McMurdo to Pole

OK, so were off to Pole today. If we get there today this will be about the fastest I've heard of anyone getting there from the States (5 days). BTW, they found my bags the day before we left CHC.

Only the C-130s fly to Pole, and they are loud, slow, vibrate like crazy, and uncomfortable. The "seats" are actually netting.


However, they are bulletproof and one of the few planes you'd want to be flying to Pole. The view is pretty boring until you start crossing the Trans-Antarctic mountains, then it is simply incredible. As always, I asked if I could go up onto the flight deck and they agreed...I got some great pics but they still don't do the scenery any justice...

These pics give you an idea of how thick the ice is in Antarctica. The mountains are, on average, about 12-15,000 feet high, and only the upper 2-3,000 feet stick through the ice. Do the math...



The following are pics of the mighty Beardmore glacier, the largest glacier in the world. It is over 100 miles long and over 25 miles wide at its widest point!!