It just didn’t seem right to post without a picture of a snowy landscape. This is my dog Bentley.  He likes snow.

I got a call from Jim Karner at Shackleton camp a little while ago and thought I’d share what I learned.

First, everyone is doing great,  at Shackleton,  and Team A’s transition up to the Mts. Emily, Cecily and Raymond area (the Grosvenor Mts) is well underway.  They’ve sent three flights out already and have at least one more to go.  Site is beautiful and it’s windy out there,  which doesn’t make for a comfortable team,  but makes the pilot’s lives much easier.  Because of the winds they’ve decided NOT to send the team up to stay until the last flight, but if things go well they’ll all be out there by the end of the day.

Meanwhile the recon group (heading out to Nodtvedt Nunataks) should get their first flight in today.  Like the systematic team,  they need at least four flights, with the limiting factor being snowmobiles (one per person, one per flight,  that equals four).  They are unlikely to get into the field as a whole today.

It was great talking to Jim, hearing John goofing off in the background,  and it was a good connection which let me hear the sounds of Shackleton camp.  That included the unmistakeable sound of a Twin Otter feathering ts props as it taxied or turned around.  The Twin Otter at Shackleton is completely, utterly ANSMET’s for now, no other group at the camp is using it.  That’s an awesome way to get this transition done (no competition for the plane).    Fingers crossed that by this time tomorrow we’ll be hearing both parties are out in the field and getting ready for the harvest of stars.

-posted by Ralph from snowy Novelty, OH