CrossFit Malibu/Antarctica

When I'm home in Malibu I regularly workout at CrossFit Malibu. Fortunately Mike-the-owner posts the workouts on the crossfitmalibu.com website so every morning, here in Antarctica, I check the website for my workout for the day and after doing the workout I upload my reps/times/weights used to the website ....

 Then, back in Malibu at the gym, Mike adds my scores to the blackboard... So despite being in Antarctica it IS a small world.

Another Day in Paradise

With the government up and running again, we at Palmer Station went back to normal science and support activities and the ship headed north with just the folks who had finished their work here, instead of taking almost everyone home. There are now just 37 of on station.

Yesterday the sun came out and it felt like 50 degrees (probably was more in likely in the low 40's). Many of us went exploring the in backyard. I wanted to see how Bubba and mom, the Weddell seals, were doing. They too were enjoying the warmth.

There has been no wind and it had been cold so the sea is covered with new sea ice and old brash ice. Wish I could walk on it but it's not THAT thick.

Who you calling chicken?

The Snowy Sheathtbill, aka the Chicken of the Antarctic, is the only bird here that does not have webbed feet so he/she can't land on the water. They are often seen running around station, pecking at windows, and hanging around people.

A Beautiful Walk in the Backyard

Overlooking Hero Inlet which is covered with fast ice. Seals like to haul out on the fast ice. We are looking at a mama Weddell seal and her pup Bubba (far left about halfway up picture).

Mama and Bubba relaxing in the sunshine (can you see Bubba lying down beside mom with head towards her tail)?

 A view from the top of the glacier.

Looking from glacier down towards Palmer Station, the ship, lots a sea ice and the local islands.

USAP Ships

These are the 2 US Antarctic Program ships that are used for research and transporting people, gear and goods to Palmer station. This photo taken a week ago when we were in Chile shows the Nathanial B Palmer (left) which is an icebreaker and spends weeks to months at sea doing research. And on the right is the baby sister, the Laurence M Gould with an ice-enforced hull, that predominately transports people and stuff between Puenta Arenas, Chile and Palmer Station as well as doing some research trips. Once the Gould leaves Palmer Station in a few days and returns to Puenta Arenas she will sit at dock with her sister until the government starts to work again.

Palmer Station, Antarctica .... again

Hi all ... so I'm back at Palmer for another summer season. Arrived a few days ago after an uneventful crossing of the infamous Drake's Passage. Here at station the big news is that the shutdown of the U.S government has resulted in Palmer Station going to "caretaker" status meaning no money to support science. What this means is that most people are leaving soon to head north except for about 12 essential personnel to keep the station running and the people safe. I will be staying, of course, as the doctor, along with a cook, power plant manager, handymen, station manager, someone from IT, comms and logistics. We are hoping this won't last the whole summer season ... time will tell. In the meantime, I am enjoying being back on station, seeing old friends, and watching a new born Weddell seal slither around on the ice ....