We were Derelict Junction. The Keys to Learning WATER DROP, Kamille, Peggy and I were bundled up, huddled together, fighting the howling wind.
The shuttle has arrived!
We were waiting for the shuttle to take us to Ice Town, a cluster of 25 buildings out on the ice in front of MacTown. This mysterious collection of houses that we've been looking at for the past 5 weeks will soon disappear. Big trucks will haul everything 18 miles away as water will be where ice is now.
Tina and the KTL WATER DROP take a snooze during the 10 minute shuttle ride.
What is this place?
It's the airport associated with the ice runway! Big planes greeted us first. Then we saw the various buildings. What is inside them? What all happens out here?
Ice City
People fought the ferocious wind as they stumbled from one building to the next. What do these people do out here? We were on a mission to find out.
Why are these two outside?
Our first destination was the galley.
Dave, Vinnie, Ryan, and the guys waiting to head to the Pole.
People in green were sitting, talking, eating, and hanging out. These were the air force personnel from New York waiting for better weather and fixed planes. They were the pilots and crew that would soon head to the South Pole, established field camps, or other parts of Antarctica. Some would head back to New Zealand, hopefully to bring us McMurdoites freshies!
Dave, Vinnie, Ryan, and the guys waiting to head to the Pole.
There are at least 42 of these people in green and as pilots, navigators, engineers, and loadmasters, they take turns in one of the six C-17 planes. The pilots fly 125 hours in 30 days and then they have to go take a break from the noise, vibration, and concentration involved in flying these heavy planes. They told us that flying to the South Pole is relatively easy as the skiway (not runway as the planes don’t have wheels) is well-prepared and the flight is familiar for them. Their favorite missions are the ones that are different from the routine flights â€" like finding science equipment that has disconnected from their Long Duration Balloons.
The KLM WATER DROP and Tina at the Galley in Ice Town. Food gets carted here twice a day to feed the 20-80 crews and passengers as they wait for their planes.
As the crew headed out to their waiting plane, we headed on to one of the towers, the maintenance tower. Officers Bik and Williams greeted us and told us a bit about the planes, which they help maintain. The biggest issue they’ve had this year is the seals on the propellers. Due to the cold, the seals are shrinking and not holding back the fluids like they should. They've already gone through 3 propellers and one plane is currently waiting for a new propeller to arrive from Christchurch.
Officers Bik and Williams. They help make sure the planes are ok to fly.
The view from the maintenance tower. Can you tell that the C-17s have skis not wheels?
Leaving them to their work, we wandered next door to the control towers.
The control towers.
Here we met Bob, one of the controllers. He watches over the runway and makes sure the planes take off and land without any problems. If weather is good, then about 7 flights land or take off each day.
Bob watching the plane taxi. Where will it go?
Today the skiway is smooth and the snow is groomed. There are no big drifts of snow or holes in it. However, there is a potential hazard: a seal!
Can you see the seal in the middle of the picture? Where does he want to go?
Bob keeps an eye out on the seal and communicates with the pilots. Luckily the seal heads away from the skiway so the plane can safely take off.
The plane taking off! It’s loud and fast!
Goodbye plane!
There she goes!
Once the plane was in the sky, we headed next door for a visit with the firefighters.
The Firehouse in Ice Town.
There are 6 firefighters ready to go at all times here in Ice Town. They eat and sleep here and make sure that each plane lands and takes off safely. With weather delays and mechanical issues grounding many flights, the firefighters have had lots of time to study and read.
The KTL WATER DROP had a great time at the Ice Town.
With that our visit to Ice Town ended. In about 3 weeks, the town will be dismantled and moved. The buildings will be sledged away, electricity and water will be disconnected, and the workers will move to their new home 18 miles away. Most amazing this will be done in less than 2 days! Then, next August they'll have to set up the whole town again. With ice, the town appears. Without ice, the town disappears.