Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 15:23

Fuelies, such a great name associated with what looks like the hardest job at palmer station. The scientists have it easy compared to what the fuelies do. That small video of the camera pointed at an angle at what the fuel tank looks inside was quite revealing. It was also fun to hear your voice again. My favorite picture this time is easily the beached leopard seal. The irony in that image coupled with your duty at palmer could not be more expressed. The dangerous seal could easily take a human life yet it is seemingly helpless on the ice. This is somewhat of a metaphor for global warming. Even the biggest creatures need to rest sometimes, if the ice goes, the life is not far from depletion as well. My mom was very interested in the various soils that you guys were looking at. I was wondering, it seems like pure sulfur would be incredibly difficult to come by, is that true? And I was wondering if you heard about the Russians new discovery of the underground lake in Antarctica? Apparently the lake hasn't seen the light of day for millions of years. I guess this was sort of a bitter sweet moment because any life in there that was accustomed to that kind of darkness may have instantly been destroyed. Or, they may have covered up the whole in ample time to save any life from the sun. I wonder if the water contains salt or is it fresh water trapped from eons ago in a salt water glacier, wouldn't that be cool. I thought I would tell you something incredible that happened to me today. A homeopathic chiropractor has appeared to have cured the pains that I have been having in my legs and hips for five years. I went in feeling what all the other doctors said was some kind of rheumatoid arthritis that I would just have to live through for the rest of my life. And he said no, my pain was due to some nerve dysfunction at a focal point at my neck. He elongated and stretched some muscles that he said must have been applying awkward pressure to my spinal cord for five years resulting in on an off joint pain. He tested my various hip and leg muscles after fixing this dysfunction of muscle in my neck and my joints were actually stronger than before. I hope more than anything that he was right about everything. If he was right it would mean this thing that has been plaguing my life for years could be cured and I wouldn't have to take painkiller anymore. I would be free from pain with athletic activities. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up too high but he was very convincing. Only time will tell. But thank you for reading this message if you got this far. I continue to read your journals and marvel at the pictures. The most beautiful one in my opinion was the white glacial view. With the sun in the upper left corner shining down with great ice mountains in the background. It really made me wish I could be out there.

Luke Plowden

Nell Herrmann

Hi Luke,It's always nice to hear from you and I'm glad you may have found a solution to the pain you've been having in your legs and hips. I wasn't aware that is something you deal with and I hope everything works out for you.
I'm happy to hear you are continuing to read the journals! It's not hard to take a good photograph here because my surroundings are incredibly beautiful. It's sad to think that the western Antarctic peninsula is a major "hotspot" (no pun intended) for climate change. Increases in air and sea temperatures are faster here than anywhere else on the planet and the glacier is receding rapidly. I'll be posting a journal about that soon; I find it all very alarming.
The Fuelies are great people and work incredibly hard; they are inspirational! I'm glad your mom found the soils interesting- I'm sure she knows much more about that than I do and I wonder if she's had time to think or read much about gelisols?
I like your metaphor; you are a very thoughtful person! Yes, I did hear about the Russians. That was in the news right before I left to come here- fascinating stuff.
Keep up the good work at home. I look forward to a meeting with the Polar Ambassadors once I'm back in State College. I'll have a big slide show to share and of course some kind of tasty snack! ;)
Keep in touch,
-Ms. Herrmann