Last Flights - March 1st

The last two planes we'll see until November. The one on the left is the last flight. The other one is taxiing and creating a dust cloud in the distance.

This year, the last two flights left station on March 1st. Normally, they leave and station closes in mid-February.  Our last passenger flights did leave around mid-February. However, the South Pole Traverse that brings most of our cargo and fuel down for the year was late getting to the Pole. One of the last two planes was waiting around to provide support for it. The other one was just using the Pole as a pit stop on their way to the British Rothera Research Station and then on to Chile and Canada. Unfortunately, the weather was so bad near the coast that they were stuck with us for almost two weeks when they would have preferred to be on their way home after long seasons.

The next to last flight flying past the South Pole Telescope (BICEP) and MAPO projects.

After the next to last flight above left, we had a couple hours before the actual last flight left. When I was at McMurdo, folks gathered at the chalet and toasted to the start of winter. At the Pole, a few of us did something similar. Fifteen of us piled into a van to drive a couple miles down the runway to  where the actual last flight would take off from.

Riding out to watch the last flight leave.

Once we were there, we found our vantage points, did some gut checks about being here for nine months, and messed around with our camera settings. When the plane left, it did not really weigh on me. I think that was because I have experienced this before at McMurdo and because I was still mentally drinking from the fire hose at work. Learning so much did not really leave me with time to think about being 'stuck' here for 9 months.

The last flight accelerating for takeoff.

The moment the skis are just starting to lift off to leave us here for 9 months with no physical contact with the outside world.

My favorite part of watching the last flight was walking back to base with Brian K instead of getting in the van. It was a couple miles and my longest hike at the time. I had been spending so much time inside trying to learn my new job and acclimate to the altitude that I had not been venturing outside as much as I normally would. It was so nice to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Saying goodbye and celebrating the start of winter.

Full moon fever

 

The full moon over the polar plateau.

For the past week, we have had a full moon. It is extra special to be outside because we get twice as much light because the snow reflects the light back up. It's a treat to be able to walk outside and see things without a headlamp. Most of the times, we are outside a head lamp is required and you can only use red lights because white lights mess up the scientific cameras.

Auroras over the polar plateau during the full moon.

The auroras are supposed to be strong this year. The forecast is for "a quicker, stronger peak of activity with solar maximum expected between January and October 2024." The fact that we can see some auroras even when the full moon is out has a lot of us excited for what is to come.

The full moon hidden behind stockpiles of our food for the winter.