The weather cleared so we traveled up to the radome.

Yesterday evening the Trans Antarctic Mountains looked like a painting. They have looked different everyday this week. I walked along the sea shore and tried taking pictures of the abundant whales but I can't get them close enough for the picture to turn out. Maybe if I did a Flipper call! They are fun to watch. The Minke whales can really jump out of the water.

Today was my first trip up to the 10 meter dish antenna. Quite the view from up there. I was disappointed that it was too cloudy to see the two large volcanoes Mt. Terror and Mt. Erebus. We went inside the dome during a satellite pass. The material that covers the dome is very taught and with the wind hitting it the sound is like extremely loud drumming. We also traveled up the hill to visit the LIght Detecting And Ranging (LIDAR) telescopic experiment. The LIDAR is connected to two large telescopes to measure the ozone layer. Fascinating science!

I spent half of today in a survival class. All winter-overs are required to attend. It is pretty intense. All those traveling outside McMurdo are required to take a 60 pound bag of survival gear with them. This includes a tent, food, stove, saw, radio, and basic camping stuff. We were instructed on how to cut blocks of ice and stack them for shelter, pitch a tent in 50 mph winds, get a fire going, and survive like this for 3 days as that is the period most storms last. I think everyone should know how to make an igloo!

Looks like a painting.

Supply ship from Port Hueneme, California is a month late.

The army came in and built a "causeway" to unload the containers since the ice pier is unusable.

McMurdo General Hospital

This building contains all the town offices, galley, Gedunk (ship's store) and a 2nd floor dorm.

Recycling everywhere.

The dome that covers the 10 meter dish antenna for S-Band (2 Giga Hertz) and X-Band (8 Giga Hertz).

The town of McMurdo.

The 10 meter.

The antenna feed. 200 watts on a 50db gain dish equals lots of power transmitted.

The clearest day yet.

Mac Town. We are actually on Ross Island with two huge volcanoes. On one side is the Ross Ice Shelf and the other side the Trans Antarctic Mountain Range.

Established by the U.S. Navy in 1956.

On a clearer day we would be able to see Mt. Terror and Mt Erebus which at over 11,000 feet is the largest active volcano in the southern hemisphere. The opening of Erebus is actually a lake of magma. So no worries about it erupting.

This is the preferred mode of transportation here. Four wheel drive F-350 with huge tires. All vehicles here have plugged in engine heaters.