Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 12/14/2007 - 11:24
Forums
Antarctic Ice Sheet Studies

Hi Mr. Gillette,

We enjoyed hearing from you about life in Antarctica.  Some of us didn't know that you had to have a license to pet penguins!  One of our favorite pictures was you in the crevasse training. 

Do you have television signal to watch regular programs? 

How much do you eat a day, how often, etc.?  Derek would like to know if you have ho-hos?  Do you have fresh fruit or vegetables?

Has the storm passed from yesterday?  Was it only wind, or was there any snow or ice accumulation?

So far, what has been the best part of your trip?

Madi, Ryan, Jennifer, Matt, Maddie, Tim, Meghan, Joe, Talia, Connor C., Krystalin, Tommy, Mackenzie, Megan, Hannah, Evan, Claire, Casey, Michael, Chris, Allison, Derek, Abbi, Brady, Jacob, Kevin

Mon, 12/17/2007 - 17:02

Brandon Gillette

You don't so much have to have a license as a permit, and that's to handle the animals and do your research.  The crevasse training was quite fun and we hope everyday that we don't have to use it!  Here at WAIS we don't have TV.  At McMurdo there are a few channels, but the times are all messed up.  It's a little weird watching football at 9am on Monday morning!  Tell Derek I haven't seen any Ho-Ho's down here, but there are plenty of other candies and deserts!  At WAIS fresh fruits and veggies are hard to come by, and we only get them at McMurdo on days when flights come in and for a few days after that.  It's really funny to see the longest line at meals be for the fresh lettuce and salad fixings.The storm is slowly winding down and there should be some journals about it over the next couple of days.  There was quite a bit of snow, but with such strong winds and large drifts it is nearly impossible to know just how much snow we actually received.  The best part of the trip, surviving the storm!
Cheers,~Gillette

Sat, 12/29/2007 - 12:55

Guest

Mr. Gillette,
Have you seen any penguins or historical sites on your trip so far?  Out on the ice do you have real food or freeze-dried food?  My mom was reading a mystery book set in Antartica and she had those questions to ask you.
Sam
Olathe

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 07:40

Brandon Gillette

Hey Sam,I am in the process of putting up some pictures from the end of the trip and some of the sights around McMurdo related to past explorations of the continent.  There are numerous signs and 'monuments' to the early explorers.
As far as food goes we really ate pretty well.  We never did have any freeze dried food and the chefs that we had at the field camp were outstanding!
Happy New Year!~Gillette