Journal Entry
Today's post is going to be a photojournal of our afternoon hike near McMurdo station.
Hiking the Hut Point Ridge Loop Trail near McMurdo.
We—Hans, James and I—started the day with the outdoor safety lecture that was given at Crary Lab in McMurdo Station. This was also attended by like a dozen other people. Hans and I then proceeded to our afternoon hike at Hut Point Ridge Loop. This lasted from 4:45 pm to 6:15 pm, when a sudden spell of bad weather—with heavy fog, wind and snow—forced us to retreat.
All in all it was worth it, even if we were only able to do maybe half the trail. The views from the Hut Point hills—as the pictures below show—were absolutely breathtaking.
Outdoor Safety Lecture at McMurdo Station.
Overlooking the ice shelf near the George T. Vince memorial cross.
Me standing next to the George T. Vince memorial cross. Credit: Hans Niederhausen.
Hans pulling up right ahead of me.
A south polar skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) was found right in the middle of the trail. We stopped at a distance and sat down, until the bird left by itself.
Surface water can be found in sheltered areas of the Antarctic coast.
Weather conditions deteriorated rapidly and forced us back into the station.
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