A blog from a science nut, computer geek, sometimes philosopher, and a human. Based out of Denver, with a love of Antarctica, I seem to wander the world so who knows where I'll be in 6 months.
I just finished watching Anthony Powell’s “Antarctica: A Year on the Ice” and having spent over a year on the Ice now (minus 3 weeks for a round trip home) it puts many things in perspective. It’s nearly the end of October, and my brain does finally feel like it’s returned to a nearly normal … Read more
Like any addiction, it comes at a cost. We may walk away being able to pay off student loans, debt, or go on a nice vacation to recuperate, but we trade this intense period of work & play in this extreme environment for those possibilities.
This is my 3rd season in McMurdo, two Summers, and now a Winter. In many ways I’m still a neophyte as compared to some of the 15+ year veterans and some things are still new to me. For most of my readers, you’ve never been to the Ice, so I want to elucidate on some … Read more
This week has been all about the sun, the moon, and the stars, well after the unexpected plane that landed here on Monday. It’s been exhausting, but amazingly fun. Some of you may have read my previous post on the mechanics of final sunset, which was an interesting research project. Following that post I went … Read more
Once again Andre get’s the ice scoop. Apparently the smurf shack at the Pegasus Airfield in McMurdo Antarctica decided it was tired of the cold and lit itself on fire to warm up… it’s a frustrating 30-minute ride out to the airfield, watching the flames. we’re told that the smurf shack is a total loss, but there’s … Read more
I’ve arrived in Kotlik, the asshole of the world as some joke. Kotlik in Yupik means pants, because two rivers fork in a way that looks like pants and the town is right where the asshole would be. Unfortunately they are also getting the asshole end of the bargin for many reasons. The Yupik may … Read more
Five hours per year staring at a elevator inspection certificate… That’s my back of the envelope guess at my usage, so five hours staring at a allen wrench and straighten paperclip taped to the frame, 5 hours wondering what the “major alterations” you could do to an elevator that would require an inspection, 5 hours … Read more
I am not the daily poster I used to be in Antarctica, but while you wait for me to find time to mull, edit, and finally post a piece, I highly recommend you read my friend andre’s blog for your virtual ice adventure. His literate descriptive prose is worth catching. Of course he’s not the … Read more