Time to Recharge
Sunday is the one day each week where our team doesn't have a lot of science work to do. I was grateful for a day to sleep in, eat a late brunch, and catch up with my family on the telephone. When I stepped outside, McMurdo Station was covered in a blanket of snow. I also discovered a Skua outside my dorm building eating some pizza. I guess I wasn't the only one who enjoyed a nice meal today!
A Skua eats some pizza outside a dorm building at McMurdo Station.
After brunch I spent some time in the Ob Tube, looking at fish, sea angels and divers!
Researchers dive to the seafloor near McMurdo Station to photograph and collect sea spiders for their work.
Observation Hill
After dinner, I took a walk to Observation Hill, or "Ob Hill" as it is known here. It is a 754 foot hill right next to McMurdo Station. There was a cross at the top of Ob Hill. It was erected in 1913 to commemorate Robert Falcon Scott and his party who died on a tragic trek back from the South Pole.
Ob Hill overlooks McMurdo Station.
Although it snowed all morning, the skies did clear up and McMurdo Station could be easily seen from the top of Ob Hill.
A view of McMurdo Station from Ob Hill shows the blue galley building, dorm buildings behind it, fuel tanks and more.
It was a beautiful hike and I enjoyed having some time to myself.
Movie of Weddell Seals
I also had time to put together footage from my trip to Turtle Rock yesterday. Here are some clips of the Weddell Seals I was able to spend time with!
Life in Antarctica
There are signs of humor and creativity all around McMurdo Station. This was clear to me as I walked towards Ob Hill.
A motivational STOP sign is just one example of the quirkiness of McMurdo Station.
Brought to you by...
Today's journal is brought to you by a student from Ms. Seff's class at Springs School in East Hampton, New York. The picture was taken inside the dive hole. Thank you Ms. Seff's class for all your wonderful questions on "Ask the Team!"
A penguin decorated by a student from Ms. Seff's Class at Springs School in East Hampton, New York poses over a dive hole.
Comments