"A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words." -Ansel Adams

    Far Out
    This is one of the most amazing views of my trip. Out at one of the ARA stations, I was the farthest away from "town" I'd ever been. I was at the edge looking out over nothing but the Antarctic ice. Peaceful and quiet, this continent will hold a special place in my heart.

    Anthony Bourdain
    Anthony Bourdain came to the South Pole Station to film his TV show "Parts Unknown." I got to meet him! (Credit: Michael Larson)

    James Beard
    Taken right after we finished trenching, James' beard shows just how beautifully moisture will freeze at the South Pole.

    Polar Bear Pole
    A rare citing of the ONE polar bear on the entire continent of Antarctica! (Credit: Adam West)

    Do Not Freeze
    This Do Not Freeze (DNR) sticker is common on delicate cargo.

    Sectors
    With a variety of sensitive scientific experiments nearby, the South Pole station (and surrounding area) is broken into sectors. Each sector has different rules when you enter. For example, the "Dark Sector" (where IceCube is) requires minimal light pollution including no radio frequency interference. All handheld radios must be turned off when entering this sector. On the other side is the "Upwind Sector" which is strategically placed upwind from the station to reduce air pollutants.

    Halo
    One day while we were out working I looked up and saw a halo around the sun. Halos are only present when there are ice crystals in the air. The sun's light reflects and refracts because of the crystals, then disperses into the slight rainbow you can see in this picture.

    Bicycle
    A bicycle outside the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. I'm not sure who this bicycle belongs to, but it does indeed get used (it changes position each day). Whoever it is must be a tad cold when riding.

    ICL and Kate
    Standing outside the IceCube Lab (ICL). This is where we spend the majority of our time when we're not at the Station. See that metallic tube on the right (there's one on the left too, just not shown in this picture)? That's where the cables from the DOMs come out of the ground and into the ICL.

    Igloo
    Taking a break from digging, a few team members built an open-roof igloo. Here I am lounging around in -30F weather. Comfy!

    Kate and Jim
    At the Geographic South Pole with Dr. Jim Madsen. So this is what it feels like to be at the bottom of the world! (Credit: Samantah Pedek)

    Sunbathing
    Sam catching some rays as we take a break from trenching. I'm not sure how tan they'll get in all that Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) gear.

    Flags Snow Drift
    Flags are used to mark everything from roads to equipment in the snow around the station. Each flag is 8 feet tall. In this picture, you'll see just how much these flags have been buried in snow. Although it doesn't snow much here, the wind causes the existing snow to drift quite a lot.

    The Gange
    The whole IceCube gang all together in the Science Lab. From left to right: Samantha Pedek, Mike DuVernois, Martin Wolf, Jim Madsen, Kate Miller, Samuel Flis, Michael Larson, James Casey, Francis Halzen (as a head), Keiichi Mase, Dylan Frikken. (Credit: Sasha Rahlin)

    Footprints
    As I look at my own footprints in the Antarctic snow, I wonder how many people have walked in this exact place before me. Probably not many.

    South Pole Telescope
    The South Pole Telescope (SPT) looks back through the history of our universe by examining the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). One of the things they're learning about is how the first galaxies were formed nearly 400,000 years after the Big Bang.

    ICL Shelf
    A storage shelf at the Ice Cube Lab (ICL). You can see many boxes of foot warmers along with some other supplies. Too bad all of these foot warmers are expired…we found that out the hard way far from the station when they wouldn't heat up.

    Ice Cubes
    I couldn't help but include this ice cube mold…because the IceCube Neutrino Observatory must have its own ice cubes. (Get it?!). Included are muons (top middle and bottom right), neutrinos (bottom left and top right), South Pole markers (top left and bottom middle), Antarctica, and the IceCube Lab.

    Clothesline
    I'm continuously hanging up my base layers, socks, and gloves to dry after working outside. Luckily there's a clothesline built into my room and there is essentially no humidity here, so things dry quickly. I do look forward to laundry day - one load of laundry is allowed per person each week.

    Author
    Date
    Location
    South Pole
    Weather Summary
    Sunny but cold
    Temperature
    -26.1F
    Wind Speed
    7.4 knots
    Wind Chill
    -46.5F

    Comments

    Period 4 Ice C…

    Do any people stay there year after year without ever leaving? Like, do the chefs stay? or anyone?
    Does a beard keep James warmer?

    Are you the polar bear in the picture?

    Do your socks smell?

    What are you doing in your free time?

    Check into that foot warmer "expiration" thing-- I heard they just can't work there (oxygen or something.)

    If you could stay there longer would you? Or do you miss us?

    Period 4 Ice C…

    Do any people stay there year after year without ever leaving? Like, do the chefs stay? or anyone?
    Does a beard keep James warmer?

    Are you the polar bear in the picture?

    Do your socks smell?

    What are you doing in your free time?

    Check into that foot warmer "expiration" thing-- I heard they just can't work there (oxygen or something.)

    If you could stay there longer would you? Or do you miss us?

    Period Carlos

    Can you please bring us a snowball? -Hoa and Sharon
    How about bringing home an "icecube" tray? -Phelan

    You met Bourdain! Will you be on TV? When?

    -From Carlos

    Kate Miller

    Hoa & Sharon - I cold try to bring you a snowball, but I think you'd be disappointed.
    Phelen - I can't take the ice cube tray since there's only one and it belongs to someone else.

    Yes I met Bourdain! It was pretty awesome. I *might* be on TV...I tried to sneak in the background, but definitely do not have a starring roll. No idea when it airs, but it'll be the "Parts Unknown" Antarctica episode. I'll keep you updated!

    Kate Miller

    1) No. You are required to leave the continent even if you are returning to winter-over multiple times in a row. Not only do you have to get PQ'd (Physically Qualified) again, but you also need a new VISA to pass through New Zealand to be here. But many people do come back year after year after year.
    2) In response to the beard question, James says, "Yes, yes it does. It's just totally epic."

    3) Yes, I am a polar bear in that picture. I found the costume in the Arts & Crafts room and thought it would be funny. Many people think there are polar bears in Antarctica, but they only live in the arctic. So by dressing up, I think I'm the only polar bear on the continent ;)

    4) Yes. Unfortunately my socks are a bit smelly. We're allotted one load of laundry per week, so everything starts to get a bit smelly. That's life at the Pole for ya!

    5) I just answered your question about freetime in my latest journal. Take a look: https://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/ice-cube-neutrino-observatory-201…

    6) Ahhhhh that's an interesting thought about the foot warmers. Perhaps the foot warmers don't work because there's not enough oxygen here. Hmmmm... I did do a double check though and the boxes in the picture are definitely expired.

    7) Both! I really miss certain things about my life back home - you guys, Travis, my own bed, internet, showers, laundry, etc. But I'm also so obsessed with this place. I know I've been here three weeks already, but it feels like just one week. I think if I had the opportunity to stay longer or come back to the Pole a different time I would!

    Richard Adams

    Arctic and Antarctic ...in Latin means bear, and then, no bear. It is solely a coincidence. However ,a good way to remember the constellations in the sky and the fauna on earth.