Antarctic Winter Solstice Midwinter Celebration from Around the Continent

Our Palmer Station midwinter picture with the Marr Glacier in the background. Photo credit: Ken K.

Our midwinter greeting sent out to all Antarctic stations. Photo credit and art: Ken K.

Our midwinter dinner. Photo credit: Kim B.

Prepared and served by Chef Lisa.

An Antarctic map showing locations of 33 midwinter greeting stations.

The Antarctic Research and Supply Vessels the Nathaniel B. Palmer and Lawrence M. Gould are both in a Chilean drydock. The Gould will return to Palmer Station in October with the summer crew. At that time we will complete our winter duties and return home.

Sunsets and Icebergs

Palmer Station sunset. We are down to about three hours of light. Soon the sun will not rise above the glacier.

Occasionally a cool berg drifts by.

This one rested against the pier for a day before moving on.

Another sunset.

Some icebergs lined up in a traffic pattern passing by the station headed south. 

A hiking break. So quiet.

The continent bathed in the sunrise.

Interesting ice formations on the glacier radio sled.

Icebergs and ice piling into Hero Inlet.

A female elephant seal I spotted during a glacial hike. 

She was way up. It must have been a real struggle for her. I don't know what the black color is.

Hero Inlet is starting to freeze over.

Hero Inlet. The black dot middle left is a lone seal basking on the ice.