Ocean Search and Rescue Drill and a few hikes

I am on the Ocean Search and Rescue (OSAR) Team. During a recent drill, we searched for and found a "disabled" boat and towed it back to the station. I'm at the helm in the rescue boat. Mt. William to the right.

At the helm of Avior towing the disabled boat to station.

Back on station. It was windy and rough so we all got pretty wet which instantly froze on our float coats. A bit cold. 

This chart shows the route the disabled boat and the rescue boats took. 

Working our way back to station was a bit difficult in the ice.

One of my jobs is maintaining five remote weather stations. This is the end of Outcast Island, about three miles from station. 

The weather tower at Outcast Island. It was a very difficult access.

After several inches of fresh powder, it is always fun to explore the backyard (the area behind the station and before the glacier) on skis. It takes a little over an hour to ski around the backyard perimeter.

A striking sunset.

We are pretty much frozen in with sea ice.

The view from my dorm room.

Sunrise Saturday, September 5th from the top of Marr Glacier.

A long Saturday hike.

Pressure ridges forming on the sea ice.

Penguin Beach. As the sea has frozen the penguin colony has gone to new hunting grounds.

The pancake ice is being shoved to the shore.

Palmer Station on the right. Hero Inlet to the left of the station is frozen with 12 inches of ice. 

A giant petrel, the largest bird in the Southern Ocean. 

Palmer Station from the other side of Hero Inlet. A few Giant petrels to the left.

The end of Hero Inlet. Mt. William peeking above Marr Glacier. 

Palmer Station from Bonaparte, a popular hiking and ski area.

The Antarctic continent in the back.