Anxious rambling the day of

The morning of our departure is upon us. Palmer is going to be totally new and exciting in fall, can't wait to see what it will be like. Sure the winds are higher and may inhibit some of our sampling trips, but I think in all we have 5 weeks down there and should be able to do some good science.

I always get anxious before big trips and can't sleep once I wake. Got this nagging feeling that I might forget to pack something! Judging from my one large not-so-full suitcase and a smaller carryon- I feel like I have packed light for this trip... Oh well, it's not like I ever remember what I forgot until it's too late.

Luckily Raytheon is always very civilized and doesn't schedule our flights for 6 am, in which case we would have to be at the airport at 4, and wake at 1-2am to make it. Our flight out of Philly will be 4:30pm. Very civilized. Hopefully our transition through Atlanta won't be stormy!

We also have a 6 hr layover once we get to Santiago. Normally that would annoy me, twiddling my thumbs in an airport instead of reaching my destination, but Raytheon has a link with the Chilean government to facilitate all the needs of their USAP (United States Antarctic Program) participants. This link is a company called Agunsa. They have a very nice office in the Santiago airport and after we clear customs, there are a couple of couches to crash on. Which after 24 hrs of no sleep will be welcome!

There is yet a more important reason why we have a 6hr layover- there is only one flight a day from Santiago to Punta Arenas. After all, who would be crazy enough to go to Punta Arenas in winter?! Oh... I am going to take a good look at the scientists crashed around me in the Agunsa office...

There and back again, a grad student's tale!

It is time to go back to Palmer Station!

In January 2011 I had my very first trip to Palmer Station, Antarctica. We collected samples for summer season during that month. We have only been home for 2.5 months and now it's time for our second trip. This time it will be fall/winter! Last time it was continuous sunlight (twilight after 11:30pm). This time it will be dark most hours of the day and twilight during the day. However, Palmer is not as far south as the South Pole by any means. As the title of this blog states, it's the lowest latitude station, meaning it's farther noth, than any of the other US Antarctic bases. Thus, making it not quite as cold or dark in winter. I guess we'll see when I get there!

We are leaving in 2 weeks... theoretically. Raytheon still hasn't gotten us our plane tickets, though I am certain they have everything under control. They do this all the time after all!

I will be a lot busier this time (I still have to complete all the work for my ongoing Microbial Physiology class, which I am loving btw) as well as continue writing a paper. However, this time a friend of mine, Jill, currently an assistant professor at Dartmouth College, is coming with us. It'll be a blast! I will try to keep it all up to date...