Local Posting Day and Time- 1-9-08 4:59PM Central Standard Posting Day and Time- 1-8-08 9:59PM
McMurdo's Weather Temperature- 30F Wind Direction- South Wind Speed- 30 mph Wind Chill- 14F Snowing
Answer to Yesterday’s WATIZIT
So many of you were correct, that's great!!! As many of you said, the picture was of the controls on the side of the fire truck.
Fire Truck
Today’s WATIZIT Picture Audio
What is making the sounds in the audio? (click on the file below)
George has scheduled time on one of the Twin Otter airplanes to go out to some weather stations later in the week. Paperwork and weather run things here in Antarctica. So to get ready for this future "trip" I helped Jonathan take weather station parts, to get them ready to load onto the Twin Otter even though it will be a few days before we go. Each part had to be weighed.
Cargo Prep
Cargo Prep
Then Jonathan had forms and tags to fill out for each item.
Jonathan filling out forms.
Jonathan Filling Out Forms
After dinner I joined a tour over to Scott’s Discovery Hut, which is the only way you can go inside. I have mentioned the hut before and have been to it and stood under the porch a number of times.
Discovery Hut Porch
Discovery Hut's Porch
Our group walked over in a snow and wind storm which turned everything black and white.
Black rock and White snow at Hut Point
Snow and Wind Storm at Hut Point
Since I was with a guide I was able to go inside and look around and take some pictures. Scott built the Hut in 1901 and then used it again during his expedition to the South Pole in 1912. Other early explorers also used the hut. Inside the hut, it seems as though the explorers just stepped outside and may walk back in at any time.
Scott walking back into his hut.
Robert Falcon Scott's Ghost
The actual food left by the early explorers almost 100 years ago is still in a skillet on a stove.
Food in skillet in Discovery Hut
Dirty Dishes
Their pants are still hanging on a clothes line inside the hut.
Pants on the line in Discovery Hut
Explorer's Pants Hanging on the Line
The carcass of a penguin and other animals that they used for food are still on shelves, on the floor and hanging on the wall.
Penguin carcass
Penguin and other food supplies
Crates of food and supplies are still sitting on the floor.
Crates from Scott's South Pole Expedition
Scott's supply boxes
Scott and his men were explorers but they were also scientists. George said that Scott’s meterologist understood a lot about the weather systems here on Ross Island, 100 years ago. Scott and four of his men died in 1912 when they were returning from their expedition to the South Pole.
Above Scott's Discovery Hut is a ridge with a cross. The cross is a memorial to one of Scott's men who fell off of the ridge into McMurdo Sound and died in 1902.
Vincent's cross
Vincent's Cross