10 December 2008 SCINI Smashes Her Record

I got to go out into the field today. I was so excited, especially because it was our last day. We packed up the Pisten Bully and Stacy, Scott, and Francois headed out to Cape Evans. I had to go see the doctor this morning for a follow-up so Bob and I got snowmobiles and joined them. As I pulled up on the snowmobile I was struck that this was indeed our last field day. It was the last day that I would be working on the ice. I wanted to impress the image on my brain and I thought a picture would be helpful.

Our last field camp was in front of the last and biggest glacier at Cape Evans.

We helped finish getting SCINI ready and then it was time to launch. Once SCINI was in the water, Bob and Francois loaded up the Jiffy drill and four drill flights and jumped on the snowmobiles. They went in search of a hole that was at least 1000 feet deep. One of the goals this year was to take SCINI down at least 1000 feet and today was our last chance.

Stacy and Scott were in the Pisten Bully doing the transects. I was left outside and I decided to spend my time looking around at the amazing scenery. The first thing I noticed was that one of the huge bulldozers was dragging a dive hut. The ice is getting dangerously thin and it is necessary to drag the dive huts back to McMurdo Station or risk the ice cracking and them falling into the water.

Then I looked at the icebergs that SCINI had already surveyed. I spotted the first two icebergs sitting next to each other.

The third iceberg was sitting off to the side of the one we were surveying today. It is my favorite because of the slide. I will always remember slip sliding down the front.

I then started walking towards the large glacier and I was struck with how much of the snow and ice was melting. Everywhere you looked you saw signs of melting. It could be just a matter of time (months) before the iceberg will be completely melted.

After the transects were completed, we packed up the Pisten Bully and headed off to try the big dive. When we arrived at the new site, Stacy and I took a walk. The boys wanted to do this one on their own. It was nice to walk across the snow and ice and get a chance to have one last look around. We got back to the field site in time to watch the big launch. Bob, Francois, and Scott looked on with anticipation.

It was exciting to hear them yell out that SCINI had reached 1015 feet. You heard me right, 1015 feet! SCINI had smashed her last record. It was a great way to end the day and a fitting way to end our season in Antarctica. Everyone was very proud, especially SCINI.