HIking Hut Trail

Diving Hut

The ice is really melting and the diving huts were all taken off of the ice a few weeks ago before the ice got too thin for heavy vehicles to travel on. You can see the tow bar on the right of me. It attaches to a vehicle which then tows it off of the ice and to the storage area which is on the way to Hut Point.

Ice Pier

The ice pier has lots of water around it now, mostly from the two run offs coming off the hills.

 Water Run Off

The snow on the hills are really melting and lots of water is flowing down toward the pier

 Santa on the Whale Sculpture

Holiday decoration on the way to Hut Point.

 Hut Point - Vince's Cross

This location is at the end of Hut Point.

 Seal Resting on Ice

There is now room for seals to come up out of the water to rest. This is not too far from where the underwater observation tube was located.

 Skua at Rest

While hiking we saw three skuas flying and one landed here. We think it may be the nest.

 Water and Ice Along Hut Point

Here you can see how the ice has melted and the bright blue water is getting wider.

This is a view of Hut Point from above. We are still on the trail.

It was a beautiful day for a hike. More pictures later.

If you have any questions you can email me at marybeckman@earthlink.net

Weather Satellite Antenna Installation at T-Site

One of the projects I am involved with here at McMurdo is to support the group who is installing a new weather satellite antenna in McMurdo. There is a lot of preparation and many persons are involved in getting the site ready. This photo is of the temporary power that is needed at the site.

 This is a photo of the concrete slabs that make the foundation for the outside dome around the antenna which is called the radome.

A phyiscal survey is needed to determine the latitude and longitude of the site location.

The radome is made up of many triangular panels. You can see one of the panels here. They are all put together with metal brackets and bolts.

The bottom ring of the radome is shown here.

A crane is needed to build the top two thirds of the radome. The ropes at the bottom of the structure here are used to keep it tied down for when the wind kicks up.

The crane is lifting the kingpost, which the antenna reflector dish is attached to, to be placed in the center of the foundation.

The top of the radome is placed on the first ring after the reflector dish is secured to the kingpost.

This is what it looks like on the inside of the radome.

This is the first installation of this type of weather antenna satellite which is to be installed at many locations around the world.