It just keeps getting better down here. Early this morning we suited up in our extreme-cold survival gear, followed our friend Dr. Lisa Clough of the National Science Foundation down to the ice airstrip, boarded an LC-130 Hercules, and flew 3 hours inland to the South Pole. For decades the Hercules fleet has been the dependable backbone of the U.S. Antarctic Program, and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the flight deck of the old workhorse with the pilot and co-pilot as we soared into the Antarctic interior.
We used the ski landing gear to touch down at the amazing new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, the southernmost scientific research base on Earth, where we were met by Martin Lewis (Acting South Pole Area Director) and Paul Sullivan (Science Support Manager). Dedicated, highly experienced, and funny long-time veterans of the Pole, Martin and Paul would prove to be superbly informative and enthusiastic guides for the day.