How Antarctica was formed and more artwork from Karen Young.

I have been uploading my Palmer Station videos to YouTube. On the settings (the small gear on the bottom right side of the viewing screen) select HD for the best quality.

https://youtu.be/21wArYwldc4

https://youtu.be/n7jtXKZX1Gk

https://youtu.be/x2eN71TY4Xc

https://youtu.be/sX3J-mpouWY

https://youtu.be/HWERN1fKr5Q

https://youtu.be/pDKQlYoM_W4

Antarctic was part of South America about 40 million years ago. At that time there was no ice covering and it was composed of forests, lakes, and rivers. 

The Antarctic Peninsula was connected to Tierra del Fuego in the southern part of South America. Due to tectonic plate action Antarctica broke away and became its own continent. Tierra del Fuego (Spanish: "Land of Fire") got its name from Ferdinand Magellan who, on passing the archipelago in 1520, spotted a number of fires burning along the coastline. These fires may have been made by the archipelago's aboriginal inhabitants

Due to this and the new current traveling around Antarctica warmer water was unable to reach and the new continent froze over millions of year. The ice on the polar plateau is some 2 miles think.

Antarctica today.

A few weeks ago I posted about a group of us exploring Old Palmer Station and finding a colony of elephant seals. Karen Young, an artist, was with us and made this cartoon with pictures of of the seals. That's me in the lead with a radio. What a cool work of art! Thanks Karen.

Karen was onboard the Gould with us winterovers when we came across the Drake Passage. This was the cartoon she made then. You can see her fantastic work at https://www.karenromanoyoung.com/antarcticlog-gallery

A new winterover crew member. He's had a run-in with a leopard seal. 

A beautiful mural of a leopard seal painted in the carpenter's shop.

Painted by Marissa Goerke this past summer. 

Standing by to tie up the Gould after their latest trip from Punta Areanas, Chile. 

Another dive tender day for me. 

The divers are getting ready.

The dry suit only covers from the neck down. Their heads quickly numb.

Eerie looking mountains in the background.

At the helm. I love driving!

The boat house. 

A Sunday-Funday Hike

I have been uploading my Palmer Station videos to YouTube. On the settings (the small gear on the bottom right side of the viewing screen) select HD for the best quality.

https://youtu.be/cjfzGPSut1Y

https://youtu.be/VWf4h4fJqvw

https://youtu.be/MDkRyMTliJI

https://youtu.be/uE4IBapEvd8

https://youtu.be/qdLms22gzNw

https://youtu.be/kYEOONpG51U

During the last few months of our around the world bicycle ride my daughter Jocelyn and I met Anthony Bourdain and chef Jose Andres on the street in Washington DC. Jocelyn took this selfie. Bourdain was one of those who inspired us to explore the world. When we returned home we watched all of his Parts Unknown shows and often blurted out, "We were there!" Last year he visited McMurdo Station and the South Pole.

Preparing for a hike up the glacier by attaching traction devices to our boots.

After a few slips and long slides we decided this was not a good day on the glacier. 

We slowly worked our way down to the rock and snow zone. It was really slippery. 

Looking across Arthur Harbor.

The end of Arthur Harbor.

I do have gloves and just removed them for camera work.

We ended up hiking to the end of Arthur Harbor and then along the water back to Palmer Station. 

The white dome in the background is an empty radome.

This guy was really upset and scampered away. 

The Gould has returned. In the middle is the rec hut where one can camp. To the far left is the Earth Station where I work.

The rec hut comfortably sleeps 3. All camping gear, along with ski gear is available.

A fine tiny house...

...with a great view!

Fishing and seals

I have been uploading my Palmer Station videos to YouTube. On the settings (the small gear on the bottom right side of the viewing screen) select HD for the best quality.

https://youtu.be/U6OG8lbOzN8

https://youtu.be/GIKP_wCXEWk

https://youtu.be/i_tTRDbI94w

https://youtu.be/7IS-2BkbjbA

https://youtu.be/EQpeCbcuDH8

Palmer Station supported the Ride of Silence to honor those world wide who have been injured or killed in a vehicle accident. 

Palmer Station on a fine morning.

A crab-eater seal pup. Notice the bloody ice.

A zodiac working its way through the brash ice.

A beautiful sunset. The pup has moved...

...to reveal a leopard seal bite. He'll be okay.

Hero Inlet filled with blue ice and a few leopard seals.

The dock has been removed for the winter.

Sunrise on a beautiful calm morning.

I bought 6 bags of each while in Punta Arenas. I mix them together for a delicious trail mix.

Off on another boating adventure to help the marine biologists set fish traps. Motoring through the brash ice on a foggy day.

Baiting the traps.

Setting the trap in the water near an island.

Trolling for fish larvae.

Saving what was caught.

Bar ice. 

Heading home.

An overcast and spooky calm day on the water.