My Holiday Outing
Hey There,
I hope your holidays were great, and that you're having a good new year so far!
I was finally able to get out of town this season! And I feel like I really got out. It was perfect to clear my head before the winter. It's funny to come to such a barren land and feel crowded, but that is what a small town with over 1000 people crammed in feels like.
A week or two ago, it worked out that I was "invited" to New Harbor (across the sound at the entrance to the valley pictured below (New Harbor is where the sea ice meets the brown), one valley in the vast system of the Dry Valleys area)- my mission: to dig ditches and jackhammer three-foot deep holes in the permafrost to lay anchors for the wind and solar powered energy systems. It worked out further that this was right before the luxurious two-day weekend in celebration of Christmas. My friend Deborah had been working out at Lake Hoare camp (up the valley from New Harbor) for the past 3 weeks, and I was invited to spend the weekend there. Tucked away next to the Canada Glacier and Lake Hoare, Lake Hoare camp was cozy and inviting after an 8-hour hike up the valley.
This picture was borrowed off the web to show you my hike. It was taken from the top of 1882- one of the peaks in the valley. The person taking this picture was flown to the peak. Anyway, starting at the edge of brown in the top third of the picture, I hiked to the first lump of ice on the left of the valley. This is the Commonwealth Glacier, and it had a perfectly vertical face and ended in the dirt. I didn't have my own camera, so the first 5 hours of my hike, I didn't get any pictures- but it was perfectly silent, and I went at my own pace. What a phenomenal feeling to be alone out there in the warm sun and calming silence. The glacier was absolutely huge and beautiful. I hiked along it for quite a while until I veered off to hike along the next white feature in the picture, Lake Fryxell. Over halfway up is where I met Deborah, and we hiked over the Canada glacier, the second blob of ice you see in the valley. The Canada glacier feeds Lake Hoare, and the camp is nestled right in that corner. The sun was out, so the tents were very nice and warm to sleep in- such quiet sleep that I have not had since coming here.
This is me on the hike over the glacier- ice falls in the background.
That night, I relaxed in the sun on the "beach"- a mound of sand right next to the glacier, not far from camp. The sun was bright, and it warmed the sand so much we wandered around in our bare feet. Man, that felt good.
Christmas was nice and relaxing. After jack-hammering for two days, main hut with warm drinks and cookies and cribbage was just what I needed. The weather had turned, and the clouds and cold wind outside made it feel that much cozier.
The next day was my last day, so I went for a hike further up the valley. We hiked along Lake Hoare to the Seuss (I think I'm spelling it right) Glacier- the blob of ice at the bottom of the picture. On the way, there were remains from disoriented seals who wandered up the valley over 500 years ago and starved. There are no real organisms to break them down, so they are very well preserved- most of them still had quite a bit of skin on them! We hiked around to the other side of the glacier, rested a bit, and hiked up the hill (to the right of the Seuss in the picture) to an open plateau that had huge boulders. The boulders have been shaped by the blowing wind and dirt over millions of years and look totally wild. The one I'm pictured sitting in had a perfect bowl carved out to relax in.
A dead seal, next to Lake Hoare, looking up the valley to the Seuss Glacier.
Me, next to the Seuss- it gives you an idea of how big the Commonwealth is, which is even larger than this.
huddled from the wind in the ventifact.
This was an incredible time for me. There are people on station (both working for Uncle Ray-Ray or on their science) that get to go here everyday. But for me, it was the chance of a lifetime. Not only did I see the most amazing things in my life, I was released from a crazy little town for 5 days to feel normal again- being outside more often, hiking around more, and cooking good food and doing my own dishes.
Plus, I gathered and melted enough ice from the Canada Glacier to brew a five-gallon batch of beer- I had a large container to bring over five gallons of water back with me on the helicopter.� It is a honey-ginger ale with orange peel and a hint of cinnamon.
I'm looking forward to the winter when there won't be so many people, and I'll get to see the stars and auroras. A lot of close friends will be staying as well, so I think I'm in for a real good time. Then, when it's all over, some real warm beach... Thank you, everyone, for the packages you've sent (that have arrived or are still waiting in NZ to come down)- time away from friends and family during the holidays can be sad.
I wish you all a very happy new year. Take care and be well,
Phil
I hope your holidays were great, and that you're having a good new year so far!
I was finally able to get out of town this season! And I feel like I really got out. It was perfect to clear my head before the winter. It's funny to come to such a barren land and feel crowded, but that is what a small town with over 1000 people crammed in feels like.
A week or two ago, it worked out that I was "invited" to New Harbor (across the sound at the entrance to the valley pictured below (New Harbor is where the sea ice meets the brown), one valley in the vast system of the Dry Valleys area)- my mission: to dig ditches and jackhammer three-foot deep holes in the permafrost to lay anchors for the wind and solar powered energy systems. It worked out further that this was right before the luxurious two-day weekend in celebration of Christmas. My friend Deborah had been working out at Lake Hoare camp (up the valley from New Harbor) for the past 3 weeks, and I was invited to spend the weekend there. Tucked away next to the Canada Glacier and Lake Hoare, Lake Hoare camp was cozy and inviting after an 8-hour hike up the valley.
This picture was borrowed off the web to show you my hike. It was taken from the top of 1882- one of the peaks in the valley. The person taking this picture was flown to the peak. Anyway, starting at the edge of brown in the top third of the picture, I hiked to the first lump of ice on the left of the valley. This is the Commonwealth Glacier, and it had a perfectly vertical face and ended in the dirt. I didn't have my own camera, so the first 5 hours of my hike, I didn't get any pictures- but it was perfectly silent, and I went at my own pace. What a phenomenal feeling to be alone out there in the warm sun and calming silence. The glacier was absolutely huge and beautiful. I hiked along it for quite a while until I veered off to hike along the next white feature in the picture, Lake Fryxell. Over halfway up is where I met Deborah, and we hiked over the Canada glacier, the second blob of ice you see in the valley. The Canada glacier feeds Lake Hoare, and the camp is nestled right in that corner. The sun was out, so the tents were very nice and warm to sleep in- such quiet sleep that I have not had since coming here.
This is me on the hike over the glacier- ice falls in the background.
That night, I relaxed in the sun on the "beach"- a mound of sand right next to the glacier, not far from camp. The sun was bright, and it warmed the sand so much we wandered around in our bare feet. Man, that felt good.
Christmas was nice and relaxing. After jack-hammering for two days, main hut with warm drinks and cookies and cribbage was just what I needed. The weather had turned, and the clouds and cold wind outside made it feel that much cozier.
The next day was my last day, so I went for a hike further up the valley. We hiked along Lake Hoare to the Seuss (I think I'm spelling it right) Glacier- the blob of ice at the bottom of the picture. On the way, there were remains from disoriented seals who wandered up the valley over 500 years ago and starved. There are no real organisms to break them down, so they are very well preserved- most of them still had quite a bit of skin on them! We hiked around to the other side of the glacier, rested a bit, and hiked up the hill (to the right of the Seuss in the picture) to an open plateau that had huge boulders. The boulders have been shaped by the blowing wind and dirt over millions of years and look totally wild. The one I'm pictured sitting in had a perfect bowl carved out to relax in.
A dead seal, next to Lake Hoare, looking up the valley to the Seuss Glacier.
Me, next to the Seuss- it gives you an idea of how big the Commonwealth is, which is even larger than this.
huddled from the wind in the ventifact.
This was an incredible time for me. There are people on station (both working for Uncle Ray-Ray or on their science) that get to go here everyday. But for me, it was the chance of a lifetime. Not only did I see the most amazing things in my life, I was released from a crazy little town for 5 days to feel normal again- being outside more often, hiking around more, and cooking good food and doing my own dishes.
Plus, I gathered and melted enough ice from the Canada Glacier to brew a five-gallon batch of beer- I had a large container to bring over five gallons of water back with me on the helicopter.� It is a honey-ginger ale with orange peel and a hint of cinnamon.
I'm looking forward to the winter when there won't be so many people, and I'll get to see the stars and auroras. A lot of close friends will be staying as well, so I think I'm in for a real good time. Then, when it's all over, some real warm beach... Thank you, everyone, for the packages you've sent (that have arrived or are still waiting in NZ to come down)- time away from friends and family during the holidays can be sad.
I wish you all a very happy new year. Take care and be well,
Phil
posted by Phil on Ice at 10:43 AM
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