23 Feb 2008
Pictures from the communal server posted during the first half of February. I'm leaving McMurdo in late February.




Aerial view of McMurdo, looking south. Photographer unknown.


The wrecked DC-3 Basler. The NSF wanted to get the wreck out of the field by the end of the 2007-2008 austral season. They thought about dicing up the wreck and flying the pieces back, but ultimately decided to try and repair the wreck, and get it flying good enough to fly out on its own. This was suprising news, as the plane was not in great shape and there was not much time left before the austral winter closed in, making flying impossible. Photographer unknown.


A small camp was established at the wreck, and repair work began promptly. Photographer unknown.


The repairs were successful and the Basler was soon in adequate shape to limp to the British Rothera station, and from there I'm told it would fly all the way back to South America. Photographer unknown.


View of a Twin Otter flying over the coastline, looking very insignificant. Photographer unknown.


Work shop at WAIS divide, a key ice core drill site. The US has 3 permanent stations: McMurdo Station at the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole, and Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. We also have several seasonally populated field camps, the largest of which is WAIS. It's not exactly a temporary camp, as one can tell from this work shop. Photographer unknown.


The Nathaniel B Palmer, our flagship US Antarctic research vessel, at the McMurdo Ice Pier. The Palmer is not an icebreaker but is rather ice strengthened. It was not able to reach McMurdo until the Oden icebreaker opened a path through the sea ice. Photographer unknown.


Photo from a previous winter, looking south from Castle Rock, a precipice located a few miles north of McMurdo. Photo by Brian Cunningham.


Winter photo of the Southern Lights next to Castle Rock. Photo by Brian Cunningham.


Castle Rock, the Southern Lights, and the silhouette of one of our electricians. Photo by Brian Cunningham.


Winter photo of the moon, Castle Rock, a shelter, called an Apple, and one of the station's Hagglund tracked vehicles. Photo by Brian Cunningham.


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