Ice Flight #1

To get to the South Pole from Christchurch requires two more flights.  The first one gets you onto the Antarctic continent, specifically McMurdo base on the coast.  We flew on a US Air Force C-17, along with quite a bit of cargo.  Most of it was on pallets, but there was also a helicopter right in the middle of the plane.  As we increased our altitude, you could hear some of the metal barrels on the pallets making 'ping-ing' sounds from the pressure differential.

 All of the seats are along the side of the plane, and there are just a few windows to look out.  Ear plugs are a must, as it is a loud ride.  The flight lasted about 5 & 1/2 hours, just long enough to do some work, watch a movie, and eat the lunch they gave us.  Personally, I prefer the C-17 to many commercial planes.  There is leg room and you're free to move around! 

 About three hours into the flight, we started seeing large ice flows out the window!  When the edge of the continent was in sight the pilot let us come into the cockpit to look out the front window.

It was just a few short steps off the plane and onto Antarctica.  The first thing you see is a swarm of vehicles and people, and then beyond that the flat expanse of McMurdo sound.  In the distance are several mountains, including Mount Erebus.  Erebus is a volcano, and when we stepped off the plane, it was steaming!  In another month the planes will have to land on a different runway (called Pegasus), because this one is actually on sea ice and will be melting into the ocean.