Flight back to Christchurch!!

Hi Friends!

We made it to Christchurch after an easy LC-130 flight!

We rode to the airfield in this huge vehicle! It's called "The Kress" after the company who makes it. For lots of pictures of similarly huge vehicles, go here!

Did I mention this vehicle is huge? I took this picture from the passenger part of the vehicle.

It's very comfortable inside of the Kress! Note Chris in the background taking a nap.

After an only slightly bumpy half-hour ride, we made it to Willy Field - a snow-covered airfield. The US Antarctic Program had used three different airfields in the past.
Read more about them here!

This season, the US Antarctic Program did most of its transport from Willy Field (see link below for more information!). In past years, we have flown out of Pegasus air field, which is a runway made of ice. Wheeled aircraft like this C-17 from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (next door to PLU!) can land on an ice runway.

We left McMurdo on this C-17 in January 2012!

 

 

A C-17 is much bigger than a C-130!

Maintaining the ice runway and roads in McMurdo has become more difficult in recent years. See this article and this article for more information!

Did I mention this vehicle is gigantic?

We are required to wear all of our Extreme Cold Weather (or ECW) gear when we head out to the airfield!

Our ride to Christchurch, New Zealand!!

We were given a very quick safety briefing...

...and then we were on our way! That's our luggage in the background! Not just for our team, of course, but for all 20 passengers on our flight.

Once the plane takes off, you can get up and walk around the cargo area of the plane. This is the view out of the window for the first part of our flight - rocks and ice!
When a mountain is completely surrounded by ice, it's called a nunatak!

The tan bag behind Isaac is one of a few bags labeled U.S. Priority Mail! The LC-130s are the lifeline of McMurdo, transporting mail, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other supplies! 

After an 8 and a half hour flight, we're happy to be out of the plane!

Notice that the LC-130 has wheels and skis!!!

We are happy to be in Christchurch!

Now that we're in Christchurch, we're enjoying seeing and smelling plants, nighttime, seeing families and their pets, and walking around in flip flops with t-shirts on - all things we couldn't do in Antarctica!

Thanks for checking in! More soon!!

Claire