Journal Entry
McMurdo from above.McMurdo from above.

IF the weather cooperates this will be my last day in McMurdo (and that is a big if). I am scheduled to bag drag tonight and then begin the long trek home tomorrow, as long as Antartica cooperates. I've absolutely got mixed feelings. This place is beautiful but it is harsh. The people are great but I miss my family. I've learned a lot but it's been hard work. I guess I'm ready to go home but I wish I could make it back someday. That is a very doubtful prospect though because very few people ever make it here. I hope I made the best of the experience.

CloudsClouds act weird here.

The trip home is daunting. I'm looking at about 27 hours in planes and then I need to put my life back together after having stepped out of it for a month. When I get back I will be saying a lot of thank-you's. I owe a lot of people a great debt for supporting me in this. People like Dr. Madsen, Janet Warburton, and Elaine Hood did a lot of work getting me here and helping me make the best of my stay. I owe thanks to the NSF, ARCUS, PolarTREC, and the people of McMurdo Station. I left my kids for a month and they have been strong for me (but their mom is the one I really owe). I owe thanks to all of the people at my school Dr. Skedel, Beth Davis, Rick Forrest, Carrie Lawler who supported me in this. I owe a big thanks to everyone who tuned into my webcast (especially Casey and Alex who tuned in to my first one despite a snow day). And I owe a debt to my students who supported me, asked me great questions, commented on my journals, and shared this experience as much as they could. Thanks everyone.

SignThe team taking a tourist shot.

Oh and today I visited Castle Rock and went to a funeral for a truck. Antartica is weird and I shall miss it.

Castle RockCastle Rock. It likely formed under a glacier. Funeral for a TruckThere was a funeral, complete with bagpipes and taps, for this truck. McMurdo is weird in a fantastic way.

But keep in mind that I'm not on the plane yet and sometimes Antarctica has its own ideas on how long you should stay. But fingers crossed.

Comments

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 06:33

Tyler LaMendola

Will you be going the same way back as you came?

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 06:51

Reema Gowda

What kind of weather patterns restrict your departure?

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 09:57

Logan Krupp

How often does the weather change? and how accurate are weather forecasts for the antarctic climate?

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 10:24

Eric Thuma

It seems like the weather stays stable only a few hours at at time. The forecasts are reasonably accurate if you don't project out too far.

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 10:28

Eric Thuma

Pretty much except on the part from LA to Detroit I'll have a layover in Phoenix rather than Dallas

Sun, 10/14/2018 - 09:44

Savanna Soria

My family now proudly owns the Fuel Mule.

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 12:05

Lexi Powers

If you do end up going back to Antarctica, would it be for more research or just for the experience of a vacation? Also, out of curiosity what happened to the truck??

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 13:10

Sarah Graber

What will you miss the most from your trip?

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 16:02

Eric Thuma

It would have to be for research or outreach because I'm pretty sure getting here would be too expensive on a teacher's salary for a vacation. But I'd for sure jump at the chance to come back.

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 16:05

Eric Thuma

I haven't had to cook or wash a dish since I've been down here! Jut kidding I will really miss being like 10 minutes from some of the best hiking that I've ever down. (But by boots are trashed ... the volcanic rock around here really does a number on your shoes) Also I will miss being in a place with a concentration of scientists from a variety of fields. It was a real education.

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 16:36

Serafina Kamp

What was the most interesting thing you discovered on the trip

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 17:07

Eric Thuma

The elevation of the south pole is about 9000 ft. Most of that elevation is due to ice.

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 18:19

Eric Thuma

Oh, and the truck was just being decommissioned. It was pretty old. It has been in use in Antartica for over 26 years and it wasn't new when it arrived here. Eventually the retire older equipment if it becomes too costly to repair, unsafe, or is a potential source of excess pollution. It was a fuel truck that they called the Fuel Mule.

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 04:56

Rachel Ko

How large is the McMurdo Station? Also, how is the weather looking right now for your trip back?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 05:13

Josh Pastrana

Is Mcmurdo station mostly empty land with just snow around or have you witness any wildlife?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 05:22

Domenic Angeli

What are the different types of animals you saw?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 05:22

Domenic Angeli

What are the different types of animals you saw?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 05:22

Domenic Angeli

What are the different types of animals you saw?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 07:38

Charlie Karbon

Did you visit any other landmarks besides Castle Rock during your trip? Although I'd imagine there isn't a whole lot to see down there.

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 08:14

Lauren Lemke

Were there any natives who lived in antarctica? If so, were you able to see/meet them?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 08:14

Lauren Lemke

Were there any natives who lived in antarctica? If so, were you able to see/meet them?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 09:08

Claire Furman

What other places do you hope to travel to someday?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 09:30

Eric Thuma

We have seen a lot of seals and some skua (a large sea bird) but thats about it.

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 09:32

Eric Thuma

Mostly just seals and Skua (a large sea bird) but I saw a=some nematodes in a microscope

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 09:49

David Georgi

How long do you think it will take you to readjust to life back here?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 09:54

John Roseberg

Did you make it to South Pole?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 09:54

John Roseberg

Did you make it to South Pole?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 13:38

Tommy Barnes

You said you had mixed feelings towards Antarctica and that it was lots of hard work. What sort of difficulties did you encounter and did they cause the mixed feelings?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 13:54

Shane Weston

What was your biggest take away from this trip?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 15:50

Brady O'Shea

I'm curious, how do they get big materials like the truck there? Big plane? Also, can't wait to have you back in class!

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 17:06

Isabella Davidson

Is the population in this region very low? I'd imagine the way of life is very different here, and not heavily populated.

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 17:23

Jacob Berger

Will you be able to go to a different region around the world in the future and find new information on something?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 18:33

Jack Daniels

Now that you've been to Antarctica, are there any other continents left that you haven't been to? Antarctica tends to be the one that even very well-traveled people don't get to set foot in.

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 19:10

Safiyah Quraishi

These photos are absolutely incredible and very beautiful! Throughout your stay, what was the one thing that you missed most though from back home?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 19:49

Isaac McKay

Is anyone at McMurdo studying the affects of global warming?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 19:51

Isaac McKay

Is anyone at McMurdo studying the affects of global warming?

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 20:33

Humza Bhatti

What are you going to miss most about your visit?

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 03:35

Luke Lowery

What kinds of wildlife did you see? Were you up close and personal with any of them?

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:14

Sam Smith

What is the best experience you had in Antarctica or what is the one thing you will miss the most in Antarctica?

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:16

David Graham

How was the food in McMurdo? I assume that there is a lot of easily preserved food as new shipments of supplies can easily be delayed by the weather.

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:43

Cameron Keaser

Hi Mr.Thuma, just wondering how the food was over there

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:43

Cameron Keaser

Hi Mr.Thuma, just wondering how the food was over there

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:43

Cameron Keaser

Hi Mr.Thuma, just wondering how the food was over there

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:46

Cameron Keaser

How do you guys get around? Any cars?

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:54

Nathan Koh

How was the pizza there?

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