The cold earth sleeps below, above the cold sky shines

Dean and crew in their ECW gear on C17, ready for takeoff Dean is off! For those interested in seeing what the weather is currently like, check out the McMurdo webcams . (I've added a link in a side box so you can check the weather anytime by clicking the white lines at the left top of the blog page and pulling up the box). As for me, I'm in my happy place, ensconced in the beautiful, brand spanking new, high-tech, Christchurch public library.  It has two cafes.  Which would you choose?

We're still in Christchurch.  As it stands now, Dean--who is considered critical staff--has been moved up to the first flight (AZM034), leaving tomorrow at 4 AM.  I, the chopped liver, will be staying on until the next one (AZM035) departs.  To fit more people than originally anticipated on Dean's flight, they had to remove cargo, i.e., the explosives for building the new base.  So those are now on my No me. flight.  Oh, joy!  Regardless, Gary, the airfield manager who is going to McMurdo on AZM034, is only cautiously optimistic even about tomorrow's expedition.  Dean may head out to the airport only to be sent back to bed. Interestingly, the weather in Antarctica is grabbing attention in New Zealand. A highly unusual phenomenon called Southern Stratospheric Warming --similar to the polar vortex of the northern hemisphere--is threatening to bring frigid conditions to New Zealand in the next few weeks.  I'm not sure whether the SSW is re...

We're still in Christchurch.  Here's why. At the US Bases in Antarctica, weather conditions are categorized in one of three ways: Con One: Visibility is less than 100 feet, wind is greater than 55 knots or temperature with wind chill is less than -100 degrees F.  In con one, all personnel are under lockdown, restricted to their buildings.  To change buildings--i.e., to go 20 yards from dorm to clinic to care for a patient--the fire department picks you up and escorts you.  People get lost trying to get between buildings. Con Two:  Wind speed is between 48 and 55 knots and visibility is less the 1/4 mile but greater than 100 feet.  Wind chill may be between -75 and -100 degrees F.  There are work restrictions.  You can walk between buildings but can't go out on trails alone, even on base, and must tell the fire department where you are going if you plan something besides walking between buildings. Con Three:  Weather is good (or close to...

Wetlands We're still here so we rented bikes and headed to the Banks Peninsula.  The ride was mercifully flat and breathtakingly beautiful.   Since words fail me, I've attached pictures; they don't do the area justice.  The birds alone made the ride worthwhile.  But the trip did have some serious hiccoughs.  The bike paths were gravel and mud for much of the way with cattle gates seemingly every 100 yards, slowing us to a snail's pace.  For about 5 miles of the 25-mile ride, the air was cloudy with gnats that clogged our noses, eyes, throats, and airways.  And then there was the magpie that took a dislike to us and for about 200 yards recurrently divebombed our helmets.  We finally decided the bike path was not a viable option and switched to the highway, favoring potential death by semi to choking to death on bugs.  When we finally reached Little River, we aborted our planned return ride and took a bus.  We couldn't face it aga...

Yes, we are stranded in paradise, or at least in one corner of it.  We're not allowed to escape Christchurch for more than 12 hours and, overall, Christchurch is a sleepy town.  We've pretty much done the museums and parks and most of the usual day trips.  We've hit lots of pubs and even went to the movies last night.  But we're getting restless.  I've moved on to studying ATLS, trying to figure out R, and pushing our lead physician to conduct some ultrasound training at a local clinic.  He'd rather go biking.  Go figure. Here is an example of our typical garbled communication with the powers that be: