This evening after work a group of my coworkers and I took our own shuttle (a definite perk of my job) on a little trip over to New Zealand's station: SCOTT BASE.
Scott Base is the kiwi's only base here in Antarctica; located a couple of miles from Mcmurdo, only about 70 people live here. For logistical reasons the 1,000 American's can only visit the base if they are invited or to check out the kiwi store (which has beautiful postcards, and good chocolate!!)
As shuttle drivers, we drive past Scott Base nearly every day on our way out to the William's Field runway. In order to get there you have to climb over the SCOTT BASE HILL. This is considered one of the most dangerous places for vehicles, particularly due to snow. Thus, we are required to always make a full stop at the Scott Base sign in order to check incoming traffic: bulldozers, caterpillars carrying fish huts, IVAN.
Today at our stop we pulled the van ahead a bit to take touristy photos. The sky was beautiful! My Scott Base photo was taken peering down the hill to the right (where Michael is looking in the above photo).
This image is a shot of the down slope of Scott Base Hill. It doesn't look all that steep but straight ahead of that curve is a 100-foot slopping cliff. Off in the distance, just right of the hill, you can see the ice shelf pressure ridges. These ridges are developed when the tides under the frozen sea shelf push the ice into the Antarctic shore causing huge rolls and eventually breaks in the sea ice. We often spot seals here.
Once at the bottom of the hill, we get a clear view of the smoking volcano, Mt. Erebus. Mt. Erebus is visible from almost everywhere on station and stands (I believe) 14,000 feet.
This last shot is a view across the bay. Beautiful aye?
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