Antarctica (warning pics)

[Frenchie]

Well here I am. It has certainly been interesting getting here. Spent a bit of time in Hobart but didn't have time to scratch, lots of training to do.

The voyage down was good, found my sea legs straight away. The original plan was to stop at Casey to drop off some people then trundle across to Davis where I'm spending the summer. You have probably heard though that one of the winterers at Davis had a serious quad accident and needs to be evacuated so we had to divert here. It wasn't clear for a while how we were going to get him out but the US are now sending a C-130 which is due later today, weather permitting. It has been blowing hard the last couple of days, up to 80 knots.

I have put some of my pics at:

baldrick110/Antarctic - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v635/baldrick110/Antarctic/)

if anyone is interested, rather than post them here, a few tasters though:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/baldrick110/Antarctic/IMGP1457.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/baldrick110/Antarctic/IMGP1726.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/baldrick110/Antarctic/IMGP1821.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[rovercare]

WTF?, your in Antarctica:eek:

:cool:Pics

[Scallops]

Great pics, what an amazing seascape - what are you doing there?

I had the chance to go when I did my Masters degree (in Geology) but didn't, which I always regretted in some ways. I'd love to have that chance again.

Enjoy your time there and stay warm!

[FenianEel]

Wow! This might give BBC's thread a run for its money. What a diverse mob we are.

[cartm58]

is it true you think you been in antartica too long when the penguins start looking attractive and you know you been too long in antartica when some of the penguins start calling you Dad

[p38arover]

Great pics, what an amazing seascape - what are you doing there?

I had the chance to go when I did my Masters degree (in Geology) but didn't, which I always regretted in some ways. I'd love to have that chance again.

Enjoy your time there and stay warm!

Frenchie is a meteorologist.

I, too, wanted to go back in the late Sixties when our company (Overseas Telecommunication Commission) provide the radio operators. Alas, I got married.

Have a good time down there, Anthony.

[isuzurover]

You lucky bugger!!!

That must be amazing! Shame you couldn't take the 110!

So what work/research will you be doing while you are down there?

[Frenchie]

Hi All,

yes, as Ron mentioned I'm a meteorologist with the BoM, which is a great job down here, the weather is a huge factor in doing anything and is, obviously, a lot more challenging and interesting than back home.

I have been down before, a summer in 96/97 and a round trip (there and back) to Casey in 01. It's marvellous having digital photography now, makes a huge difference, you can snap away without worrying about how much film you have left and can send pics home. The shots of the Emperor penguins are only a few of the 100 or so that I took. :cool:

I'll be posting lots more on photobucket.

And it's not so much the penguins that start to look attractive - later in the season we get visited by Elephant seals.......Mmmmmmmm :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/11/812.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/11/813.jpg

[beforethevision]

Amazing!

thanks for the post! I have always wondered about applying for those BoM jobs, it looks like i might just do it!

Cheers!

[isuzurover]

So you are the station meteorologist???

[Hymie]

The pics of the ice fingers, (23rd pic of the 46 in the album), is that coused by the ice growing or shrinking?

[Frenchie]

So you are the station meteorologist???

Yeah, there are actually three of us. I'm in charge which doesn't mean much except I get paid more.....:cool:

The work load is actually quite heavy these days. There is a major project this year to use ice penetrating radar to map the Gamburtsev mountains which are totally buried in ice. They will be using aircraft extensively for which we will provide forecasts. We also forecast for helicopters, the AAD Airbus and C-212s which fly between the bases and do other work.

If anyone wants to work or the Bureau look here:

Careers, Recruitment - Bureau of Meteorology (http://www.bom.gov.au/careers/)

In recent years there have been contract positions for some of the Antarctic stints (observers and radio techs).

[Mick-Kelly]

I am seriously jealous it is one of my lifelong desires to get down there.

[Shonky]

More pics Frenchie! :D

PS - LOL at the Penguin of death. I used to work in the HQ of a certain volunteer organisation that wears black and white and gets referred to as penguins...

We had the Penguin of death laminated on our wall, and on the back in whiteboard marker we used to write the name of some of the more frustrating volunteers, along with a suitable method of extermination to be employed by the Penguin of Death for each one.

So many of them stood there, read it and laughed without ever knowing that their name was on the back of it with a suggestion that the penguin should kill them by all manner of violent means! :lol2:

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Thanks for sharing! :)

[LandyAndy]

Hi Tony
Just had a look thru your album pics,great stuff.
Keep them coming.
Andrew

[isuzurover]

Yeah, there are actually three of us. I'm in charge which doesn't mean much except I get paid more.....:cool:

The work load is actually quite heavy these days. There is a major project this year to use ice penetrating radar to map the Gamburtsev mountains which are totally buried in ice. They will be using aircraft extensively for which we will provide forecasts. We also forecast for helicopters, the AAD Airbus and C-212s which fly between the bases and do other work.

If anyone wants to work or the Bureau look here:

Careers, Recruitment - Bureau of Meteorology (http://www.bom.gov.au/careers/)

In recent years there have been contract positions for some of the Antarctic stints (observers and radio techs).

Cool - so are there any guys doing aerosol research down there?

Forgot to say - GREAT PICS!!!

[MarknDeb]

Well done mate and thanks for sharing, the pics are great

[numpty]

You lucky, lucky barsteward.;) Like the missus, I too have harboured a long held desire to visit the place.

Great pics to.

[Landy110]

Love the pics.
The big ice and sea shots are some of the most beautiful scenery around.
Pity you can't use a Landy to get there !!
Then again, that's probably a good thing !

[carjunkieanon]

Pity you can't use a Landy to get there !!


These guys could...

Cape to Cape Expedition (http://www.capetocape.org.uk/)