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Archive for October, 2009


It Has Begun!

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND-- On October 23rd I departed for Antarctica from Boston Logan Airport with three of our team members... {Read More »}



The Waiting Game…

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- As I had pretty much expected, weather has delayed me in McMurdo for well over a week now... {Read More »}



Life on the Ship

ABOARD THE USCGC POLAR SEA, ON THE BEAUFORT SEA-- For captures, we need calm winds, good visibility, thick continuous ice, and a good bear location. Those factors came together to allow us to recapture an adult female... {Read More »}



A Day Out the Window of the Lab

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- Our lab is way too busy and crowded to allow this, but the lab with the shared fume hood is not yet occupied, so I was able to set up the camera on a tripod and catch the changing light and activity in front of the station... {Read More »}



Training and Finally Arriving in Antarctica

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- Today, I arrived in McMurdo Station, Antarctica. We were told it was -15F with -30F to-40F wind chill. It was cold but it didn't feel too bad... {Read More »}



Another Recapture, and Big Seas

ABOARD THE USCGC POLAR SEA, ON THE CHUKCHI SEA– Over the last week we kept the ship in the same general area, in the northern reaches of the Chukchi Sea. Several days of cooler weather allowed the ice to thicken a little, and we had another successful recapture of an adult female with her cub... {Read More »}



Drilling the Sea Ice

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- Drilling a hole through 7 m (21 ft) of sea ice is the first step in Antarctic diving.... {Read More »}



At Home

LAFAYETTE, COLORADO-- I flew home to Colorado on Sunday afternoon, but spent Sunday morning walking around Christchurch enjoying the warm weather and the sight of trees, grass, flowers, birds, and lots of other people. After 5.5 weeks in Antarctica it can be quite a shock to see... {Read More »}



Tomorrow the Journey Starts

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- Last Wednesday the Main Team left Moss Landing, bound for Antarctica. But before leaving, I played one last morning of beach volleyball - as I won't get much beach in my volleyball down south! Here is a short video... {Read More »}



Catching Our First Bears, Based on a Tiny Floating City

ABOARD THE USCGC POLAR SEA, ON THE ARCTIC OCEAN– We have all adjusted quickly to life on a ship, but every once in a while, it is still quite striking to remember that we are on a very small, floating city, in one of the most remote places on earth... {Read More »}