Week 41 at the Pole

Friday, October 19, 2018 - 1:00pm

Outside at South Pole, line of flag markers and snowed-in sign on ground
Raffaela Busse, IceCube/NSF

Bad weather at the Pole last week kept the first flights from arriving, but it also meant lots of snow shoveling and fuel line testing to continue their readiness for incoming flights once conditions do improve. The heavy winds moved snow all over the place and quickly created huge drifts.  Below is a view of the ICL porch looking like it needs some attention and one of IceCube winterover Raffaela sitting atop a snow drift on the flight deck that wasn’t even there two days earlier.  Still, nothing stopped Oktoberfest from happening (what could?), and even with everything else going on they managed to produce an abundant supply of pretzels.

Snow covered porch of ICL
Raffaela Busse, IceCube/NSF

Person sitting on top of tall snow drift
Raffaela Busse, IceCube/NSF

People seated at long table in galley decorated for Oktoberfes
Raffaela Busse, IceCube/NSF