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| Read it |
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| Not our plane |
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| Our plane and my finger! |
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| Inside forward with cockpit behind that circle window. |
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| Back of de plane |
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| View out the little window! |
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| First steps on the the ice. We are on the ocean right here. |
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| Dorm room |
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| dorm room |
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| Hall |
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| Ivan the Terra Bus |
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| Almost 11 pm |
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| The chalet |
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| Mount Discovery |
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| The airport on Ice |
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| "OB"servation hill |
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| McMurdo |
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| McMurdo |
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| some sweet van thing. |
It is nearing 830pm and still light out. This assumes I made it from NZ to McMurdo safely. What an odd community. To begin I might as well start at the premier, debut, or stuff. We went to the antarctic center and checked all our bags etc. Got briefed on the flight and then taxied out to a jet powered C-130 or plane similar. Noisy as a vevuzala during half time, we had to wear ear plugs the whole ride. It was completely open and I sat sideways next to a giant snowcat. Boring and uncomfortable ride with an absolutely terrible lunch! 2 or 3 small pieces of chicken fat on breaded loaded with fakeonnaise. Regardless it was an experience until I looked out the window for the first glimpse of Antarctica. Frozen ocean and tall mountains looming below as we put them to our Aft. Time went by quicker now and getting to actual landing seemed to last an eternity. Landing on ice for me was quite exhilirating as I was curious as to how thick the ice below was? Well to say the least it was a bumpy land and most of all I would say the anxiety was due to not being able to look out at all because there was 1 window far in front. Eerie it was not knowing whether the ice was 5 feet or 1/2 a mile below you. No matter because when we walked down the steps from the airplane and got our 1st glimpse. My dear god. Photos on the internet simply dont do justice to the surreal feeling sinking into the back of your head. It starts physically with the cold biting air hitting your nose followed shortly by a bright flash from the albedo of the snow. There are no smells, sounds, or sights of animals. All there is is emptiness filled with everything. I am standing on frozen ocean a mile away from Ross island and McMurdo at the base of Mt Erebus a still active volcano and off further south opposite the island are the most picturesque purple mountains anyone has ever beheld. Volcanoes steaming from the top, canyons filled with 1000 foot high ice walls, and dry valleys to which my eventual destination lay.
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