27 November, 1997

This is the last of Shackleton's journals as we are leaving for home on 
December 2, 1997.   My last one was sent yesterday.

My final days on the ice have brought me to McMurdo Base.  It is here 
that I have met and talked with several people that I would like to bring 
to your attention.  I have made a very good friend by the name of Bill 
the Cat.  We even had our pictures taken with a stuffed penguin (since I 
haven't seen a real one yet).

Bill's traveling companion is Chris Harpel of Socorro, New Mexico.  They 
are here to do research on Mt. Erabus, the only active volcano on 
Antarctica that we know of.  He wanted me to tell you that there is lots 
ofneat information out there on volcanoes.  All you have to do is check 
the web for information on them.  Some places to begin checking may be 
with MEVO which stands for Mount Erabus Volcano Observatory, look on New 
Mexico Tech's web page, and maybe even on Michigan Tech's web page.  Both 
have up todate material on volcanoes all over the world.  Bill and Chris 
say that an active place in the United States right now is Mammoth, 
California and the Long Valley Volcano Caldara.  It seems that it is 
having lots and lots of small tremor earthquakes which often means an 
eruption may happen soon. You may want to check that one out or at least 
watch the news for it.  Coming soon big explosion - once in a lifetime 
deal.   I really like big explosions as long as no one gets hurt.

I also met Mat Lazzara, a meteorologist, you know a weatherman. He is 
working with a system here in Antarctica to track the weather and maybe 
someday beable to predict it correctly.  Won't that be neat.  His web 
site is 

          http://vwamrc.ssec.wisc.edu/
If you like studying clouds, rain fall, snow fall, hurricanes and things 
like that check out Matt's web site.   Weather is really neat.   On this 
continent it is really hard to predict but someday they may be able too.  
 I think that the weather pattern that is changing in the US is also 
changing other places around the world.   Do you know who is getting 
blamed for it?   I wonder if it has happened before?   Will it happen 
again?   What do you think?

I wish to thank the people at NSF and Stephanie Shipp for allowing me to 
go to Antartcia and write my journal.   I also want you to know that I 
will be back in January when Stephanie brings me on a great big boat.  I 
can hardly wait - maybe I will see an iceberg, or floating ice or even a 
penguin!!!!!!!

See you then!!!!!!!!!!!!