10 November, 1999

McMurdo Station Antarctica Wednesday

"Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how...the artist never entirely knows. We guess, we may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark." Agnes de Mille

NOTE: PLEASE SEND ALL EMAIL TO MY MCMURDO ADDRESS! I AM UNABLE TO ACCESS THE HCCA ACCOUNT! MY MCMURDO ADDRESS IS harrissh@mcmurdo.gov THANKS!!

Yesterday evening we attended a talk on recreational safety. It is necessary to be very cautious around McMurdo. Residents are only permitted to walk in certain areas. Crevasses pose a threat to those who would venture off the beaten path (or snow!). On Friday, our team will attend a 24 hour class on survival in the great white wilderness. This will entail building shelters and sleeping outdoors! Should be an adventure!

Most of the day was spent in getting things readied in the laboratory and working on the computer. Much of what I accomplished was simply finding things in the stockroom to complete the laboratory. I also strolled around town taking a few photographs. The weather wasn't very cooperative. It was overcast and a fierce wind blew making picture-taking a challenge! Holding the camera steady when your fingers are freezing and the wind knocks you to and fro can be difficult!

In the evening, Julie, Maite, two fellows we knew from Christchurch, and I took the shuttle to Scott Base, the New Zealand base on the Ross Sea. Scott Base is about 2 miles from McMurdo. Mark Gall, a friend of Maite's had invited us. The base is much smaller than McMurdo and all of the buildings are connected with corridors. Scott Base sits at the end of a glacier and so the view from here is much different than from McMurdo. After leaving Scott Base on the shuttle, we relaxed in Gallagher's and played cards with Bess, Mark, and Robert. After a hard day at work, it was nice to visit!

Answer to yesterday's question: In Antarctica you can find Weddell seals, crabeater seals, leopard seals, and elephant seals. Around McMurdo, the most common is the Weddell seal. I was fortunate to see two of these creatures lying on the sea ice! They were too far for me to photograph and in an area that is off limits to me. I looked at them through a telescope until my eyes hurt! The folks around here affectionately refer to them as sausages! That's kind of what they look like....fat sausages! Females can weigh as much as 400 kilograms! With all of that fat it is easy to see how they can stay warm!

Today's question: Should someone working in a cold environment like Antarctica wear cotton or wool next to their skin?

I would like to thank the faculty and staff at my high school, Mother of Mercy, for their cards and letters. I open one a day and it is such a wonderful way to begin my day. Thanks to Donna E., Lauren S., and Eleanor M. for your warm thoughts. Joe S., thanks for your support! I'm trying to have a good time! Debbie H., thank you for the M&M's! I'm everyone's best friend!

Sharon

JUST FOR KIDS!!!!! The weather was not very good today. It was cloudy, cold, and the wind blew so hard that I had a difficult time taking pictures! It started to snow in the evening! We worked in the laboratory today, getting things put away and making sure that we had everything that we needed.

In the evening, my friends and I went to Scott Base. This is about 2 miles from McMurdo and is home to the New Zealand scientists working in the Ross Sea area. We had a nice visit and were invited back! As you know from my journals that I wrote from Christchurch, the Kiwi's are very friendly!

Answer to yesterday's question: In Antarctica you can find Weddell seals, crabeater seals, leopard seals, and elephant seals. Around McMurdo, the most common is the Weddell seal. I was fortunate to see two of these creatures lying on the sea ice! They were too far for me to photograph and in an area that is off limits to me. I looked at them through a telescope until my eyes hurt! The folks around here affectionately call them sausages! That's kind of what they look like....fat sausages! Females can weigh as much as 400 kilograms! With all of that fat it is easy to see how they can stay warm!

Today's question: Should someone working in a cold environment like Antarctica wear cotton or wool next to their skin?

Sharon

McMurdo Station on a cold, gray day.