ARA37 layout
ARA is going to have 37 stations laid out like this: The planned layout of ARA. Notice that, on the bottom right, the runway and South Pole Station (green/yellow) are marked. It gives a good idea…
I got really wrapped up in working and living at the South Pole and I didn't have time to get all of my blogs finished/uploaded. I'm home now though and back into the routine of things, so for the…
A3D6 finished!
When I woke up this morning (in my own house back in South Carolina), I had this waiting in my email for me: A3D6 is finished! This is the last hole at the last station of the season so it's a…
Flying home is a sobering thing. I'm really sad to be leaving. I will miss the work - I love drilling - and I will miss the people terribly. To the drillers (Darrell, Terry, Thomas, Dave, Rob, Jim…
Penguins at the South Pole
To leave the South Pole, there are a few things you have to do. First, bag drag (i.e. pack up your checked luggage and move it to Destination Zulu aka DZ) by 3pm the day before your flight. Then,…
I was supposed to leave today but my flight was cancelled! Yay! Going out at lunch time to help out with another ARA3 hole. :)
Christmas Cookie
Days before Christmas, the preparations began. People volunteered to decorate the galley and make Christmas cookies. The cookies were decorated to look like the traditional things (trees,…
Tin of Pemmican
So, what amenities do we have available? When I told people I was coming to the South Pole, a lot of them pictured me sitting in a tent, eating beans out of a can. A tin of pemmican. Arctic and…
Last meal ever!
I've mentioned it before but our typical work week goes from Monday through Saturday, with Sunday being off. The first week I got here was a little different than normal because they were trying to…
Reading Room
I've got a post coming about all of the work that we do here but there are loads of things to do for fun, too. The station has several cool rooms like: The Quiet Reading Room The Quiet Reading Room…
The drill train at the ICL
When I first got here, the ARA drillers had assembled the drill train and were ready to begin drilling a test hole. Eventually, they would move out to the actual ARA-2 site but, before moving out…
After we drill the holes, Perry checks each one by sending a camera down to see what they look like. Attached to his camera, he's got a cardboard disk with some feelers on it. The cardboard/feeler…