McMurdo Posting TIme 1-27-08 1:11 PM Central Standard Posting Time 1-26-08 6:11 PM
Byrd AWS Weather Data
Temperature- 5 F Wind Direction- East South East Wind Speed- 22 MPH Wind Chill- -15 F
Today’s WATIZIT Picture
WYIZE
Why Is He Hitting The Plane With a Sledge Hammer?
Our Second, and Last, Day of Flying at WAIS Divide Camp
After breakfast, Jim again checks the weather data for our flight to two more weather stations. Due to cloudy weather he gives us a 70% chance of being able to land, but he says we will try it. We haul our gear down to the Twin Otter from the Science tent.
Science Tent before we leave in the morning.
The Science Tent When We Left
It is only a 45 minute flight to the Byrd AWS so we all board the plane and give it a try. If we can't land we will fly to the second station.
Jim and Louie in the cockpit of the Twin Otter
Jim and Louie in the Twin Otter's cockpit
The Byrd AWS is at the location of an old abandoned field camp named for Admiral Byrd. We land at the old airstrip and then drive (in the Twin Otter-which is on skies) more than a mile until we find the weather station. It is a strange sensation to be skiing around in an airplane. A quick repair and we are off for another 45 minute flight to SwithinBank AWS. Another relatively quick repair in under sunny skies and we settle in for the 1 + hour flight back to WAIS.
Louie sunbathing Antarctica style
Louie sunbathing Antarctica Style
On or way back to WAIS we receive a radio communication that George and I are scheduled to board an LC-130 and fly back to McMurdo, no one had communicated to us before, that we were on that flight. We were not even back to WAIS and we had just a few hours to get all of our equipment, tents and gear packed up and read to go.
George on the radio
George communicating with Jim from the back of the Twin Otter
When we arrive back at WAIS we found that the camp deconstruction crew was taking down the Science tent and all of our science equipment and personal gear out in the snow. We had not received any communication that would be happening either.
The Science Tent and our gear when we returned.
The Science Tent when we returned.
We quickly packed up all of our gear and went over to the Galley, for some dessert, to wait for the LC-130. It eventually lands in a cloud of snow.
LC-130 landing at WAIS
LC-130 landing at WAIS Divide
While the cargo was being loaded I posed for a picture.
Kirk and LC-130
Kirk and LC-130
Soon we are directed to board and we get settled in for the flight back to McMurdo. Sure hope I get frequent flier miles for the past few days.
Cool
Passengers and Cargo in the LC-130
Passengers and Cargo on the LC-130
Some people even managed to get some sleep on the three or so hour flight back to McMurdo.
Sleeping on the LC-130
Catching a few ZZZ's