1 week down, 13 months and 3 weeks to go.
At least that is what my brother-in-law thinks. Time for today's lesson. I have attached a map of McMurdo sound. Again, if you click on the map you should get a little larger version.
We are at McMurdo, which is located on the very southern tip of Ross Island. At the end of the peninsula that you see. And Ross Island is in the Ross Sea. If you are not sure where that is then Google it and you will see. We here at McMurdo are in a radio dead zone. And so all of our communications are transmitted to Black Island, and it is sent north from there. Well if you look at the trusty map and see the dark island, some could call it a black island. Well that is Black Island. And look right next to it, see the white island? All together now, it is White Island. And the amazing thing is, if you are standing here in McMurdo and you look out towards the islands; one is black and one is white. Black Island has lots of winds on it and so the volcanic rock is exposed and White Island is snow covered.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because it is -22 with a -58 wind chill and I don't want to walk back to my dorm room. Actually there is another reason. There will be a traverse to Black Island on Monday. I spent the day today working on Pisten Bullies that will make the trek over there.
Pisten Bullies are really cool! And the heated seats are a big plus. The unit in front was driven there. You can turn these things within there own footprint. They are powered by a 4 cylinder Benz diesel and the hydraulic steering is done with a Moog controler system. Kind of like what Paula use to make, but these don't shoot at people.
So, the weather has been fair here, but mostly overcast. So there has been no sign of Auroras to this point. But we are still getting a fair amount of darkness, so there is a good chance still. However this afternoon the windchill droped to -55. And I just looked at the forecast online, and they are calling for -45 air temps for the next few overnights. With the day time highs of -20. So, this will be a fun weekend.
And Marty, I have the video of the whrilpool. I will try to post this weekend.
Have a good Labor Day Weekend. We don't get the day off. But then again, it doesn't feel like Sept. here.
R.J.
We are at McMurdo, which is located on the very southern tip of Ross Island. At the end of the peninsula that you see. And Ross Island is in the Ross Sea. If you are not sure where that is then Google it and you will see. We here at McMurdo are in a radio dead zone. And so all of our communications are transmitted to Black Island, and it is sent north from there. Well if you look at the trusty map and see the dark island, some could call it a black island. Well that is Black Island. And look right next to it, see the white island? All together now, it is White Island. And the amazing thing is, if you are standing here in McMurdo and you look out towards the islands; one is black and one is white. Black Island has lots of winds on it and so the volcanic rock is exposed and White Island is snow covered.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because it is -22 with a -58 wind chill and I don't want to walk back to my dorm room. Actually there is another reason. There will be a traverse to Black Island on Monday. I spent the day today working on Pisten Bullies that will make the trek over there.
Pisten Bullies are really cool! And the heated seats are a big plus. The unit in front was driven there. You can turn these things within there own footprint. They are powered by a 4 cylinder Benz diesel and the hydraulic steering is done with a Moog controler system. Kind of like what Paula use to make, but these don't shoot at people.
So, the weather has been fair here, but mostly overcast. So there has been no sign of Auroras to this point. But we are still getting a fair amount of darkness, so there is a good chance still. However this afternoon the windchill droped to -55. And I just looked at the forecast online, and they are calling for -45 air temps for the next few overnights. With the day time highs of -20. So, this will be a fun weekend.
And Marty, I have the video of the whrilpool. I will try to post this weekend.
Have a good Labor Day Weekend. We don't get the day off. But then again, it doesn't feel like Sept. here.
R.J.
posted by R.J. at 2:03 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home