Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 04:37
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Microorganisms in Antarctic Glacier Ice

Lindsay

Where are you in developing the tunnel? Is it more difficult to chainsaw within the tunnel? What has been your biggest urprise so far. Disappointment? Hope all is going well...

Love you Dad and Mom

Tue, 10/27/2009 - 23:25

Lindsay Knippenberg

Hey Mom and Dad!Thanks for sending me a question. The chainsawing is actually much easier now that we are in the tunnel. The clean ice cuts really easy and it is under so much pressure that when we use the demolition hammer the blocks actually pop out. The only thing that gets harder is that the longer the tunnel gets, the farther we have to drag the ice to get it out of the tunnel. There's nothing like dragging a 600 lb sled of ice down a tunnel and dumping it down a hill. I am getting big muscles. So far the only disappointment is that I don't get any fresh food out in the field, but I knew that going into this. I would love a big salad and a huge glass of milk right now. As for surprises, the only surprise is how big everything is here. The valley that I am in is surrounded by huge mountains and they make everything seem so small. I didn't know that mountains this big were in Antarctica. 
Love you too
Lindsay