What’s Really up in Antarctica*?:
What do you know; people have been leaving comments and asking questions! I have replied in the comments section, but I feel that is kind of obscured and most people will miss it, so I am going to do a Q&A post every once in a while when I get questions. I will still initially reply in the comments, so keep ‘em coming. Hey, what’s interesting to me here might be boring as watching paint dry to you guys, so give me feedback. Anyway, here we go (in somewhat chronological order):
Q: Are there traffic cops in Antarctica? What's the speed limit? Reasonable and prudent?
A: The terra bus we ride most of the time does about 5 MPH tops. If I were to commandeer and drive any of the base vehicles or snowmobiles I would most likely be deported, so its not really an issue for me unless I really want to get home (but I can think of more interesting ways for that to happen). Speeding is an issue around town, there are no speed limits, but if someone is caught zooming around, I'm sure they would get an earful and then some! Even if all the pedestrians are wearing big red parkas.
Q: There's a BAR down there? Now THIS I want specifics on!
A: There are 2 1/2 "bars" in McMurdo (I believe they are labeled as “social clubs”). One is traditional style with a pool table and juke box, is dark and allows smoking. The other is a bit more off beat, does not allow smoking, and has talent shows/60's sex-ed films on Saturday nights known as the "Freak Train". Really. Lastly is a coffee house that also serves wine, making it 1/2 of a bar. Drinks are cheap, the atmosphere is friendly, and opening the door to blinding sunlight to go home is a really, really strange shock to your system at night.
Q: How far away are those mountains? Can you climb them?
A: There are several mountains that you can see around McMurdo and the surrounding area. Right behind the base is Observation Hill. It’s a steep 15~30 minute hike with great views of the surrounding area and ice shelf. Castle Rock is the large pure rock protrusion from the ridge across from Willy field in the photos, its 3 miles from McMurdo and you can scramble to the top. Its one of the better ski/run/walk loops in the area. Mt. Arabus is 25 miles away from Willy Field, and is over 12,000 feet high (remember we are at sea level here, on a 90 foot thick sheet of ice). So that one is off limits.
Observation Hill
Castle Rock
Mt. Arabus
Q: Have I lost my i-Pod yet?
A: The clip functionality (check the apple website) works very well, and thus far has stayed securely fastened to my pocket.
Q: How do you spend your day? Is it all work or do you have a lot of spare time?
A: Basically I getup at 6:30, get dressed and eat breakfast, and get on the terra bus which takes us to the field at 7:30. We work there until the bus leaves at 5:30, so home by 6:30, eat, change etc. That leaves a few hours to either relax, go out for a hike, or work at the lab in the base if required. Then its time for bed to get some sleep and do it all again.
Most of the base personnel have Sunday off (not so for us unfortunately), so Saturday night is more lively. That said, they have an activity board (kind of like college) with all sorts of stuff every day (for example "guts & butts in the laundry room – some kind of aerobics class held in the laundry room?!?). Right now I am trying to get plenty of sleep to avoid getting sick while I adjust. I may take a photo montage of my day, I'll feel a bit odd taking picures of breakfast in the cafeteria, but anything for you guys.
Q: Nathan, you're being so diligent with this... what exactly does work consist of? paperwork? computer work? and do those two tallest buildings you work in not have windows? do you have to keep on your layers when you're inside or is it warm?
A: Work consists of preparing our telescope and gondola hardware for launch in a few weeks. This involves assembling all the components (telescope, cameras, computers, wiring, solar panels etc.) and checking all the electronics and programs. After final calibration and testing, we get the ok from the NSBF, and we launch it!
Yes, there are no windows in the two payload bays that we work in. That would let the cold in. Depending upon how cold it is outside, and if I will be out long, I often wear my long underwear under my pants, a sweatshirt of light jacket, and my polar exploration parka when I go outside, I take it off indoors. It’s kept a pretty reasonable temperature indoors around here, so if you are not outside for long you can get away with no long underwear and just run from building to building. When out in the field (where we work) you always need to have your extreme cold weather gear with you in your bag though, as a storm could roll in.
To better show you, here are some photos from around McMurdo and the interior of the payload bays we work in:
That’s all for now, tune in next week for more**
* Everything, with the exception of the South Pole, they are further south than us.
** Or whenever I feel like it.
Q: Are there traffic cops in Antarctica? What's the speed limit? Reasonable and prudent?
A: The terra bus we ride most of the time does about 5 MPH tops. If I were to commandeer and drive any of the base vehicles or snowmobiles I would most likely be deported, so its not really an issue for me unless I really want to get home (but I can think of more interesting ways for that to happen). Speeding is an issue around town, there are no speed limits, but if someone is caught zooming around, I'm sure they would get an earful and then some! Even if all the pedestrians are wearing big red parkas.
Q: There's a BAR down there? Now THIS I want specifics on!
A: There are 2 1/2 "bars" in McMurdo (I believe they are labeled as “social clubs”). One is traditional style with a pool table and juke box, is dark and allows smoking. The other is a bit more off beat, does not allow smoking, and has talent shows/60's sex-ed films on Saturday nights known as the "Freak Train". Really. Lastly is a coffee house that also serves wine, making it 1/2 of a bar. Drinks are cheap, the atmosphere is friendly, and opening the door to blinding sunlight to go home is a really, really strange shock to your system at night.
Q: How far away are those mountains? Can you climb them?
A: There are several mountains that you can see around McMurdo and the surrounding area. Right behind the base is Observation Hill. It’s a steep 15~30 minute hike with great views of the surrounding area and ice shelf. Castle Rock is the large pure rock protrusion from the ridge across from Willy field in the photos, its 3 miles from McMurdo and you can scramble to the top. Its one of the better ski/run/walk loops in the area. Mt. Arabus is 25 miles away from Willy Field, and is over 12,000 feet high (remember we are at sea level here, on a 90 foot thick sheet of ice). So that one is off limits.
Observation HillCastle RockMt. ArabusQ: Have I lost my i-Pod yet?
A: The clip functionality (check the apple website) works very well, and thus far has stayed securely fastened to my pocket.
Q: How do you spend your day? Is it all work or do you have a lot of spare time?
A: Basically I getup at 6:30, get dressed and eat breakfast, and get on the terra bus which takes us to the field at 7:30. We work there until the bus leaves at 5:30, so home by 6:30, eat, change etc. That leaves a few hours to either relax, go out for a hike, or work at the lab in the base if required. Then its time for bed to get some sleep and do it all again.
Most of the base personnel have Sunday off (not so for us unfortunately), so Saturday night is more lively. That said, they have an activity board (kind of like college) with all sorts of stuff every day (for example "guts & butts in the laundry room – some kind of aerobics class held in the laundry room?!?). Right now I am trying to get plenty of sleep to avoid getting sick while I adjust. I may take a photo montage of my day, I'll feel a bit odd taking picures of breakfast in the cafeteria, but anything for you guys.
Q: Nathan, you're being so diligent with this... what exactly does work consist of? paperwork? computer work? and do those two tallest buildings you work in not have windows? do you have to keep on your layers when you're inside or is it warm?
A: Work consists of preparing our telescope and gondola hardware for launch in a few weeks. This involves assembling all the components (telescope, cameras, computers, wiring, solar panels etc.) and checking all the electronics and programs. After final calibration and testing, we get the ok from the NSBF, and we launch it!
Yes, there are no windows in the two payload bays that we work in. That would let the cold in. Depending upon how cold it is outside, and if I will be out long, I often wear my long underwear under my pants, a sweatshirt of light jacket, and my polar exploration parka when I go outside, I take it off indoors. It’s kept a pretty reasonable temperature indoors around here, so if you are not outside for long you can get away with no long underwear and just run from building to building. When out in the field (where we work) you always need to have your extreme cold weather gear with you in your bag though, as a storm could roll in.
To better show you, here are some photos from around McMurdo and the interior of the payload bays we work in:
That’s all for now, tune in next week for more**
* Everything, with the exception of the South Pole, they are further south than us.
** Or whenever I feel like it.
posted by Nathan at
7:16 PM
1 Comments:
I love the giant and wide tires on all the vehicles. Now all you need to do is convince them to get each a nice wing, some neon, and some ground effects (tell them they're front and back snow plows.)
By
Matt, at 8:48 AM
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