Loading...
Start a new Travel Blog! Blogabond Home Maps People Photos My Stuff

JCinTheSouthPole


21 Blog Entries
3 Trips
194 Photos

Trips:

South Pole
Southern Utah
South Pacific

Shorthand link:

http://blogabond.com/JCinTheSouthPole




First Day

Christchurch, New Zealand


Hi my name is Jake Carling and I'm in Antarctica. This is my first blog entry and I have a lot to catch up on. I wanted to let some friends and family know where I am. Today I departed for McMurdo Station from the traditional Antarctic launch pad of Christchurch, New Zealand. Early explorers Shackleton and Scott both used this area as a departure point for their expeditions and the tradition continues for the United States Antarctic Program. We had waited in the second largest city in New Zealand for the previous three days because of bad weather. Not that I cared.

I like taking vacation on the company dime. Each night our room was paid for and an $80 stipend was allotted. From cliff-side beaches to wandering paths among blooming flowers in the botanical gardens, to culinary cuisines from across the globe, Christchurch is a spectacular city. I felt like it was a modern version of what people behaved like in America before the advent of television and a lust of materialism, power, and flashiness. The people are honest, kind, and helpful. The city spectacularly beautiful, clean, and safe. I can't wait to see the rest of the South Island.

We loaded up gear this morning and left for the ice. Soon the light streaming in the two windows of the C-130 became intense. I needed glacier sunglasses to look out of the porthole. Down below I imagined I was flying over the surface of the moon, luminous cracked, and pockmarked. It stretched for miles and miles until soon we landed. We I climbed out of the plane the scene took my breath away.

A brilliantly blue cloudless sky met and endless sea of white on the horizon. Jagged mountain peaks erupted from the flat landscape in several directions. A plume of vapor hung over the 12,500 foot cone of Mount Erebus, the worlds southern most active volcano. Frost bellowed from my nostrils with each exhale, but I embraced the cold with a smile on my face. We loaded up in transport where we received an orientation and were given room assignments. My room has about 20 bunk beds. No worries though because tomorrow I leave for the South Pole where I'll have my own room. I think.



permalink written by  JCinTheSouthPole on November 5, 2009 from Christchurch, New Zealand
from the travel blog: South Pole
tagged JakeCarling

Send a Compliment

Viewing 21 - 21 of 21 Entries
first | previous | next | last



author feed
author kml

Heading South?

Online Spanish lessons with a live personal tutor FairTutor can hook you up with Online Spanish lessons with a live personal tutor. It's pretty sweet! Online Spanish lessons with a live personal tutor www.fairtutor.com
Navigate
Login

go
create a new account



   

Blogabond v2.40.58.80 © 2024 Expat Software Consulting Services about : press : rss : privacy
View as Map View as Satellite Imagery View as Map with Satellite Imagery Show/Hide Info Labels Zoom Out Zoom In Zoom Out Zoom In
find city: