargo ship M/V American Tern arrived, was unloaded and
now is repacked with cargo and trash going back to the US. I heard it will depart tomorrow. My team worked
6 straight days during ship offload and we were mighty tired. As the cargo was unloaded it was built into pallets for
shipment to the South Pole. Some of it will winter over here in McMurdo and go to the pole next season. The last flight to
the Pole for this season will be Feb 15. Two of the LC-130's have flown north and people are leaving here every
other day headed home. My roommate Aaron left yesterday. I work tomorrow night and then get one day off before I fly to New
Zealand on Friday. It is hard to believe the season is almost over and I will be home in a few days. I will do one more
update before I leave the ice and then post some photos as I pass through New Zealand. The end is in sight.
| M/V American Tern |
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| Loaded with cargo for return to the USA |
Feb 3 This should be an interesting week. On Feb 5 we will have an eclipse of the
sun and on the 7th the supply ship will arrive. I have recovered from the flu and need to start packing for my
trip home. Once the supply ship comes in I won't have any freetime. My departure date is just around the corner.
Feb 2 WOW It is Feb ! Time is flying by. Last night two of us went
to Pegasus Field to load a C-130 aircraft engine, that came on the C-17, into a C-130. It only took a few minutes and we decided
to go look at the wreckage the air field is named after. In 1970 a Navy C-121 Constellation named Pegasus was attempting
to land during a storm when it crashed. The wreckage is still there but is almost covered with snow. It was about
a mile hike across the ice shelf to get to it but well worth it.
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| Fuselage of Pegasus |
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| Pegasus with Mt Erebus in background |
| Pegasus |
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| C-121 Constellation Wreckage |
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