Q & A

Q: Does it get dark enough down there to see any stars?
A: No it does not. Even during the middle of the night, the sun is out and shining. The only time it "darkens" is when clouds or storms move through and block the sun. But even then, the light level is only that of early evening before sunset.

Q: Or will it get dark enough by the time you leave to see stars?
A: It will not. McMurdo's next sunset is expected to occur on February 21, 2012, a couple weeks after I am scheduled to leave.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

"So Long And Thanks For All The Fish"



It took most of the season, but I finally got my picture taken by the welcome sign.


Barring weather delays, I'm northbound on February 1st.  Being down here has been an interesting experience with plenty of unique challenges and opportunities.  While I didn't accomplish everything I set out to do while I was here, I accomplished more than enough to feel that overall, the experience was worth it.

I'm sure most people want to know if I will come back.  I can see myself coming back someday, but the most likely scenario is as a tourist or with a science group.  To come back to work would require I come down as something other than a Network Engineer or would require a major change in the role and responsibilities of a Network Engineer on ice.

For those who think they would like to come down here, I would highly recommend it.  McMurdo functions like a small town in the US and just about any kind of job you find in your local community can be found down here.  If coming down to work, I would highly recommend only coming for a summer season your first year in case you discover it's not a good fit for you.  If you get down here and discover you love it, that's great!  But, ignore the winter over recruiting, finish the season, return to the US, and then think about wintering over.  A lot that goes on every season and everybody who comes down for the first time does so wearing blinders to a certain degree.


As my time at McMurdo comes to a end, so too does the blog's Antarctica focus.  While I have many more pictures and experiences I could write about, I'll save it for face to face conversations.  There should also be a little bit of mystery for those who may be interested in coming down here themselves!  I want to thank everybody who has followed the blog these past few months and I hope you have enjoyed it.

Going forward, I intend on taking this blog in a more technical direction with posts related my experiences as a Network Engineer and my views on the IT industry.  You are more than welcome to continue following, though I understand if the material becomes uninteresting and you stop following.  Posting will be less frequent as demands if "the real world" reassert themselves so for those still interested in following, I would recommend using an RSS reader if you are not already doing so.

We'll end with one last picture of our intrepid adventurers out at the Pegasus crash site.  The Pegasus was a US Navy C-121 that crash on the Ross Ice Shelf in 1970 and is where Pegasus Field get's its name.

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2 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 31, 2012 at 12:34 PM

    Do you get to keep the orange parka? You won't need it here in Minnesota this year, but it might come in handy, and be a great souvenir.

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  2. R.E.February 1, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    No, we had to turn it in when we landed in Christchurch. It's a Canada Goose Expedition Parka and can be bought privately, though they aren't cheap. Would definitely work well in typical Minnesota winters, but I think I'm getting old enough to stop playing outside in weather that requires that level of insulation. :)

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