It was sad to see the long winter end, for me, as I watched people arriving on the first LC-130 to land here since early February. It marked the end of a wonderful year at the pole. After training my replacement, I will be leaving the 2 mile thick sheet of ice for McMurdo Station on the coast of Antarctica and then on to Christchurch , New Zealand. It was surreal to see strangers invading "our" space as 90 people arrived on the first two flights. It was enjoyable, though to eat one of the few apples brought for us. The first piece of fresh fruit for 8-1/2 months. I also enjoyed meeting friends from last summer that returned. We also received our NSF Antarctic winterover service medals.

WINTEROVER 2001 CREW INSIDE OF THE DOME..Interactive 3-D panorama (taken in late September)
 

It has been a very busy month getting ready for this moment, but I did find some time to assemble a Sunday science lecture the Sunday before station opening. The topic: Chemical Rockets.
title page of the lecture    lecture photo 1     lecture photo 2    lecture photo 3

Ben and Eric working in MAPO at the DASI radio telescope
 
 

NEXT MONTH..............Return to civilization