Third Deployment Date Today. . .

It’s been a rough start to the field season. Two days before we were set to depart in early November, new arrivals to the main US research station, McMurdo, were halted because of the rising covid cases. This led to a change in policies at the station to help prevent the spread. The upside is that it will be a healthier and safer environment. The downside is that it has delayed and reduced our field season.

I’m scheduled to depart later today for Christchurch, then McMurdo, and then South Pole.

Instead of camping at Hercules Dome for 1 month, we will have airplane support for 3 weeks out of South Pole. No camping – just day trips by plane. It will be a little like living in South Lake Union and taking a float plane up to the San Juan Islands every day the weather is nice. It won’t yield the same amount of scientific insight, but if the weather is in our favor, it can still lead to a productive season.

Fingers crossed that our third deployment date is the charm.