Antarctica 2006

A Room with a View!

We have arrived safely, and without incident at Lake Hoare! It always feels a little intimidating when we show up at the helicopter pad and a significant portion of our briefing is what to do in case of a crash! We have to wear our complete ECW (extreme cold weather) gear outfit. On such a warm day as this, I was stifling! Safety is foremost on everyones mind. We wear the ECW gear just in case there is a crash, or a hard landing causing us to be trapped, we will be able to stay warm. They don't want anyone surviving an accident and then freezing to death! I think that's reasonaable! We flew across McMurdo Sound and up into Taylor Valley. It is so impressive to see massive glaciers spilling out into the valley below. These valleys are called "Dry" because the glacier that created them has receeded leaving exposed ground. The other valleys are all filled with massive glaciers. The first thing we did upon arrival was to unload all the gear and set up our tents. Then we went and inspected the dive hole. All looks well; we will start diving in Lake Hoare tomorrow morning!

	This is our pilot Paul and the inside of the B-212 helicopter. I was wondering if he was filling in his log book or reading the instruction manual! I have flown with Paul a few times - he is a wonderful pilot; I knew we were in good hands!
Meet Dr. Peter Doran! He is checking all the boxes in front of us to be sure they were secure. It is thanks to Peter that I am able to participate in such a wonderful adventure. Thanks Peter!
	On our way to Lake Hoare, we flew passed the Commonwealth Glacier. Isn't it interesting how such glaciers just spill out into the valleys from the higher plateau and then just - stop! There are very few land based glaciers that do this.
Paul waves goodbye before he takes off and leaves us in the field. Notice the gently sloping valley behind him. This is one part of a classic "u-shaped" valley formed by a glacier that once scoured its way through the region.
	Welcome to Lake Hoare, our home for the next several days! The glacier seeping in from the left is the Canada glacier. The lake is all the white area to the right of the glacier. The smoother looking part of the lake is called "the moat". It will be melting out in about 3-4 weeks. It melts leaving open water for a few weeks and then refreezes. Because the moat region "comes and goes", the surface of the moat does not get as rough as the rest of the lake. The moat typically makes for fairly smooth travel, whether by foot or ATV.
Some of Lake Hoare camp. What a lovely day to arrive.
	Looking up Taylor Valley, one can see the classic u-shape to the valley. The "mound" in the middle is actually part of an old moraine pile.
Here is my "room with a view"! This is my home for the next week or two. It's not a bad place to live!

•Ms. Ellwood - rellwood@sau50.k12.nh.us
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