![\"john-and-duck-off-to-eet-1\"](\"https:\/\/artscimedia.case.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/111\/2016\/11\/29031748\/john-and-duck-off-to-EET-1-1170x878.jpg\")
John (in plane, in shadow in background) and Duck (in plane peeking around door) ready to fly to Elephant Moraine.<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n 8:30 AM: \u00a0At Willy Field, \u00a0dropped off at the Twin Otter shack. \u00a0John and Duck are hustled on to their aircraft, which is already packed and fueled up. \u00a0By 8:45 they’re on the way, and I wave Bye-Bye! Meanwhile Brian and I help get our aircraft ready; \u00a0the crew we fly with today (Pilot Troy, 1st officer Tyler and mechanic Larry) are very cool, very competent, but this is their first flight out of McMurdo this year so they’re double-checking everything. \u00a0I like that. \u00a0 What I don’t like? \u00a0the nearest bathroom is literally a 55 gallon drum on a pallet with a funnel, \u00a0a slippery plastic chair to stand on (like the ones that cost $3 at walmart) and nothing to hold on to- \u00a0though if you did fall there’s a large bare electrical wire right where you’d grab first. \u00a0Let’s just say after a trip to that facility, \u00a0I’m ready to surf\u00a0on a great white shark’s back.<\/p>\n 9:22 AM: \u00a0We are loaded and take off southwards. \u00a0First 40 minutes of the flight is the familiar, beautiful scenery of McMurdo Sound- the Royal Society Range, Mt. Discovery, White and Black Islands, and lastly Minna Bluff. \u00a0After that we’re on the permanent ice shelf, \u00a0what Scott called the Barrier because it was sheer monotony. \u00a0We seem to be heading closer to due south than needed to get to Shackleton, \u00a0and I wonder what’s going on.<\/p>\n Fueling up on the South Pole Traverse road. No Quik-E-Mart here!<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n 11:45 AM: \u00a0Now I know what’s going on. \u00a0We land at a gas station situated along the South Pole Traverse (SPT) road. \u00a0It’s really nothing more than 6 very large tanks and a row of flags stretching away forever. When fueling is done we talk about our reconnaissance flight targets while we wait for the noon weather update for Shackleton.<\/p>\n 12:28 PM: Forecast comes in and it’s good news, \u00a0so we takeoff along the road and turn toward the southwest. Shackleton Camp here we come!<\/p>\n 12:35 PM: \u00a0I dig in to my lunch, \u00a0bagged from the cafeteria this morning after breakfast. \u00a0Teriyaki meatball pita is not bad. \u00a0Banana is awesome. Juice box is very kiddish (you can’t look tough sucking a tiny little bendy straw). Ham wrap held in reserve. Ghostly Transantarctics looming in the distance to the west.<\/p>\n 13:15 PM: \u00a0Transantarctics now only 15-20 miles off the right side of the aircraft. \u00a0Normally I’d be able to identify a few key peaks and glaciers and figure out where I am, \u00a0but not today- there’s been a fresh snowfall, and as that has melted on exposed rocky surfaces the evaporation causes beautiful fluffy little clouds around all the peaks, disguising them. \u00a0Tried to nap but failed- \u00a0legs are boiling from the plane’s heaters, arm is frozen from leaning on plane wall, and the air is so thin that I start skip-breathing when I begin to doze \u00a0(calmly breathe\u00a0in, and breathe out, and breathe in, and breathe out, OH NO BREATHE IN AND OUT IN OUT IN OUT GASP!). That’s pretty typical on your first day going from sea-level up to 10,000 or 14,000 feet altitude.<\/p>\n 13:35 PM: We reach the foothills of the Transantarctics and make a gentle turn uphill along a glacier. \u00a0This has to be the Shackleton- \u00a0there are gorgeous granite knobs and peaks and faces toward the bottom. Higher up the land is fully dissected into ridges and valleys, but the ridges are very sharp and the valleys deep and U-shaped as only happens in heavily glaciated terrain. The little fluffy clouds are all over the place here, all sitting right above exposed cliffs and moraines. \u00a0You can see snow falling from some of them, a perfect example of microclimate.<\/p>\n 13:45 PM: \u00a0Definitely the Shackleton- there’s a magnificent meandering medial moraine (m^4) that can only be the Swithenbank Moraine. \u00a0It’s quite unique, stretching from a big bare valley called the Bennett Platform near the headwaters of the glacier all the way down, \u00a0and it’s serpentine twists resemble a whip uncoiling in the wind. Even though I haven’t been here since 1995, the terrain starts looking very familiar as the skis rise up toward the plane.<\/p>\n 13:57 PM: \u00a0On the ground at Shackelton Glacier Camp (SHG)! Greeted by the camp manager and staff, it’s a beautiful place with 12,500 ft high mountains on one side and a long view up the Shackelton Glacier on the other. \u00a0The camp is much smaller than the last “big” camp we worked from, CTAM. \u00a0I think that’s on purpose, because CTAM was almost too big to be good at science support (it needed too much logistics of its own). More on SHG later…..<\/p>\n 15:16 PM: After a lovely lunch of meat pies, soup and juice boxes (Mommy I want another one!) we reboard our plane (Tail number KBH) and prep for takeoff. \u00a0The cook from SHG is along for the ride- she’s been stuck in camp for weeks and just got done cooking her brains out for thanksgiving, so the camp manager gave her this surprise. I’m on the headseat for this flight since the first targets are the icefields our reconnaissance team (technically called G-058 B) wants to visit. Our main goal is to scout out landing sites, particularly for those places we’ve never been to before. \u00a0some comical chatter before takeoff- the plane can’t leave without checking in with McMurdo but nobody’s answering the phone.<\/p>\n 15:38 PM: \u00a0Finally take off. \u00a0Chatter was getting less and less comical. \u00a0 But here we go to Mt. Wisting!<\/p>\n 16:40\u00a0PM: \u00a0Fly just N of Devil’s Glacier icefield. \u00a0Dissapointing- the satellite images (from last year) show what looks like patchy blue ice surrounded by massive crevasse fields, \u00a0but in real life it’s that almost-white ice where we rarely find meteorite concentrations. \u00a0It could be the little puffy clouds (which are abundant here) are just ruining contrast too much for color to show. \u00a0We’ll get another look after we circle Mt. Wisting.<\/p>\n A view of Mts Wisting (right) and Mt Bjaaland and Mt. Prestrud (left), separated by the Norway Glacier. The Devil’s Glacier icefield is right at the X marked by the ski cable and wing strut. Note the lack of blue ice.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n 16:45\u00a0PM: a quick counter-clockwise flight around the Mt. Wisting \/ Mt. Prestrud site, and we identify a nice landing area near the former. \u00a0When we were here in 1995 we camped\u00a0near the latter, and we see the drums on the snow slope. The two mountains are separated by the Norway glacier, \u00a0which looks like the spillway of a frozen dam.<\/p>\n 16:50 PM: a quick turn S and we’re at the Nodvedt nunataks. \u00a0Very nice looking icefield, \u00a0not very big and highly constrained with serious, wild crevasses on all borders, but within those borders and around the nunataks some attractive blue ice. \u00a0We find a decent landing site right between the two main nunataks and move on towards the uphill end of the Amundsen Glacier icefield<\/p>\n 17:04 PM: the uphill end of the icefield is decent, with signs the recent light snow is being removed; \u00a0but as we move NE along the Nilsen plateau, \u00a0the blue ice gets less and less exposed and there’s a lot of terrestrial rock. \u00a0Pretty much if you can see it this well from the moving aircraft, \u00a0there’s a lot. \u00a0I’m disappointed, but not entirely- \u00a0the higher end could be good. \u00a0 We didn’t visit the “upper Amundsen” icefield simply because I forgot about it. \u00a0In my defense I was giving the pilot the reins and I didn’t have an image of that icefield so it was easy to forget. \u00a0 At the NE end of the Amundsen icefield we turn left toward Mt. Emily\/Cecily\/Raymond.<\/p>\n 17:10 PM: we skirt the edge of the Devil’s Glacier icefield again. \u00a0Definitely white ice; \u00a0either that or I’m lost, but we can see for miles and there’s just no blue ice to be seen.<\/p>\n 17:45 PM: this is an awesome flightline. \u00a0First we fly near\u00a0Mt. Pratt and the icefield there. \u00a0Then right by Larkmann Nunataks, home of martians and lunars and lots of other cool stuff. Then the icefields around Mt. Mauger, Mt Block and Mauger Nunataks, with Mt. Bumstead nearby. \u00a0Then on towards…..<\/p>\n 17:55 PM: \u00a0We’re over\u00a0the target, circling around it’s northern end and flying south along the icefields on the western side of Mts Emily, Cecily and Raymond. \u00a0Absolutely gorgeous place- \u00a0really of the places I’ve been to \u00a0in Antarctica this is one of the most beautiful because of the views close and far, \u00a0the moraines and windscoops and really, really blue ice. \u00a0Lots of separate icefields too, \u00a0which makes it fun to explore. \u00a0I formally tell Brian (who will be field safety lead for G-058 A) that he won the coin toss this year.<\/p>\n 18:08\u00a0PM: after examining two landing sites on the SW side of Mt. Raymond we turn\u00a0back toward SHG.<\/p>\n 18:16\u00a0PM: We’re out in the middle of the Mohn Basin. Awesome empty whiteness but with crevasses placed here and there to add an element of thrill- \u00a0the lion in the tall grass, \u00a0so to speak.<\/p>\n 18:34\u00a0PM: \u00a0On the ground at SHG. \u00a0Just before landing we flew right over the Bennett Platform, SHG’s own Dry Valley. \u00a0Awesome. \u00a0Again G-058A are lucky- the flight between their target and SHG is only about a half hour. G-058B is more like an hour, but of course both are really short when compared to flying out of McMurdo.<\/p>\n Panoramic shot of Shackleton Glacier Camp in the almost-midnight-sun, with Mt. Campbell (12,500 ft) behind.<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n 20:06 PM: An LC-130 was scheduled to pick us up right about now and get us back to McMurdo tonight, a great help since we were worried about being back in time to meet the rest of the troops scheduled to get to McMurdo on wednesday. \u00a0But that LC-130 hasn’t left McMurdo yet, and the radio chatter is all over the place. \u00a0We eat a nice dinner that resembles a Chipotle rice bowl- mexican-spiced chili, rice and corn salsa. Ice cream and sweet potato pie for dessert, and more juice boxes.<\/p>\n 20:19 PM: Official word comes in- the LC-130 flight is on a 2-hour mechanical delay. \u00a0They don’t tell us what’s wrong of course, \u00a0but that’s typical. \u00a0Brian settles in for a nap in the totally empty Science Hut. I can’t sleep.<\/p>\n 20:21 A nice shot of really good rum courtesy of a kind stranger in Shackleton Camp. \u00a0Arrrr Matey.<\/p>\n 21:40 PM: \u00a0 word comes in again- new takeoff time is 23:00 hours. \u00a0Since it’s 2 hrs here and 2 back, \u00a0that means we arrive in McMurdo about 3 am. \u00a0I take out my contact lenses, which are getting itchy. Wait, it’s my eyes that itch, not the contacts. \u00a0Must be getting tired.<\/p>\n 23:30 PM: \u00a0The LC-130 has left McMurdo and is on the way to SHG! I give up and go to the science hut to try and get 2 hours sleep.<\/p>\n Tuesday 29\u00a0November, 01:05 AM: \u00a0I made\u00a0a big mistake. \u00a0Instead of laying out my sleeping pad and curling up in my sleeping bag, \u00a0I simply lay out my parka and slept\u00a0on the floor. \u00a0Over the next two hours all the heat seeps out of me into that cold floor; \u00a0and when the camp manager tells us “15 minutes to landing” I jump up and start shivering. \u00a0this is a dumb mistake for me- I’m a veteran of 24 prior seasons. \u00a0But in my tired state I forgot the number one rule- don’t try to be tough, take care of yourself. I feel miserable, and the stoves in the galley can’t warm me up. \u00a0Teeth not quite chattering but serious achey and painey and cranky. I am in the middle of classic moderate hypothermia<\/p>\n 01:15 AM: Standing outside waiting to board LC-130. \u00a0Now I am fighting the shivers. \u00a0Feet and hands are fine (the core shunt has\u00a0already run its course). At this stage shivering is okay- it’s my body fighting to get warm again, \u00a0not giving up. My parka is in my bag that the loadmaster already took on board (another mistake, and a beautiful example of how two modest mistakes compound to make a bigger one). \u00a0When we finally get on board I am blissful that the aircraft is warm, \u00a0and I continue to recover, but I am fully into cranky, disoriented, and totally over-tired disorientation and psychologically I am cold even if my body isn’t.<\/p>\n 01:30 AM: \u00a0Airborne for McMurdo.<\/p>\n 03:50 AM: \u00a0On the ground at Willy Field. \u00a0Brian and I grab our stuff and hop out to a waiting shuttle. \u00a0both very tired, \u00a0and in particular I almost have to be guided to the van. \u00a0Scenery is gorgous, I’ve never seen the Royal Society Range lit up from this angle.<\/p>\n 04:20 AM: Dropped off at our dorm. \u00a0Head up to room and quickly strip off outerwear, roll under covers and out like a light. Core shunts start up again as body tries to fully exit hypothermia. \u00a0I sleep until about 9:45 AM.<\/p>\n That was our 23 hour day. \u00a0I think it’s time to go to bed again, and yes, \u00a0I’ll put on an extra blanket.<\/p>\n -posted by rph from McMurdo<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We had a fantastic, successful and very long day yesterday, and since I saw it coming I decided to keep a timeline of events. 6:45 AM: \u00a0Went to our office in the Crary lab to send out a few last-minute emails and check if we were really going somewhere today. \u00a0Last night’s schedule had two flights for us; \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"fueling-on-the-spt-road-med\"](\"https:\/\/artscimedia.case.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/111\/2016\/11\/29032201\/fueling-on-the-SPT-road-med.jpg\")
![\"wistingprestrud-looking-uphill-3-med\"](\"https:\/\/artscimedia.case.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/111\/2016\/11\/29032405\/wistingprestrud-looking-uphill-3-med.jpg\")
![\"shg-pan\"](\"https:\/\/artscimedia.case.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/111\/2016\/11\/29032454\/SHG-pan-1170x334.jpg\")
\nMonday (28 Nov), 5:45 AM \u00a0Woke up and after getting dressed, a visit to the bathroom and some final last-minute packing, \u00a0went off to the cafeteria for a big breakfast. Met John and Duck there (Brian is not an early riser or breakfast eater).<\/p>\n