What a day! Shuttle pickup from the hotel was scheduled for 05:45. We crammed into the shuttle with all our gear and were whisked to the airport for check-in starting at 06:30. A few last minute checks and our checked bags were weighed and palletized for the RNZAF C130 Hercules. After a short wait, we boarded two buses that took us all to our grey sky chariot. The seating was cramped to say the least, but it is quite the site to be strapped into the belly of such an aircraft with many other people and tonnes of cargo (including a spare C130 prop!). There was even a “lavatory” (though I use quotes because that is a generous definition).

We were wheels up just before 10:00 local and due in 7.5-8 hours later. Many people read books or listened to music, a few gifted souls had the remarkable ability to sleep (envy). The time went by reasonably quick. The RNZAF crew were super efficient and great hosts. We were given a very generous bagged lunch and towards the end of the flight as we approached the Antarctic coast, even got to go into the cockpit and take a look around. Before we knew it, we were told to buckle up (the weirdest seat belt contraption I’ve seen I might add but they work!) as we were landing soon. Flaps were deployed and then this weird feeling of not knowing when there’d be touchdown (there aren’t any windows visible from the seated position in the L130). Then, the moment we had all waited for, the RNZAF pilots kissed the rear wheels of the L130 to the groomed ice/snow of Phoenix Airfield. We grabbed our carry-ons and queued up to deplane. The feeling and view that followed was to put it simply, life changing.

After taking photos and videos, we hopped on “Ivan the Terra Bus”, made a quick stop at Scott Base, and made our way to McMurdo. We were given our assigned accommodations during a quick welcome briefing – Jim, James, Ioannis, and Scott in one room, Barbara and Juliane in another (Brian and John have been sharing a room since their arrival too). Our checked bags weren’t going to be ready until 22:00 so we went to the grab a bite to eat. Just going to put this out there: McMurdo has some dynamite pizza! In fact, everything so far has been fantastic – hats off to the culinary staff! After grabbing our bags we called it a night.

The next morning, John and Brian filled us in on the day’s plans and we got to work. More briefings from the staff here at McMurdo were followed up by getting everything ready for this field season and the coming shakedown (camping out in our tents and gear near McMurdo as a dry run for the field season) this weekend.

That’s all for now!

Posted by Scott from McMurdo Crary Lab at 21:30 local on 2017-12-01.

Caption 1: Suited up in our “Big Reds” about to board for McMurdo.

Caption 2: Group photo just after landing.