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Antarctic Undersea ROV

 

Hi Mindy,

Holly wants to know how high you built the snow wall?

Adrian- How did you get water when you were at "camp"? Is the ice salty?

Adolf- How do you treat frostbite and what are you doing for fun?

Braxton- Do the tents have any insulation?

 Can you keep us posted visually on your frostbitten fingers?

Thanks

Kirk

 

Mon, 10/08/2007 - 23:17

Mindy Bell

Hi Holly - The snow wall was three blocks high - close to three feet high.  It was fun to build.  First we used a shovel to trench around an area of smooth ice.  Then we used regular saws and sawed out the blocks and used a shovel to pry them out.  If you saw them smoothly, then they fit together pretty tightly and really do make a wind break.Hi Adrian - The water at camp came out of plastic jugs that we brought from the Station - but once we started getting that water warm, then we could add snow and melt that.  The water at McMurdo Station comes from the ocean and is desalinated which takes a lot of energy.  I'll try to get more information on that later.
Hi Adolf - You have to keep the frostbit area warm and dry.  It is healing on its own and I really don't want more pictures of my fingers up on the post!!!  There isn't too much to see.  I just went to an "Outdoor Safety Lecture" so I can start hiking on the trails around here for fun.  There is also a bowling alley and I've heard there is a disc golf course outside somewhere.  There is a ski slope over at Scott Base where the New Zealanders are (only 1.5 miles away) but it isn't open yet and we have to be invited to use it.  I'll keep you posted as I find more fun things to do!
Hi Braxton -  The Scott tents are just canvas and the mountain tents are nylon - and there is NO insulation.  We slept on two foam pads each but it was still very cold!
Great questions! Mindy