Antarctic South Pole & Meteorites Expedition Report

After literally hours of nothingness, to see South Pole Station on the horizon is a site to behold! We were greeted by a National Science Foundation representative. He led us on a tour through the 30-year-old South Pole Station dome as well as the new building currently under construction. After the tour we were free to visit the excellent gift shop that sells everything-shirts, vests, patches, glasses, bumper stickers, commemorative coins, shot glasses-you
		Photo by Murray Larsen

name it. There were dated envelope indicia and commemorative rubber stamps for your passport too! We headed out to the geographic and ceremonial South Pole markers. Each January 1, the US Geological Survey posts the geographic marker defining 90°S latitude. What an honor to stand at that very spot. I will never forget the experience.


Landing at South Pole	South Pole Greeting	InsideThe Dome	South Pole Construction


Pole Walking Tour	Pole 360°	South Pole Markers	Pole Group

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	Ceremonial Pole	Flight Leaving South Pole

		All too quickly our 3 hour Pole visit ended and we found ourselves back aboard the Otter heading back to the Thiel fuel cache, our camp for the evening. Arriving at back Thiel, we helped each other set up our tents in very windy Antarctic conditions. The cook tent set up by our camp host Neil was a wonderful haven in which to enjoy tea, hot soup and friendship.
Photo by Bill Whiddon


Camp Thiel	Tent Set-up at Thiel	Thiel Bathroom

		The next morning we awoke to white out. This phenomena occurs when clouds blanket the sky, all horizon is lost, and the absence of contrast does not allow you to see definition in the snow around, essentially preventing you from walking safely. Our trip to Patuxent for meteorites was on indefinite hold. We even received some snow! As the day wore on, and with little wind about, it felt like the clouds could keep us here for days. This was, for me, the low point of the trip.
	Thiel White-out 360

Antarctic South Pole & Meteorites Expedition ReportAntarctic South Pole & Meteorites Expedition Report

Photo by David Bloomfield

The next morning, miracles of miracles, we awoke to brilliant blue skies and little wind – meteorites here we come! We packed a minimal bag of supplies – food, water and cameras – and flew from Thiel to the Brazitas Nunatak - a site agreed upon by Mike, Bill Whiddon and ALE staff, as our best chance for finding meteorites. The landing at the beautiful, pristine site was amazing. As practiced,

		we walked abreast along the blue ice searching for anything that was neither ice nor snow. About 40-minutes into our sweep of the ice, David Bloomfield alerted the group that he had found something. Both Mike and Bill examined the specimen and both agreed that it might well be a meteorite! As a group we documented our find with photos, and using Bill’s GPS, we noted its exact location. Mike Reynolds will submit this information to the National Science Foundation. We are all very excited to have found a possible meteorite candidate. We continued our sweep for another 2.5 hours finding no other legitimate specimens.

Photos by Ian Hill


	Press photos for larger view	Photos by Bill Whiddon

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