Pressure ridges adventure

Hi, it's me, Minako Righter. Today is Sunday, means everyone gets day off here in McMurdo.  No flights going in and out today, so no staring at flight info screen to get update.  Our flight is planned on Tuesday to go to Shackleton Camp. So we have a couple more day here. Only update here is that the rest of the team members (Lindsay Keller and Brian Hynek) got to Christchurch NZ today! They will be coming to McMurdo in a couple days.

Alex, Duck, Jani and I went to "Pressure ridge" tour this afternoon.  We rode a van to go to Scott Base where you can see pressure ridges and walk around (of course with skilled mountaineer guiding our way). Pressure ridges are created where the ice shelf and the sea ice meet. They are just amazing to see. Lots of different shapes, some goes up really high, some curves around. Beautiful deep blue color. Breathtaking scenery! We also saw little more than dozen of seals along our way.  Some pups and mama seals!!
It was warm this afternoon (around 30F), but got cloudy and windy while we were out there. Typical "quick changing" Antarctica weather. I got nice "practice" of the field.  Only differences are 30~40 degree warmer than actual field…
Pic 1: Looking at Scott Base over pressure ridges
Pic 2: Pressure ridges (beautiful deep blue color)
Pic 3: Nice icicles
Pic 4: Seal pup
Pic 5: "It's Sunday!!" relaxing seal 🙂
(pictures by Alex aka ANSMET photographer 2016.)
Minako Righter, Dec 11, 2016