Hello again and welcome back for another season at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. We departed the States September 24th and flew to Christchurch, New Zealand where we (once again) spent many happy days exploring new trails and visiting favorite restaurants while waiting for the weather to clear. By October 3rd we were on a C-17 bound for McMurdo and I guess that means we've been here about 10 days-- just long enough to get comfortably moved in to a small dorm room, reacquaint with friends and establish a routine.
Chris and I are out on our first walk to Hut Point.
For a reminder as to why I am here.... I am working with Helicopter Operations, or Helo Ops, as one of 6 Helotechs where the primary objective is to use helicopters to move scientists and their cargo out to field sites-- and they do not generally travel light! There are several locations where fixed camps are established for the summer season and staffed with camp managers who live there for the next several months. We fly food, equipment, survival bags, sleep kits, generators, Scott tents, snow machines, and all sorts of other crazy gear every day the weather allows.
This is the view from the teeny window of the C-17 we flew in on. So cold and rugged...
Tomorrow we are flying folks from the BBC who are filming for the Frozen Planet series. Remember Planet Earth and Blue Planet? Yep, those guys. Sunday night they'll be presenting to an excited full house audience. These guys are some of the best story tellers with brilliant photography and adventures to share.
Here's a photo of Mt Erebus from the other day, a really windy day, so no flying for us.
It's not much but it's a start! I'll post a few more links to science websites that talk about the work that is being done down here this season. The first site to check out is the http://www.usap.gov/ site where you can access the Antarctic Sun which has an article about the current BBC project. Last Sunday night I attended a lecture on the microbial mats that are found under the lake ice in the Dry Valleys and you can read more about it if you are interested.
It's been a couple of weeks and, since I've been working nights, there really has not been much to share. I did get a chance to fly a couple of night flights and it's such a special time to be in the air, especially since the sun is still setting and casting beautiful long shadows in the evening.
If I knew more about geology I could probably tell you what exactly happened here. I like to think of this area simply as fantastic layers of chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon and mocha... Childish? Perhaps. I'll try to learn more this season! 
One great thing about night shift is that I've been able to walk home to these sunsets while most everyone else on station is sleeping. Monday I'll be back working days and able to attend science lectures and fly out into the field more often-- I'll let you know what happens...
