The United States’ McMurdo Station and New Zealand’s Scott Base sit close together on McMurdo Sound, an inlet of the Ross Sea.  Incredibly rich in nutrients and biodiversity, the Ross Sea is one of the last bodies of water on earth not harmed by human activity (other than the seemingly inevitable commercial over-fishing of certain species).  Back from the South Pole, we decided to take a nice long walk along what will be the shore line of this special body of water when the ice of McMurdo Sound breaks apart for the summer over the course of the next few weeks.

We headed this way on our walk.

Last night I heard that someone had fallen through the ice while walking back from the “ob tube,” so of course that’s where I wanted to go first.  Good-natured as always, Dr. Lisa (Clough) agreed to squire us there.  Smart and prepared as always, she asked her colleague, Michelle, and McMurdo fireman André to accompany us, in case she needed help fishing me out of the water.

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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.

Aiming for the snow runway at South Pole Station.

Successful touchdown.

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.

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