Week 51 at the Pole

Thursday, January 9, 2020 - 10:00am

Group photo at South Pole
Yuya Makino, IceCube/NSF

The last full week of 2019 was a busy one at the South Pole.  Yes, there were the holiday festivities (and a group photo!), but plenty of work was going on as well.  Staff were at the IceCube Lab steadily working on computer system upgrades and reorganization.  A group of them is shown below inspecting the ICL cable tower in preparation for the IceCube Upgrade project.  IceCube winterover Yuya joined another IceCube member on a trip out to ARA 5, the most distant work site from the station, to check on some electronics.  On the fun side, there was a nice Christmas dinner and the annual Race Around the World, which winterover John participated in.  Finally, as we know that winterovers fulfill many different roles during their time at the Pole, we see in the final image one of the more unusual roles—that of human cargo strap. Looks like fun!

Side view of people on ladder working outside at IceCube Lab cable tower
Yuya Makino, IceCube/NSF

Close up of people working outside on ladder at IceCube Lab
Yuya Makino, IceCube/NSF

Person crouched outside at the Pole using a power drill
Yuya Makino, IceCube/NSF

Long view of people seated at long dinner table
Yuya Makino, IceCube/NSF

Person lying on top of cargo being hauled on a sled
John Hardin, IceCube/NSF