Ice Stock

News Years Eve weekend is Ice Stock. Bands performed throughout the afternoon and all the cargo containers surrounding had different groups competing in the chili cook off. Video of one of the bands. We had all sorts of acts, even one really good blue grass band.

Plane Crash

Wow,

A couple days ago the Ken Borek folks had the Basler Turbine DC-3 made what we heard was a hard landing. From what I gather Im not sure if they lost engine power shortly after take off or if the skis got stuck on the ice. Either way the plane is severly damaged but none of the passengers and crew where hurt beyond some cuts and bruises. Here is a link from one of the passengers blogs with good pictures. http://mitchell-antarctica.blogspot.com/

They are saying that they will try to fix the airplane and fly it back but I don't know. Back when I worked in the maintainence shop at centennial we fixed an airplane that had been in a similar wreck. It took us a long time with the airplane on jacks just to get it flyable. Not to mention the weeks of work after that to get it back into looking good again. Just from the pictures I can see there is a couple months worth of work to do, and they don't have a hangar to work in or a good place to jack the airplane. Since both engines hit with the power on they are going to need new engines and props, the landing gear was torn out so that means major structural work, as well as skin damage which means more major strucural work. The engines on that plane run for about a million each, plus new five blade props, landing gear etc. This particular plane was made in 1942 so there might not be an abundance of parts. I think the airplane is going to be left where it is.

Medevac

So early this morning instead of sleeping in on the towns day off I got a 6 am wakeup that I would have to go to work. It seems some idiot at the south pole station got drunk, started a fight and got his jaw broken. The story is that this is not this persons first alcohol problem. So they are going to spend about $250,000 to bring him home. He is currently en route from the pole, he will then land here and get a helicopter ride into town where they will treat him at the hopital here. Then another helo ride back out to the airfield where they will ship him back to Christ Church.

Now the rumor mill is turning. The rumor mill is working overtime. The stories have already begun to float around about how they will make the station dry, they will fire those caught drinking, blah blah. We'll see. I have observed that the rumor mill down here works exactly like this: wild speculation -> rumor-> certain fact. For example I could speculate that Santa Clause might come to town (wild speculation), the next person will say that they have heard Santa will come to town (rumor), by the time it gets back to me I will be told that Santa is indeed coming to town (certain fact). The rumor mill is also good at combining different events into one grandiose story. Over thanksgiving a hole was put into one of the walls in the dorm and the fire department showed up to look at a girl who was not feeling well. Two unrelated events. I know this because it happened in my hall. But later that day someone told me they had heard (rumor) that a girl had gathered up a big head of steam, while unconscionably intoxicated mind you, and plowed head first into the wall. She was injured beyond repair and was to be sent home. 'Thats what happened?' I asked. 'Yes, thats the story' was replied (certain fact).

The town Christmas party went down last night. Good times.

Baloon Launch

The nice weather allowed the baloon folks to get one of the three launches planned for this season. The unique weather around the continent will allow the payload to circle the continent. This was taken before it was filled all the way. After it was full, I'd say it was about 10 stories high. The payload was the size of a big van.

Same old stuff

Well, nothing really new to report. The season is going along smoothly. Several of the research groups are pulling out in time for Christmas, some of the people here have quit in time for Christmas but the rest of us are going to tough it out. The weather has warmed up considerably. Average temps are in the high thirties with a few days over 40. With no wind you can go outside with a swetshirt and jeans. There is alot of melting going on, a few mini rivers formed around town. The sea ice is starting to melt and get thin, we may even see open water soon. With about 2 months to go travel plans are starting to be made. Christmas is right around the corner, we have a big meal and a few days off planned.

Im switching jobs. Starting Jan 1 I'll be working in the shop in town. Working on the equipment should be better than dragging it around the airfield like I normally do. The only downside is I won't have access to the snowmobile like I did out at the runway.

Cyclo-Cross

We had the town bicycle race last weekend. 2 miles around town with hills and stairs and obstacles to boot.

Not many racers did well on the stairs

Will I wreck on the stairs like those guys?

NO! HUZZAH!