A few quick headlines for your morning. In the news:
-Jim Karner, Minako Righter, Jani Radebaugh and Alex Mishik are in Christchurch, and are due to fly south to McMurdo later today. They are currently on a 3-hour delay, which means if they stay on schedule they would arrive in McMurdo about 7 pm our time (that’s 1 am east coast US time).
-John Schutt and Duck Mittlefehldt are at Elephant Moraine. I’ve heard via MacOps (the folks they check in with every day) that they’re fine, but I haven’t spoken with them directly. I’ve asked them to call me tonight at 8 pm local time, so hopefully I can pass on any news from them early tomorrow.
-Brian Rougeux and I are in McMurdo, mostly recovered from our 23 hr day Monday/Tuesday. We’re taking care of organizational chores in advance of the arrival of our 4 team members from Christchurch; things like setting up their training schedule, pulling out boxes for their food and kitchen gear, sleep kits, etc. We’re targeting this weekend for an overnight shakedown, leaving mid-day on Saturday and returning mid-day on Sunday.
-Had an awesome email reunion with Maris Wicks, who’s down here in McMurdo on an Artists and Writers grant. I was a supporter of her absolutely unique proposal- she’s a cartoonist who tells science tales through really engaging panels and narratives. Given how many of us planetary and field folks are dreamers and visualizers, I was very taken with her work and I really hoped she would get funded. And it happened! The pic above is her “thank you” to those of us who added letters of support to her proposal. She’s got a blog of her own at http://www.mariswicks.com/blog/ and I’m hoping to meet her in person finally later this week.
And now the weather:
-The 3-hour delay imposed on our southbound folks is due to weather here in McMurdo. There’s almost-invisible light snow in the air, about 3/4 of the sky is overcast, and the wind is whipping through town (ironically, right off the Windless Bight). Every wire and grating in town is whistling, kind of endearing if it didn’t bite so hard as it rushes past. I won’t hazard a prediction on whether they’ll delay further or cancel, that’s way above my pay-grade; but I’ll try to keep you informed of any changes.
-posted by RPH in McMurdo