About to get on the Trans Scenic train from Auckland to Wellington. So excited to head down on a train. Auckland is a beautiful and fun.

Going into Auckland. Sharring a hotel room with Cameron. Shady Oaks is ok but not close to stuff. It's warm here. Hope to hear from icefolk coming in tonight. if not, well, it's a small country.

In or outside of Auckland

at a little place called oakwook manor outside Auckland. Any Ice people coming in tomorrow want to share a room here? It's not as bad as the internet made it out to be.

Took a shuttle into New Market district and to the Cock an Bull and had a great dinner and drinks with icetards.

Tomorrow i buy a ticket to wellington to see the rents and hopefully see team 2 flight people.

In CHC airport at the CDC. Chatting with sandwich and being warm! 2 hours and we fly to Auckland.

Flight out

This is an amazing satalite photo. You can see how much ice has broken out. You can see the airport, the road, McMurdo, Scott Base.

20 more hours. That is all I have left, unless the road has to be remade because it is very close to becoming an iceberg. I walked to Scott base last night and looked out at the water. It has spread to the permanent ice sheet and even that is caving off.

Got flight info. Will be leaving here weather permiting midnight saturday night on a C-17 to CHC. ~4 hours at the cdc to drop gear then off to Auckland. Looking for thigs to do in Auckland before heading down to Wellington to meet the folks.

flight info

Got flight info. Will be leaving here weather permiting midnight saturday night on a C-17 to CHC. ~4 hours at the cdc to drop gear then off to Auckland. Looking for thigs to do in Auckland before heading down to Wellington to meet the folks.

Still CON2. Lots of snow. No flights

No flights still. Lots of snow and the wind is still blowing. The runway may open tomorrow. If CHC opens, they will try and get people out of here but most likely not to CHC.

Still in McMurdo

Don't think I will be leaving for a few days. At this point it is a good thing to be stuck here then to be in Christchurch. Glad to see so many good checkins via the facebook and google doc for ice people in Christchurch.

Condition 2!

The big storm got here. It's Con2 out there and windy! Not very cold though but the snow is piling up. I may be delayed!

Times of Change

The world is changing and I don't just mean the fact that I am leaving the ice tomorrow. I am very glad to have access to all the news, people and political while I am down here.

The weather is awesome today! Strong winds and snow! I have to pack, take my bags to get checked and weighed and then store some stuff for Sandwich's return next season. Mine too hopefully but I don't have a contract yet and nothing is taken for granted unless you have a signed piece of paper.

I got a mention on the U.S. Beard Team blog! http://beardteamusa.org/local-chapters/btusa-in-the-far-south/

windy

I leave in 2 days! that is Wednesday for me. The problem is i am on a NZ AirForce 757 troop transport. They can't land if the wind is over 8 knots. The have been canceled all week. I may not be out of here for a few more days after.

I am so excited to be going to NZ. To see family and to then go to LA and see extended family and then the most excited to go back to SF to see Sandwich and friends.

Now, off to last day of work!

View the first sunset in 5 months tonight at 1:20 Antarctic Time! That would be 4:20am PST http://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/mcmWebCamLg.cfm

First sunset webcasted.

View the first sunset in 5 months tonight at 1:20 Antarctic Time! That would be 4:20am PST http://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/mcmWebCamLg.cfm

Pretty crazy. It will not be on the camera but it should get dusk colored.

The sun sets tonight

This night, the 19th of February the Sun will go behind the Royal Society mountains. It will only be for a moment but it is the first one of the season. It dos a big oval through the sky now, dipping low to the south east then higher in the west.

There is a dance party in Gallagers tonight and at 1:20am there will be hot chocolate served out by the 100 year old hut to celebrate the end of summer.

Lots of flights are getting canceled due to weather. A lot of people done working hanging around waiting to leave. Some come and help us who are still working, others research travel plans. I hope I make it off on the 23rd so I can see the north shore a little and relax before Mom and Peter come down. I am excited to see them and go north. They got me a historic train ride for my birthday! I love trains!

I saw the ocean

I saw the ocean from the sea. The water is lapping at our island again
for the first time in years. I leave in less then a week and am both
excited and sad. I am so glad I took a walk after work today and saw
these amazing things.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I got a tiny truck and sweets! Oh yeah, and the sea ice blow out last night! So much water!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I got a tiny truck and sweets! Oh yeah, and the sea ice blow out last night! So much water! I starred out at it for hours last night at hut 10.

We played a lot of Pole Position and drank beer and talked. A nice little group. Hut 10 is a magical place. It is a little house with a booming sound system.

Today I am very run down but it is very nice.

Not so correct

http://www.wildvikings.com/index.php
These guys made it to the channel cut by the Oden but got turned back. Rumors about dropping fuel cache for an ATV run to the south pole?
Ammandson didn't discover the South Pole either, he was going to try and be the first to the North Pole but got beat so he raced down to beat Scott's expedition to the South Pole.

They call it an icebirthday. Today is mine! 35 times around the sun. I feel great!

Long long days

Weather is nice again. I am back on 10hr days and it feels great! on 9 days in a row with another to go then 2 off!

My 35th birthday is coming up too. I have hut 10 and am going to have a Bryans party. Inviting all the Bryans and Brians. it should be fun. Lots of people have left already but the population is still up at 1027. All the Kiwi labor force is off now. They leave this Saturday.

I am trying to set up a ride share up the north coast of the south island for the Brown Trout pizza party! Hope that works out as I have heard so many stories about it.

Weather is nice again. I am back on 10hr days and it feels great! on 9 days in a row with another to go then 2 off!

All white today! +4 and snowing! The feezer is really full and we have a lot left to shuv in there!

Awesome day!

5 hrs done in loader and another 6 togo!Weather is great at +19.Storm
coming later tonight.Con1 winds last night @ Pegasus road!Wind in town
feirce.

Disgusting awesome!

I just eat a chocolate covered cheezy poof. Thanks Jessie for sending me some of the funniest shit ever! I got mail! I also got 2 very nice letters and chocolates!

Fuel vessel castes off tonight then the cargo vessel docks. Bars close for the duration of off/on load and the store stops selling beer. People are crazy and hording. The funny thing is a lot of people will be gone before the vessel finishes. I'll be here for another 3 weeks.

Fata Morgana

The ice heats up, the mirage forms, it looks amazing!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fata_Morgana_(mirage)
I spent the morning in the Crary Lab IT room talking with Holly and Karen. I like how they work together. I think I have a new aspiration. Maybe in a few years.

Plane to new Zealand