It's been quite some time, but, I have returned to the ice for another summer season.  I arrived on station on October 1, 2012 and have been ejnoying it since.  Here's some pics of what I've seen and done so far:

Arriving to McMurdo on the Ice Runway
October 1, 2012

View from C-17 of the Trans-Antaric mountains and a glacial ice tongue

McMurdo as seen from Hut Point

Around town

Goat Path to the Carpenter Shop

Skier overlooking station

On a walk to Hut Point

Sunset at Hut Point

Penguin tracks! We saw the tracks, but no penguin

Tracks of the penguin's belly slide back to the sea

Covered in frost after a hike up Ob Hill

 

Thanksgiving snowboard hike to Castle Rock



We found a Tucker on the trail - signs of a graded snoward run!

Hatlie and Brian at Castle Rock

  

My ride out to Cape Evans

Iceberg stuck in the ice shelf

Exploration hut at Cape Evans

Pressure ridges by Scott Base

Exploring the pressure ridges

Brian and I by one of the formations

Mt. Erebus towering over the pressure ridges

Sunset over Hut Point

Happy Camper

Happy Camper is a 2 day course designed to teach people how to live and survive in the wilderness of Antarctica.  During the course you are taught the basics of snow camping and survival.  Essentially, it's just a  good time camping out on the ice shelf.  While at camp, we had to construct a snow wall, set up tents and melt snow for water.  Most of us chose to dig a snow shelter instead of using a tent.  I lucked out with the best weather of the season, +40F temperatures and only +27F at night.  Our biggest concern was sun exposure, where some of my friends had to endure -20F and freezing winds. 

Our camp - complete with snow wall, mountain tents and Scott tents

 Making snow blocks for the snow wall

My friend Jake and I decided to make a double-wide snow shelter.  This is a view of the entrance.

 Inside our snow shelter

 It took us about 3 hours to dig and construct our shelter.  This picture was taken at about 11pm.

 Melting snow in the kitchen we made

The infamous bucket exercise.  We were challenged to find our lost friend in a storm... sadly, we never found her. The bucket is used to simulate a white out.  I think we need another camping trip to try again!

Snowboarding the Castle

The Castle Rock Trail is a 7 mile loop that heads out of town and passes by Castle Rock.  This is the only place near station that is approved for snowboarding and, of course, one of my favorite places to go.  After hiking 3 miles you reach the base of Castle Rock and the adventures begin.  From here, you can scramble up the rock to catch some amazing views of the area, or strap on your board and start riding down to the ice shelf.  You have to ride on the groomed road, as that's the only guarantee you won't fall into a crevasse. Me and my buddies generally do all of the above.

 



My friend Brian and I about to head out

On our way, leaving McMurdo and Observation Hill in the distance

First of three safety shelters - shelters are provided in the event bad weather rolls in and you need somewhere to wait it out.  They are also just fun to hang out in for a bit.

The trail leading to Castle Rock with Mt. Erebus in the distance

View of Mt. Erebus from the Castle Rock scramble

Castle Rock summit

Open water and Inaccessible Island from the top of the Castle

Amanda, Mike and Brian hiking down the Castle



Hanging out at the base of the Castle getting ready to ride



Me and Amanda riding down from the Castle

Riding down to the ice shelf

Mike wasn't able to get a snowboard, so he rocked a blue tray from the galley for a sled

The hike back from the bottom, Scott Base in the distance

The Kiwi safety shelter on the way back - my green apple

Hiking back

  

The snow melt created a little waterfall - the first and probably only one I'll see here

Hanging out at the end of the adventure at Scott Base

Ice Cave and Penguins

Earlier in the season the Field Safety Training Team went exploring and found a cave not too far from station in the Erebus Glacier Tongue.  I headed out with a group of friends to check out the cave on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  While we were there, a group of 5 adele penguins came to visit to see what we were up to.  Here are some pictures of one of my favorite days so far.

View of Mount Erebus from the cave site 

Entrance to the cave 

My friends Brian and Brian exploring the beginning of the cave

An ice crystal - the cave was loaded with these delicate ice formations 

Looking back at the entrance 

Ice crystal formations 

Cave ceiling

The cave ended with shear ice walls

Penguins coming over to greet us 

 Such fun and amazing creatures - full of personality!

They came within about 20 feet of us and hung out for some time  



And off they went