Time To Go

Before I left the Ice, we had a number of "All Hands Meetings" in which
I was tasked to talk to folks and pretty much explain to them that the
City of Christchurch was not the place for them. It was rather disheartening,
but all of the places that Ice folks like to go, such as our favorite restaurants,
coffee houses, parks, etc. were not able to be visited...if they even still
existed. In fact, the plan for most folks leaving the Ice was to drop off
their Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) gear in Christchurch, and then immediately
board a plane for Auckland. Of course, folks were given an option to not get
on this plane and stay on the South Island. I was one of those folks since
Lynn and I already had tickets to go to Tasmania via Sydney.
After saying farewell to Leighton and our friends at the Travel Office, we
checked in for our flight. Lynn was definitely ready to go as last night we
had a couple of really strong aftershocks. Several Search and Rescue groups
from other countries walked through the terminal and they were given
very loud rounds of applause by the folks in the airport. Then, a very
solemn moment occurred. At 12:51, two minutes of silence were observed
to commemorate that it had been one week since the devastating earthquake.
It was very moving and I had never been in an airport that was SO quiet.
It's very sad to be leaving New Zealand, but since we are not involved in
the recovery effort, it's best to be out of the way.

Earthquake in Christchurch

At 12:51 pm today, a 6.3 earthquake hit Christchurch. It was centered
near Lyttelton, and only 3 miles deep. Very bad news. What is worse is
that Lynn is IN Christchurch. Of course I was very worried. It was several
hours until I heard anything, but then our friend Leighton from the
Antarctic Centre called and Lynn was with him. She told me that she
and our friend Brenda were going to meet another friend, Natalie to
go shopping. They were in the lobby of the Hotel So, where they were
staying, when all heck broke loose. They were thrown into the wall and
then they ran out into the street. Destruction was all around. Lynn
said it literally looked like a war zone. What's worse, all of her stuff
is in her hotel room, including her computer and passport and she
probably won't get it back because the Grand Chancellor Hotel, where
we've stayed before is LEANING on the Hotel So! It's the second tallest
building in Christchurch (almost 30 stories) so if it goes down, it's going
to take a lot of buildings with it, including the Hotel So.

After getting their wits about them, Lynn and Brenda, joined by our
friends Jamie, Matt and Kaska (who was barefoot) walked through the
rubble, all the way to the Antarctic Centre/Clothing Distribution Centre (CDC)
(about 6 miles). It proved to be a good meeting point for many other Ice
folks as well and is acting as kind of a command centre for USAP folks
who have recently left the Ice. That's where she found Leighton and
was able to phone me on the Ice.

In the meantime, Christchurch is a mess. This is a much more destructive
quake than the one that struck in September. The entire Central Business
District is closed off, including all of the hotels USAP people stay at and
nobody is allowed there. Dozens of people have been killed and many many
more are missing. Lynn will be staying at the CDC for at least tonight
and probably a few more nights as well.

Facebook has become a huge connector of people during the crisis and
some folks have started a spreadsheet charting the whereabouts of Ice
people who are in Christchurch. So far, everyone is safe and no one from
the programme has been injured.

It's going to be a long few days/weeks/months for Christchurch. Our prayers
and thoughts are with our friends and people we haven't met. Lynn is safe.
Our friends our safe. Not all have been so lucky. Please think of them and
pray for them.

Business Trip to The South Pole

This week I got to spend a few days at the Amundsen–Scott
South Pole Station. The farthest spot south on the planet!
I was there to help Katie, the Station Suppor Supervisor
with the Pole employees' Redeployment Meetings. My
co-workers Leighton, Liz and I presented everything
necessary the employees needed to know so that they
can redeploy this time next month.


It had been two years since I had been to the Pole and
since my first visit four years ago, lots of changes have
occurred here. For the most part it was a major
construction zone. Now everything is finished and all
is running as planned. Also, the dome is now gone.
The dome was the centerpiece of the previous station
and it has since been dismantled. Where it sat there
is now a large open field of snow.


On my first visit in 2007, there were large pieces of
plywood where a much more functional dark gray
sheeting is now in place. The station as a whole is
pretty impressive.


We flew south from McMurdo for three hours in a LC-130
Hercules. I don't fly in these on the trip from Christchurch
to McMurdo and back, so it's kind of a treat, getting to fly
in a different type of aircraft. They're not really that
comfortable, but they're functional.


This is probably the smallest air passenger terminal I've
ever flown into or out of. It's actually more of a warming
shack in which one can stand out of the wind while waiting
for a flight.


Since I was staying for just a few nights, I got to stay in
the main station as opposed to the Summer Camp. The
Summer Camp is essentially a group of Jamesway tents
with berthing and limited facilities. The rooms in the
main station are small, but cozy and functional.
I didn't spend a lot of time in my room and I think that if
I was working here for a full season, I probably wouldn't
either since you really can't spread out, but it was pretty
comfortable nonetheless.


This is where my room was located looking at it from the
outside. I didn't have much of a view, just looking at
another wing of the station, but at least I could tell what
the weather was doing in the morning.


Katie is on the left and Leighton is on the right.
Leighton helped me with our Redeployment
Meetings in McMurdo and then we went south to
help Katie. It's her first season in her current
position and I don't know how she does it. At a
minimum she wears 8 different hats and works
an average of 14-16 hours a day, seven days a
week...ugh!



In several places in the station there are big television
screens that display information. This screen was displaying
the weather at the time. -14.6 seems cold but it was actually
pretty warm. Because it's so dry, one can stay outside for
quite a while if you're dressed appropriately. Even though
the station is physically at 9,301 feet, it feels like it is over
10,000 feet because of the barometric pressure at the Pole.


There are also flight schedules displayed throughout
the station.


I will never complain about the slowness of the internet
at McMurdo again. The internet availability at South
Pole relies solely on when satellites will be passing overhead.
As a result, there are only a few hours each day in which
someone can send email our browse the web. Even then,
it is pretty slow. I guess at one of the most remote places
on Earth, it's lucky they get this much connectivity.


Since there aren't a lot of computer or television options,
there are lots of other recreation opportunities including
this very large lounge with lots of books.


When the satellite is "up" there are lots of computers
in the computer room for people to send emails or
browse the internet.


This is one part of the Medical facility inside the station.
Very modern and from what I hear has good telemedicine
capabilities.


I bought postcards at the store and sent them out from
the Post Office here. Of all the time I've been coming down
to Antarctica, I think it's the first time I've ever sent post
cards!


There's only one laundry facility on station. I was very
jealous that the residents here get to use Tide as their
detergent. We get some crummy generic stuff at
McMurdo that eats your clothing if you use too much.


This is another small lounge that doubles as a library.
There are several of these scattered throughout the
station.


The craft room seemed a little spartan, but if you bring
your own stuff, there's lots of room to move around.


During the summer, freshies come in fairly regularly.
In the winter though, there aren't any flights from
February though almost November so they have to
grow their own. This top notch greenhouse is run by
Lane, who wintered at McMurdo with us a few years
ago. He told me that this time next month it will look
like a jungle in here!


When you work at a place where literally everything
outside is white, a splash of color certainly helps liven
things up. This is just one example of the bright colors.


We held a total of five Redeployment Meetings and three
of them were in this conference room. I thought that
almost everything at the station was much more modern
and usable that the counterparts at McMurdo. Sure,
they're newer, but much easier to use as well.


Since the station is one long building, there are
two long hallways that run the length of the
station. This is the second floor, looking from
one end to the other....way down there!



Comms keeps track of all radio communications between
Pole and the rest of the world, including planes landing
and taking off.



There's a pretty nice gym with lots of useful equipment.
Adjacent to this is a full-sized gymnasium where they were
playing volleyball.


The station is surrounded by nothing...miles and
miles of absolutely flat nothing! As far as the eye can
see.



I really liked the Galley. Even when it was full, it never
seemed crowded, unlike our galley in McMurdo. It was
also a nice place to relax and read, which I did several
times during my stay.


Outside is a very nice view of the Ceremonial Pole with
all of the flags of the original signatory nations of the
Antarctic Treaty.


However, a great view for any McMurdo-ite would be
of the REAL ICE CREAM. All we have is soft serve at
McMurdo.


Liz, Leighton and I got to take the time to take a stroll
around outside.


Of course I got my hero shots to go those from my other visits
at Pole, but this was my favorite from this visit.



This is the only place on Earth where no matter where
you stand, everything faces North!

Preparing for Redeployment Meetings

It's hard to believe, but Redeployment Meetings will
be starting next week. It seems like we just got here,
but the season is already sixty percent over. Even
though we still have eight weeks to go, they will go
by quickly since everyone will be so busy. All us folks
in Air Services will definitely be earning our paychecks
as we'll be processing all of the Raytheon and NANA
employees' travel requests. My friend and counterpart
in Christchurch, Leighton, will be coming down next
week to help with the meetings. In a twist from the
usual, it looks like I'll be going down to South Pole
Station for a few days to help get Katie started on their
redeployment procedures. This is Katie's first year in
this position and we'll be helping her get a footing on
what she needs to do. It should be interesting since
I've never spent the night at Pole before...only a
couple short day trips. In the meantime, I've got a
Powerpoint presentation to update for next week's
meetings...I better get busy!

Lynn's in New Zealand

After spending two days in Denver to go through orientation,
Lynn left last night for New Zealand. She'll be there about two
weeks, taking a U.S. Air Force Loadplanning Class with other
folks from ATO going down to the Ice this season. She's
understandably nervous because of the recent earthquake
and aftershocks that have struck Christchurch and Canterbury.
She and her group were greeted at the airport today by our
friend, Leighton, who is the head of the Travel department.
He gave them the skinny on what the status was of the city
and what they could expect. Thank you for doing that Leighton.
Lynn will learn a lot in the next few weeks and I'll be joining her
in about ten days. I'm looking forward to it!

Back in The World

The highlight of my first day back in the real world was visiting
my friend Leighton at his house for an ATO cookout and get
together. Leighton is the manager of the Christchurch Travel
Office for the US Antarctic Program. He and his wife have a
wonderful house a few miles north of downtown in Northlands
and there was certainly a good crowd. Lots of folks from both
the Ice and from the office in Christchurch. Leighton and his
wife of course were very gracious hosts and served up great
food and beverages.


One of the entrees though I can definitely live without in the
future was Whitebait. Yes, I tried it and yes, the Kiwis love it.
However...I did not. It's funny that it has to be covered up in
kind of a hash brown-type substance to even make it close to
palatable. Picture udon noodles with eyes. That's what it looks
like...and actually tastes a bit like as well. Ugh.


Before I left, Leighton was proud to show us his garage. I have to
say, this is the only garage I've ever seen that is carpeted. Yes,
carpeted! Someone asked what he would do if his car leaked oil
and he exclaimed that Chevrolets never leak oil. Hmm...they must
have different Chevys in New Zealand than they do in the States!

Redeployment Meetings

We held our last Redeployment Meeting yesterday.
The Redeployment Meetings are always a highlight
of our season in Air Services and a sign that the
end is near for the summer season. This year,
Leighton, who is in charge of the Christchurch
travel office came down to present the gory
details of the travel options to all of the RPSC
and NANA folks. Susie presented other Air
Services info at five of the meetings and I
made our presentation at three of the meetings,
including the two held for night shift employees.
Now, the not so fun part comes along...entering
all of the data from everyone's Redeployment
Form into the database, including travel options,
hotel choices, dates etc. I'll be wearing out
my eyeballs, staring at a computer screen for the
next several weeks, doing my part to enter over
500 person's forms. It will be good when this
part of my job is done for the season.

Choices!

It's almost overwhelming...no, it IS overwhelming. You would
think the number of times that I've come back to "civilization"
I would be used to it by now but for some strange reason I'm
not. It almost feels like a gluttony to the senses. The amount
of choices one has is boggling and this isn't even the mass-
marketing frenzy that the States is (although it comes quite
near). I actually have a whole store nearby of DVD's to rent!
A grocery full of ten different kinds of tortilla chips to choose
from (unfortunately all of them taste stale for some reason)
and multiple restaurants within walking distance. Yesterday
we met at the house of Laurie and along with Leighton,
Janice, Lynn, Susie, Liz and several partners and spouses, had
a very civilised barbecue. Again...too many choices! So what
do I do? I try everything! Dinner tonight, the same thing.
This time at an Italian restaurant down the street with friends
Anna, Sheri and Michiel. This first week is a combination of
hanging out, not paying as much attention to money and lots
and lots of choices!