sunset + sunrise = sunret

I came up with a new word: sunret.
This most easily describes the amazing combination of sunrise and sunset here in Antarctica. The night of October 20 to 21, we nightshift folks were able to experience an amazing 6 hours of this combination. The sun went down, but the colors and brilliance never left the sky!

I wish I could share pictures that would do justice to the unbelievable skyline and the feel of being surrounded by amazing mountains, and islands, and frozen sea. My night supervisor decided it would be a perfect night for a "training" trip out to our Williams Field Ice Runway about 5 miles outside of McMurdo. She pointed out a couple of places we need to know for shuttle runs and road conditions. Three of us took a field trip out to the sea ice and beheld the most amazing sky I may have ever seen: 360 degrees of flaming, bold colors. Below is a tiny portion of the illustrious Royal Society Mountain Range.
I experienced a feeling I love to have; when I am so completely overwhelmed with God's blessings on this earth, and I cannot comprehend thoughts to even give enough praise back to the Creator. It's like my body is going to explode with gratefulness for the circumstance! It made me giddy with joy.

On this trip, I also took in my first good view of Castle Rock. I hope to have an opportunity to hike out there soon and maybe even climb to the top of it. The rock, basking in the sunset glow, is a lava protrusion from the nearby Mt. Erebus.On our way out to Williams Field, we pass by pressure ridges as we transition from the island to the sea ice. The pressure ridges occur for a couple of reasons: The rise and fall of the ocean tides an the expanding and contracting of the ice. It certainly also makes for an attractive and interesting seascape!The clear weather we had over October 20 and 21 also lent to a phenomenal view of Mt. Discovery with a touch of fatamorgana at the base. (I'll explain that term in more detail later. I hope to take some more impressive pictures that illustrate the term better)! Mt. Discovery is the mountain out the front window of McMurdo Sation. She is beautiful, especially when coated in the sunret!