Journal

Grounded!

Intermittently, we've had bouts of sunshine the last couple of days... and then the snow blows sideways again. We're all packed up and ready for the field season at Lake Joyce.... but we can't get there because the helicopters are grounded. They will fly low and through the mountains and if visibility is poor, its not safe to go. Right now, it looks like we’ve been delayed until Tuesday, but things can change fast.

Hopefully we'll be riding one of these soon.
Hopefully we'll be riding one of these soon.

Meanwhile, we've done everything we can here to prep for being out in the field, and we're looking for things to do. We can check out cross-country skis, which I would love to do, but until just recently, we thought we'd leave for the Dry Valleys and Lake Joyce, so we didn't want to get the skis.

We went for a short hike yesterday, up to a vantage point called Observation Hill. There's a cross up there to commemorate the Scott expedition. The hill is where part of Scott's party would climb to watch out for his return from the South Pole, but he never made it back.

Hiking to top of Observation Hill.
Hiking to top of Observation Hill.

Megan and I hiking up Observation Hill.
Megan and I hiking up Observation Hill.

Me, leaning back against the wind.
Me, leaning back against the wind.

Details
Author
Lucy Coleman
Date
Location
McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Expedition
Microbialites In Lake Joyce Antarctica
Weather Summary
Cloudy.
Temperature
18°F
Wind Chill
2°F

View Comments

Comments

Sun, 10/26/2014 - 23:07

Jen Hladun

I hope everything is going well with your movement to Lake Joyce. I was doing some research on the Scott expedition, and one of the sources I saw said that their camp was left in place and is buried in the ice and that the ice is part of a glacier moving towards the ocean. Assuming this is all true, do they rebuild the cross every few years so it's still visible? Is it in the original spot or moving along w/ the glacier?
Take care!
Jen

Mon, 11/03/2014 - 06:34

Jack and Kate …

Hi, Just wondering how deep is the snow where you are now?

Mon, 11/03/2014 - 11:09

Lucy Coleman

Jen,
Great question! I think the Scott party divided up, so some of them stayed behind at McMurdo while others made their bid for the South Pole. The ones waiting at McMurdo would climb up Observation Hill to look for the ones who were supposed to return. The cross at the top was planted into bare earth, not a glacier. I’m not sure about the spot where Scott himself had his last camp. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was part of a glacier – McMurdo has many large ones nearby.

Mon, 11/03/2014 - 14:27

Matthew M Spri…

What was Scott's Expedition and when did it take place?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 04:09

SPG-Sara Havens 3

Hello! I was wondering by far, what was the coldest temperature you've faced? Have a safe trip!!

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 06:23

Caroline Hered…

Hi, I wanted to know how long you'll be staying in Antarctica ?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 12:18

Cameron D. Spr…

How long was the hike to Observation Hill?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 13:26

Tiffanie W Spr…

Hi, I was wondering how deep the snow gets down there? Have a safe trip!!!!

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 14:13

Marissa H. Spr…

What is the warmest temperature that you have experienced in Antarctica? Have a great trip!

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 15:01

melanie q, spr…

Hi! I wanted to know how long did it take you to get to the top of Observation Hill?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 15:20

Emily Lupercio…

Hello, I just wanted to know what date did the Scott Expedition begin and when it ended. Thank you.Have a safe trip!

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 15:21

Emily Lupercio…

Hello, I just wanted to know what date did the Scott Expedition begin and when it ended. Thank you.Have a safe trip!

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 15:29

Julianna V. Sp…

Hey how are you? And how come Scott's party didn't make it back to the hill?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 15:41

Ashley Rea Per…

When was Scott's expedition and what was its purpose?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 16:23

Nicole R. Spri…

Does the unperdictible weather in Antartica ever make you nervous?

Tue, 11/04/2014 - 17:05

Sebastian S. S…

What was the most interesting thing you saw when you went for. The hike

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 03:20

Andrew C. Spri…

Why was there an expedition to the south pole? If Scott never made it back did the rest of his team ever go and find his body?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:31

Lucy Coleman

Hi Matthew,
The Scott expedition was in the early 1900's (I'm not sure of the exact date.) The party wanted to be the first to reach the South Pole, but another group led by Amundsen reached the pole first. Scott and his party ran out of food and energy on the way back, and died before making it back to McMurdo Station.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:33

Lucy Coleman

Hi Cameron,
The whole hike took about an hour and half, but some of that was spent taking pictures and having fun on the way!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:35

Lucy Coleman

Thanks for the well-wishes! Our coldest temperature so far has probably been at McMurdo, which got down to around -15°F, I think. However, the windchill can make it feel so much colder. If you factor in the windchill, its probably gotten down to around -30°F. Really, really cold!

Thu, 11/06/2014 - 13:49

Lucy Coleman

Andrew: Scott and his party wanted to be the first ones ever to get to the South Pole – it was sort of a race for the glory and sense of discovery. They were less than a month behind Amundsen and then died a few days walk from the safety of McMurdo. They didn't make it because they ran out of food and energy and as a result, they couldn't cope with the cold. The rest of the party that had been waiting for them in the McMurdo area came out and found their tents, gear, and bodies and were able to recover some of their belongings, like their journals. Unfortunately, they didn't have the manpower to bring the bodies back. They are entombed in the glacier where they died.

Thu, 11/06/2014 - 13:54

Lucy Coleman

Sebastian:Probably the most interesting thing we saw were the views of McMurdo from up above. The weather wasn't super great, so we didn't get a really good look at the horizon...

Thu, 11/06/2014 - 13:56

Lucy Coleman

Nicole – I think the unpredictable weather makes everyone nervous! You are required to follow strict procedures to only go out when the weather is good, take a radio and supplies with you and checking in when you return. You would definitely be missed if something happened to you here!

Thu, 11/06/2014 - 13:58

Lucy Coleman

Caroline – We'll be here for about 2 months. About 6 weeks of that time will be spent at Lake Joyce.

Thu, 11/06/2014 - 14:02

Lucy Coleman

Marissa – Thanks for the well-wishes! We are having a great trip! The warmest that I think it's been since we've been here is around 20°F, still pretty chilly!