Christmas on Ice

Merry Christmas Everyone!

So with Santa living up north, and Frosty's cousin Fridge visiting our station, the Christmas Holiday was rung in with jingling antlers, smiles, and hot tea toasts of good cheer.

Muggzz hadn't had his coffee yet . . . can you tell?

As the 25th was a Saturday, the whole community got the actual day off and we helped serve them their Christmas feast. But first we had to set the right mood with volunteers decorating the galley . . . .

And then making the edible decorations that no Christmas holiday is complete without . . . .

Followed by photos with Santa's Helper . . . .

And then on to the good stuff like crispy duck, soft mashed potatoes (real ones, not the usual ones out of the box ) frozen veggies, relish plates (with veggies that had been stowed away for such just emergencies like no freshies for Christmas), delicious brussle sprouts (which I still think are gross ) lobster tails and many other main entrées to please the eye and groan in the stomach afterwards.

And no meal is complete without a little dessert. Eggnog, cakes, cheescake, sugar cookies (hand decorated by community volunteers and some shaped like Kiwis) and 25 different types of truffles (peanut butter, chi, green tea, Kahlua, hazelnut just to name a few) were spread across the dessert table and so pleasing to the eye I couldn't stop staring, or returning. . . .

The meal was delicious and a few hours later we were all begging for a "safety" nap so we could sleep off the overdose of Christmas calories. With carols playing over the speakers, and everyone smiling and wishing a Merry Christmas, the only thing missing was a little falling snow and you!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday and I miss you! God Bless!

Castle Rock on Christmas Eve

So remember hike #2 from months ago when all I could see of Castle Rock was this . . . .

well today I went out and this is what I saw . . .

Makes the hike a little easier when you can see where you are going. Dave and I left around 8:45pm Christmas Eve to make a trip of it and celebrate the day. The beginning was slushy, our boots falling through ice into melted rivers and streams. As we began to climb up hill, the snow thickened until it no longer crunched but slid beneath our boots as it froze to ice. This part was easier going but not without the occasional slip or two (no falling though).

Apple One ~ One Mile in ~ Pointing to first glimpse of Castle Rock

The weather was perfect. Bright sun, no wind and no chill in the air. Even before we crested the rise we could see our destination and it helped us move as the air was rung from our lungs by lack of exercise.

Caught Dave off guard

When we passed Apple one and then moved over the rise, Castle Rock rose up in front of us . . .

The closer we got the bigger it became . . . .

Apple 2

Until it towered over us and we had to look directly up to see the top. The rose colored stone was a jagged gash of color, so different than the blinding white snow that it was starkly beautiful.

Finding the trail up took a bit of searching, neither of us having been before, but soon we found the well traveled path along the base. What started out as a steep goat path soon turned into a full blown rock climb, complete with anchored hand ropes and moments of suspended balance. Not to worry I had had practice before remember ~ 2 climbing lessons and a free climb up Ob Hill. (pictures of me are compliments of Dave)

Looking down after the first ropes part ~ there were many to come

Dave took the lead, finding the path as we went, testing the ground and breaking lose all the rocks so all I ever landed on was solid, hard ground. As we rock climbed, I couldn't believe we were doing this, scaling a mountain with no real climbing experience and 100's of falling feet below. We did have a radio, but that was little comfort considering you could fall on it as you plummeted down . . . I had to stay focused, but the thrill was exhilarating and I enjoyed every shaky hand hold and wobbly boot step.

Dave

Here I come

View as we climbed

Once we reached the top, the view was awe inspiring and we took a moment to just look around and marvel.

That faint line is the trail, the little dot Apple #2

After an energy boosting snack, we explored the top of our victory and found many stomach turning drops off the side.

Surface on top of Castle Rock

Drop off one side

Looking over one edge I felt my legs wobble and my heart skip, but I kept looking, pushing past the sensation and reasoning that when I went bungy jumping the drop would be even farther down. Here's a view from the top with a little commentary you might want to check out.

Part 1

Part 2

While I was making that little movie, Dave was snapping these photos of me in action.

My favorite shots were these he took of me at the edge. I can't help but smile at how awesome the backdrop is and how I look so calm and relaxed even as I stand on the edge of a death plummet.

So what do you do on Christmas Eve in Antarctica? Do you go to the town Christmas party? Get your photo with Santa? Drink eggnog? No, you scale a mountain and stand on the top of the world getting a hint of why God "saw that it was good" after he finished his creation. Everything is all a matter of perspective, and mountain climbing really squashes all the small stuff, and narrows it down to breath, focus, step and hold on. Don't die, don't panic and don't forget to look at the view.

With that in mind we left the top but before we went I made this little message. Before you view it, know that as we walked home, Christmas Day arrived and it was a blending of days as special as the memories of holiday spent together. I miss you all, love you and wish you God's Blessings in every special way. . . .

Tourist Visiting

Today tourists arrived in McMurdo. Wearing bright yellow jackets and heavily armed with cameras and questions, they disembarked their helicopters for a tour of the base.

See the yellow jackets, that's a group of them

One of the two Helios leaving to shuttle over more tourists

I worked too late to be a guide, but got to watch them trek up the hill toward the Chalet and then onwards up Observation Hill. Towns folks remarked afterwards that they looked up from what they were doing and thought, "What the . . . there are kids here!" Kids, yellow jackets, fresh faces and eager voices. There were at least three different groups of 14-20 people who went around snapping pictures and pointing before finally stopping at the store for souvenirs.

We all found it a little strange to be the "wildlife" here, but then again we all chuckled as they snapped photos of computer consoles, bathroom signs and looked with wonder upon us as we walked down the hall. I'm just surprised they didn't try and take their picture with one of us. "Look everyone, a real life Antarctican!"

The Russian Icebreaker cruise ship can cost anywhere up to 30,000 dollars per cabin. These were not the cheap seats on Caribbean or Princess. These people paid high dollars to do this excursion while we just work here. Just imagine that ~ and the idea they pay to fly over Antarctica just to see it. We did that and our nine hour flight wasn't by choice. Both things towns folks do just to get here and without pocket expense. What a blessing working your way as you travel is. Otherwise I'd never be able to leave my house, much less see the world. Wow!

Doughnut Christmas Tree

In preparation of the up coming holiday, Gemma the baker was given the task of using up the mounds of doughnut holes that seemed to just keep multiplying like rabbits. Now she could have just gone the easy way and rolled then in chocolate, or drizzled them with icing, but no. She chose to go the creative route, and drawing from her culinary experience created a master piece.

Molded and mounded into a shape that all would recognize, she topped off the breakfast pastry with a caramelized star that caught the glow of the always burning bakery ovens. We all stood around and admired it with a moment of silence. Draped in caramel, the tree glistened as it was carried with great procession to the pastry area, where we all took bets on how long it would last before someone carved into it.

Wouldn't seeing this put you in the festive holiday?

By the end of breakfast the tree was still intact, caramel armor having withheld the numerous tappings and probings of the community. I'm not sure what place of honor it got after the meal, but during it, it was all anyone noticed.