ob hill

Yesterday, Sunday, was a beautiful sunny day. A group decided to go up Ob Hill and check out the view. Brushing aside a -37 degree windchill temperature at the top, and donning our ECW (Extremely Cold Weather) Gear, we ascended up this hill beside town. I’m not kidding when I say it was cold! In order to breath, we had to cover our nose and mouth, but as soon as we put anything over them, our glasses would fog up and freeze with condensation so we couldn't see where we were climbing! We all learned the value of taking our goggles for the next trip! We did make it to the top; frozen cheeks and all!

Ob Hill (Observation Hill) has a great view back into town. I put a red snowflake on Building 155 where I live and eat very day. I put a green snowflake on the Building 140, where the shuttles office is, and I labeled Building 175 where Laura works with a purple snowflake. Hopefully you can see the snowflakes (If you click on the image, it will open up larger).

Robert F. Scott’s party, who perished on an unsuccessful trek from the South Pole, is commemorated by a cross at the top of the peak. The five of us posed by it: Jen, Erick, Dave, Marty, and me!

Today, I am shifting to nights, which is good. I get my birthday off (thanks to a fellow shuttle bus driver who swapped his transistion days for mine) and I get to sleep in until I can't sleep anymore because I'm trying to reajust my clock over the next 2.5 days. On Thursday, my shift will be 5:30pm to 5:30am. So, tomorrow is laundry day, running day, clean-up day, and enjoy the party that Laura is throwing for me day! I'm looking forward to 28! I never would have imagined celebrating a birthday in Antarctica!