Arrival in McMurdo, Training, Pressure Ridges, and Seal Pups

Greetings from Antarctica! After a three-day delay in Christchurch, we successfully made it to McMurdo on Thursday (Wednesday in U.S. time).

The ride south in the C-17.

First view of Antarctica out the plane window.

First steps on the ice - view of the C-17

First steps on the ice - Mt Discovery

First steps on the ice - Mt Erebus ... the plume could just barely be seen at the summit as the winds were carrying it away in the opposite direction.

First steps on the ice - The Deltas ... one of the many types of vehicles used to transport people.

The McMurdo baggage claim.

It's been a busy few days with lots of training since arriving.

The arrival briefing is the first thing everyone gets upon arrival to the station.

Field safety training is one of our longer training sessions but provides necessary information on how to light the stoves, set up the tents, etc. in case you get caught unexpectedly in a storm.

Field Safety, Environmental and Outdoor Safety have all been completed so I'm free to go and do some of the hikes around McMurdo again. The weather has been simply amazing (to the point that some people have been walking around outside in shorts, even though temps are only in the 20's). I myself find that as long as the wind isn't blowing too much, I don't need to coat to go outside. The lack of snow around the station is somewhat alarming and the station looks like it typically does when we head home so the snow melt this year is easily a month ahead of what it normally is. The sea ice is also quite thin this year, which may mean that the ob tube may not make it in this year (which is quite the bummer!)

There has also been quite a few seal births this year. I managed to get on a pressure ridge tour last night as part of a group activity the shuttle drivers (clearly the most fun group in all of McMurdo) had arranged. As always, the pressure ridges were amazing to see but the recent Weddell seal pup births made this trip particularly special.

A Weddell seal pup and its mother.

Looking down the crest of one of the ruptured ridges.

A melt pool between two ridges.

"Humans again?!?!"

The moon hangs near Mt. Erebus. Castlerock can be seen poking above the horizon on the left.

Another seal pup and its mother.

A stunning blue can be seen inside this ice cave. Some of the buildings from Scott Base can be seen in the background.

More pressure ridge formations in a large melt pool.

"Shhhh .... mom's sleeping!"

More ice being thrust up through the ridge. Mt. Terror can be seen in the background.

One of the participants peeks through a crack to the other side.

The unruly child.

Today is our Sunday, which is the one day off a week that almost everyone has down here with the exceptions of staff critical to keeping the station running. (Work weeks are Monday through Saturday). We are hoping to start getting out to the field to begin dismantling our sites. The C-17 broke again the day after we got down here and hasn't flown since so people/cargo are starting to building up again in Christchurch (including some of our cargo). We are hoping to make it out to the sites starting on Tuesday. Hopefully the weather continues to hold! (It's currently 14F and 6 kt winds with unrestricted visibility and very light occasional snow showers). More to come soon!