Transportation

© David Eldred

1962

Nodwell Track Truck At Mc Murdo

Vehicles in Antarctica generally rely on large balloon tires or a continuous-belt track for traction. Generally speaking, tracked vehicles can tackle a greater variety of terrain conditions. Vehicles with balloon tires provide more comfort for passengers.

Sunset on the rocks

© David Eldred

1962

The sun sets over the ice on McMurdo Sound.
The austral spring begins in September, when autumn begins in the northern hemisphere. As the austral summer nears, the south polar days get appreciably longer and nights get shorter. In late December, around Christmas, there are several days without a sunset.
Operation Deep Freeze, which runs from September to May, is timed to take advantage of the milder antarctic "summer."

Flight Operations

© David Eldred

1962

Landing on the deck of the Eastwind.

As the photo in the previous post clearly shows, the Eastwind carried two helicopters, which performed ice surveys and other functions.
This craft appears to be a Bell 47 variant.

© David Eldred

1962

A Sikorsky HO4

Eastwind

© David Eldred

1963

Another view of the Eastwind

Emperor Penguins

© David Eldred

1963

Emperor Penguins are the largest of penguin species. They have an average lifespan of about 20 years. A recent documentary, The March of the Penguins, highlighted about the birds' breeding cycle, which includes a inland march of up to 70 miles to reach their rookeries.

More McMurdo

© David Eldred

1962

McMurdo Base. Built in 1956, McMurdo was, and still is, the chief U.S. Antarctic research station. It is Antarctica's largest community.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mcmurdo_station

McMurdo Base

© David Eldred

1962

The Chapel of the Snows was built in 1956 by volunteers using scrap bits and pieces from other buildings. It burned in 1978 and was replaced by a larger structure: http://www.southpolestation.com/trivia/history/chapel.html

Ice in the Channel

© David Eldred

1962

Cutting ice in the channel. Photo taken from the bridge of the Eastwind. US Navy cargo ship PVT Joseph Merrell (AK 275) on the right.

Mount Erebus

© David Eldred

1963

Mount Erebus reflected in the calm waters of McMurdo Sound.

© 2006 David Eldred

1963

Background: A plume of smoke above Mount Erebus offers a hint of the mountain's volcanic nature. Mount Erebus is the world's southernmost volcano. Foreground: David Eldred takes a break on the Eastwind.

http://www.ees.nmt.edu/Geop/mevo/mevo.html

On the Ice

© David Eldred

1963

QM2 David Eldred

The USCGC Eastwind (W-279) was one of seven "wind class" ice breakers. The Eastwind was commissioned in 1944 and, in WWII, had the distinction of capturing the German ship Exernsteine, the only enemy ship to be captured intact during the war. After 1945, the Eastwind saw ice-breaking duty at both poles. In 1960, it became the first ice-breaker to circumnavigate the globe. The Eastwind was scrapped in 1968.

Castellated Iceberg

© David Eldred

1962

An interesting iceberg in the Ross Sea.

Antarctic icebergs are significantly larger than Arctic icebergs, and also more varied in size, shape, and age. Large icebergs are tracked by the National Ice Center. To view ice antarctic ice charts, or for more information, visit www.natice.noaa.gov

Lounging with penguins

© David Eldred

1963

With no natural fear of man, penguins tolerated close contact with humans. It is now against international treaty to interact with wildlife in Antarctica.