I’ve decided that I should blog when I get the chance, and not wait until the end of the day… let’s see how that goes.
SLEEP! Sleep was great! I think I probably got 10 hours of sleep! Since it’s a holiday the galley had brunch starting at 10am, so I didn’t have to get up for the usual 5-7:30am breakfast. I leisurely got up and went to brunch, then did laundry and went to the gym.
Ice Stock starts today, and goes from 2:30pm to 1am! The weather is beautiful, a sweltering 34 degrees and sunny! Couldn’t ask for a better day. More photos of the event to come!
Update:
Ice Stock was pretty awesome. Apparently Ice Stock 2020 is the 31st year of this event. I think I stood outside for about 6 hours (luckily it was warm for Antarctica standards; about 30 degrees and the sun was out most of the time). The wind took its toll, though. But being cold meant I had to dance to stay warm! I stopped by early on, around 4pm to check out how it was going. The lead singer looked like Will Farrell (at least I thought so), see for yourself:
After dinner I went back for the rest of the event, from about 7pm-1:00am I was out there listening to music, dancing, and enjoying the festivities along with the other well-dressed folks of McMurdo. As the night went on, the population of the dance floor increased. The LC-130s really kicked some ass, and got some moshing started up front. Naturally, I kept my distance… there will be no NPQing now!
Observation Hill looms in the backdrop, overlooking McMurdo. One might wonder what this event looks like from up there. From the top of the hill McMurdo looks like a dusty mining town, the summer sun has melted all of the snow on the black volcanic rock beneath. There is plenty of dust and mud here, and although the sea ice is still here as far as the eye can see, in a month and a half it will be gone!
There are much prettier sights from up Obs Hill, including Castle Rock which is hikeable in good weather, though you need yearly outdoor safety training to do it.
Back in town, and of course there was a countdown to the new year, and champagne showers and cheers of “Happy New Years”! Work hard, play hard is definitely in effect here!
Happy New Year! Here’s to 2020
Allen's South Pole Winter-Over 2020 (+) 