MAAG

Here are a few photos of the McMurdo Alternative Art Gallery

                                                             apocalyptic ginger bread

                                                                   copper pipe tree

                                                       Kiwis on the hamster wheel

                                                               Photos from field camps

                                                                  My scotch cabinet
                                   Bamboo plywood with bits of oak, walnut, and mahogany

The holiday season in Antarctica

  You would think that the holidays would be less stressful on a remote research base on a small island off a frozen continent where there are no shopping centers, cellphones, traffic, bills to pay, meals to cook, or annoying Christmas muzak pumped through every available speaker. This is not the case. We had a seven day work week in order to have a two day weekend, which leaves you pretty burned out. I have also been practicing with my bands every night to get ready for Icestock, a New Years day festival held annually at McMurdo. Also, I've been spending what's left of my free time in the woodshop building a project for MAAG, the McMurdo alternative art gallery, held every Christmas eve at the carp shop. On top of that, there have been a number of holiday parties at different work centers.
  Throughout all of this mayhem, I did find some time to get out around Ross Island and have some fun. I went on a tour of the pressure ridges where the Ross ice shelf meets the sea ice. Signup sheets for this and other tours randomly appear on the window of the rec office and fill up almost immediately. Luckily, my roommate works in the rec office and lets me know when these sheets go up.   A fascinating display of ice formations, the pressure ridges are also home to a group of seals, many of which were sleeping on the path.
  The week before, I skied out to Castle Rock, a large rock formation that has fantastic views of Antarctica. The same day, there was a research balloon launch. These giant balloons are used for all kinds of scientific studies which I do not come close to understanding. Gamma rays and stuff like that.
  Tonight I'm eating Christmas dinner with a bunch of carpenters in a rack tent behind the carp shop. It should be a fun time. Happy Holidays!

Scott's hut

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to get a tour of Scott's discovery hut. Located down the hill from McMurdo, it was used as a staging point for polar exploration and for scientific research in the early 1900's. I have a picture of the exterior a few posts ago. It is actually an Australian sheep herding hut that was built from a kit by Scott and his men. What they did not realize was that it had absolutely no insulation value and proved so impossible to heat that they had to sleep on board their ship. The inside has many interesting artifacts including mummified seal meat and lots of boxes of provisions. It is fascinating that cold climate has kept most everything intact. Here are a few photos.