Location: 89deg 49min S, 29deg 49min W
Elevation: 2822 m
Weather: -24C, 8 m/s

In total, we were at the South Pole for 12 days, and celebrated our last night on station with a series of photos at the ceremonial South Pole, a trip to the sauna, and a hot shower.  We expect our trip northwards to last some 61 days, with stops at seven different sites to collect ice cores, radar data and UAV flights.  It promises to be a very busy trip, and we hope to reach Troll Station on 22 Feb if all goes well.

The trip northward got started early this morning when Einar, Kirsty, Anna and I headed out in Sembla to start collecting radar data.  We wanted to start the radar lines this season at a site known as SPRESSO.  This site is part of a global seismological network (www.iris.edu), and consists of a seismometer placed in the hole left after collecting an ice core.  This ice core has been analyzed for chemistry, and several volcanic events have been identified in the core.  These volcanic layers often generate bright reflections in radar data, allowing us to identify and date the radar layers.  Consequently, the SPRESSO site provides a convenient anchor point for our radar work.  Sadly, it was in precisely the wrong direction, so we left a little early so as not to hold up the whole group too long.

The rest of the group left a few hours later and drove on a scenic tour through the station grounds before heading out of town.  It seems they attracted quite a bit of attention, as well as more than a few people waving and wishing them well.  Sembla rejoined the others a few hours later, and tonight we are out on our way, a little closer to our next science stop.

The 2008-09 Traverse Team (self timer operator: Stein Tronstad)