January 27, 2008 Wrapping it all up . . .

We are home, safe and sound! I apologize for the delay in posting a wrap-up journal. I came home to some family matters that needed some attention and then it was time to head back to school. This journal serves to reflect a little bit on the time in Antarctica, and hopefully provide a few other avenues for continued outreach should it be of interest.

The trip as a whole has to rank at the top of a growing list of life experiences. It all started in New Zealand and technically still hasn't ended, and I loved/am loving every second of it! I'll provide a few pictures for your viewing pleasure so you may help remember the trip with me:

Near Lyttleton Harber in New Zealand.

Before leaveing Christchurch.

Bucketheads?! At Happy Camper (snow school).

Galley entrance at WAIS after a storm.

The team before the C-130 flight back to McMurdo. THANK YOU!

All in all, despite the amount of science we did, the trip was nothing short of AMAZING! I might add that it wasn't the fault of anything other than the weather that we didn't get a whole lot done. I'm hoping to hear very soon from the rest of the team about how the trip faired once I left. They finally did get a Twin Otter in to WAIS to help get some supplies out to the deep field. I don't have any specifics as all this information came from Zach Smith of Tufts University who was also posting journals, most long after I left the ice (http://waisdivideoutreach.blogspot.com). Keep checking his blog for more information on the team.

We also have another PolarTREC teacher in the field right now, who just happens to be at WAIS Divide working on the weather stations, one of which was damaged during one of our storms. You can read more about Kirk Beckendorf and his expedition by clicking here.

In short I would like to thank all those at ARCUS, CReSIS, Raytheon, the NSF and others involved in making this trip a HUGE SUCCESS! It truly was the experience of a lifetime. If you're looking for another teacher to do polar outreach in the future, you know where to find me!

WITH MUCH GRATITUDE and THANKS! ~Brandon Gillette