Adventures in Antarctica

[Warehouse23]

Howdy All!

Tomorrow at 0800 local, I'm off to the field for the season! All our gear has been staged down to Helo Ops (all 5,000 lbs or so of it), and is ready to load into the waiting helo fleet.

I'm anxious, and exciting, and tired (it's been a long week preparing the gear), and a little over-whelmed--kind of like the feeling you get just before going home after a long absence. Going back to Beacon Valley feels like going home to me--to a valley I have come to know and love (I even have pictures of it on my office wall back at Brown--it's like a member of the family). Sure, there'll be stress, and lots of work, and worry, but in the end, I know that I've been waiting over a year to get back and tomorrow I'm finally going.

Have a wonderful holiday season, everyone! Be well, be hale, be healthy, be happy! I'll post again when I'm back on station.

cheers,

"Java" Joe (My Antarctic field nick-name)/WH23

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Good luck, and stay safe (and as warm as possible)!

Love the pictures -- there's something kinda scary at looking at all that wide-open space, but kinda neat, too. Makes me feel the same way I did when I stood waist-deep in the surf in Hawaii looking out and realizing there was many thousands of miles between me and the rest of the world.

 

[CarlZog]

So, I'm walking my dog around the neighborhood last night, thinking, "Boy, it's getting chilly!", when I pass Warehouse23's house, and am quickly reminded that he's in a tent at the south pole in about -20°F.....

Suddenly, I was quite comfortable.

Hang in there, Joe! Hope the trip's going well for you. I look forward to hearing the tales you'll bring back.

I'm guessing you won't be able to read this 'til you get back to McMurdo in January, but we missed you at the gameday.

Carl

 

[Piratecat]

 

[Mark CMG]

Nearly a month. What's new at the bottom of the world?

 

[CarlZog]

Nearly a month. What's new at the bottom of the world?

We won't know for another month. As I understand it, he's "in the field" and out of internet access 'til January when he gets back to the base.

Carl

 

[Aurora]

How did I miss this? This is freaking hilarious.

 

[Mark CMG]

We won't know for another month. As I understand it, he's "in the field" and out of internet access 'til January when he gets back to the base.

Carl

Ah, I see. I didn't realize "the field" meant he'd be totally out of contact like that. Thanks for clearing that up. Do they still shuttle post cards along to him in the field or do those await him at base for his return?

 

[CarlZog]

Ah, I see. I didn't realize "the field" meant he'd be totally out of contact like that. Thanks for clearing that up. Do they still shuttle post cards along to him in the field or do those await him at base for his return?

If I recall, he said there is a resupply helicopter that makes occasional visits to the field.

Carl

 

[Mark CMG]

I wonder if season's greetings would reach him quickly?