I think this is the first famous person with which I have ever had my picture taken. Yes, that is Ann Curry with me. She is tiny...TV makes her look much taller than she is. No, I wasn't interviewed for the camera...but she did stand around and talk with me for about 30 minutes.

All the rumors are true! The TODAY show is in Antarctica. Yes, that is Ann Curry!

This is the look of a man hiding beside a building to avoid winds of 48 knots. With that and a windchill factor of -46F thoughts of a beautiful wife and three beautiful sons keeps me warm!

I wonder where Asher, Jackson, and Reed get their ornery spirit? Couldn't be me! I have spider in hand...the only one in the entire aquarium that wasn't afraid to pick it up.

You can't just look at these things in the aquarium, you have to touch 'em!

Here is an Antarctic Sea Spider (Colossendeis robusta). It is amazing the creatures that exist in the frigid climate.

The infamous Antarctic fish (Cryopelagic Fish). These are studied so heavily because of their antifreeze capabilities. The Crary Laboratory has an aquarium that houses the fish for study and of course the photo ops.

Here is the flightline on the frozen ocean. Our first Ski-fitted 130 has touched down. The plane to the right of it has been taking approximately 15 people to the South Pole each time it flies. It is a DC-3T Basler...big talk for a puddle jumper from Canada. The crew of this thing are nothing short of cowboys. The plane is not pressurized and the running joke is that they walk up to it, kick the tires, turn the prop and GO! One of the pilots that flies this thing from Canada tumbled one on landing it. It rolled end over end numerous times. Upon final impact....he apparently kicked the door open, his cowboy hat was a little cocked and crushed, and he was heard screaming "WHOO-HOO what a rush, Eh! Lets do it again, Eh!"

Here I am from a distance having a day at the beach! Anyone for a sandcastle?

This is me at the historic "Discovery" hut of Captain Robert Falcon Scott. It was built in February 1902. It became an invaluable advance staging point for journeys for the "Discovery" expedition of 1901-04 and Scott's expedition of 1910-13. It was also used by Sir Ernest Shackleton. It was pre-fabricated in Australia and then brought here by boat for the expedition. All of their supplies are still intact and protected by the Antarctic Heritage Trust. The frozen carcass of a seal killed on the original expedition is still outside the building ready for stew meat.

This is the main sign at Scott Base which reminds me a lot of the sign from M*A*S*H.

Well, here I am at my first visit to Scott Base. Scott Base is the New Zealand research facility only with much less personnel. They will max out at around 85 folks compared to our 1,200 folks. I formally visit them 1-2 times a week. You may only go to Scott Base by invitation only. Their building are all under one roof and so when you are inside you take off your shoes and wear slippers throughout the facility. Check those shoes at the door or don't get invited back!

This is the group of folks that I am working with so far from the Air National Guard. Who is that civilian looking guy amongst the military looking folks?

The blowing and falling snow gets to the point that you can look directly into the sun and it doesn't phase you. It is amazing what God can do!

Here are some awesome photos of a snow cliff. One of the overwhelming things to realize is that these cliffs are formed from the blowing, gale-force winds and are nothing but ice and snow. These cliffs are made of snow and ice that is often hundreds if not thousands of years old.

This is a picture of the cross behind the chapel, which overlooks the frozen bay where the planes land. The Transantarctic Mountains Range is in the background. My first days here we still had some night but now we are moving into a whole lotta sun.

Here I am in the sanctuary on my first Sunday at The Chapel of the Snows.

This is the Stained-glass window at the front of the sanctuary inside The Chapel of the Snows. I don't know if you can see the details or not but on top of the blue background is the outline of Antartica in white. Then on top of the white background is the religious symbols as well as a penguin. Pretty neat window. Had to share.

This is The Chapel of the Snows. Obviously this is where I work. It is a charming little church with all of the amenities you would ask for.

THE EREBUS CHALICE


In 1841 Sir James Clark Ross led an expedition aboard the HMS Erebus to what is now known as the Ross Sea. On board that ship was Lieutenant (later Admiral) Edward Joseph Bird. One of his descendants was Ms. Betty Bird of Auckland, New Zealand.

Ms. Bird acquired the Erebus Chalice, which is thought to have been made ca. 1908 in London. To commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated 1911 expedition to the South Pole,
Ms. Bird had it engraved and dedicated for use at the Chapel of the Snows. This chalice was first used in services here on Christmas Day, 1987. It is displayed in the Chapel during the austral summer. During the austral winter, the Chalice is returned and displayed at the Christ Church Cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand.

At the beginning of each summer season, the Chalice is presented in the special Opening Ceremonies worship service in Christchurch and carried to the Ice by the Air National Guard Protestant Chaplain. The Erebus Chalice is among the most treasured and historic items on the continent.

Here is picture of yours truly holding the Erebus Chalice. This was following the big worship service in Christchurch--blessing the Antarctica Summer season. There is a lot of history surrounding the Erebus Chalice.

These are both historic New Zealand planes that were used in Antarctica. Hard to believe something as simple as these were in common service in the harsh environment. Yet another example of the salt of the early explorers.

This is a statue of Robert Falcon Scott, of the Royal Navy. He was an early explorer of Antarctica and died on a trip from the South Pole. He was well within reach of his food cache but because of the weather and the living conditions of the environment they never made it. Sad story...but part of the history. This statue is in Christchurch, New Zealand.

This is an in-flight overview of the transition from ice plains on Antarctica to mountainous terrain of the Trans-Antarctic Mountain range.

An in-flight overview of the ocean icing up. This is the transition point coming in from New Zealand to the ice.

This is one of the Hagglunds, a tracked vehicle which is used to transport people on the ice to field camps and between stations. It can run through water and everything. A pretty universal tracked vehicle.

Ford and Tank Morphing--Fank or is it Tord

This is one of the tracked trucks that I have been telling the boys about. Pretty neat thing really. Can you imagine having one of these parked in the driveway back home.

Well, here I am standing next to THE SIGN at McMurdo Station. It seems to be the photo op that everyone takes. When on the ice do as the ice-people do...I guess.