new zealand

Monica and Paul on the Routeburn Track above the Mackenzie Valley!
Monica on the Routeburn Track , glacier formed valley in the background.
Paul chilling out in his gnome like chair (driftwood) on St Pattys day in the small coastal town of Hokitika on the West Coast - where sheep have ocean front property!

New Zealand !

Paul and Monica at the trailhead of the Milford Track on the south island of New Zealand! it's one of the most famous walks/ backpacks in the world - 33.5 miles 4 days/ 3 nights. on the 3rd day we saw at least 150 + waterfalls coming off the top of the fiords (granite mtns) crazy & wet since we had to do 5 or so river / small stream crossings!
Just a small waterfall in Fiordland national park that the milford track and the routeburn tracks we completed go through. Amazing
Our first campsite on the Abel Tasman track- Anapi Cove -deserted and awesome! Don't worry I had sunscreen on!

Emperor penguins rule the ice!

The emperors are so beautiful, slow walkers/ waddlers and can be a little grumpy sometimes if you invade their space.
Borrowed these shots from a fellow coworker on base. They were so great - had to share!

Trying to stow away as cargo on one of our planes heading back to New Zealand?

people pix

Paul with one of his co-workers, Wade , whom also played Santa with a Jimmy Buffett flair at our station wide Christmas party held at the vehicle maintenance facility (VMF) . They fix and work on everything from normal 4wd pickups to the super huge construction cranes, dozers, plows and snow cats etc...
Me and a couple of the girls- Krista and Lizzy at our retro dance party/ prom feb. 1 2007.
My borrowed orange mumu type 70's dress was baddddddd, how I longed for my disco vibe pantsuit from Gunny or my plush (not!) white BASC style faux fur and matching rhinestone trimmed orange dress.

Cruising the Ross Sea w/ whales

U.S. Coast Guard Polar Sea with Mt. Erebus volcano in the background. Most on the station including us ! got to ride on the ship out to open water.. and wildlife watch along the way.
Paul (lower row, 3rd from the right) and his fellow linehandlers- help the Polar Sea and other ships moor at our ice pier.
Close up shot at the Orca whales we saw while out on the Polar Sea. We also saw mickee whales, seals, and skua birds. So So great!
From the bow of the ship looking west out to sea and open water.

Ice Stock NYE 2006 - Like Woodstock w/o drugs and mud!!

Let's sit on an old Navy truck!!


















Icestock peeps and "head-banger" moves on stage!!

















My club: Ross Island Yacht Club (RIYCA). Chili cook-off at Icestock - we lost.















Monica feeling no pain!!















Icestock main stage(the only stage).

US Coast Guard and the Captain

The captain hitching a ride. Nice hard hat!!!













The captain being run over by the USCG Polar Sea! Not really, I volunteer to tie-up the ships when they come into Ross Island port.















Flag at half-mast on the bow of the Polar Sea(President Ford).


J. Lackey in 1992?? Any ideas anyone??









Sun dog at McMurdo.

Golf in Antarctica??

Crazy but true !! Paul competed in the Antarctica's annual Ice Wharf Golf Tournament on sunday. Closest to the pin wins' Paul came in 3rd place ! great! paul and the corwd are actually standing on sea ice that is covered in gravel to drive on and to the right of him is where our sea vessels dock - unload and load!


Monica and Leeann also from Denver had a much easier time at snow camp survival school then Paul.. we had fairly mild weather 20 degrees, light to med. wind and sunny most of the time... here we are sitting in the ice lounge outside our snow cave/ igloo with circular couch (like the counseling couch in Gunny- BASC style!) with a big screen tv (behind us) showing rugby - of course and a little table for cards and keeping your drinks cold.
Monica hauling gear at t snow camp - ice block walls protect our tents & makeshift kitchen . Our snow cave to the right.

2 emperor penguins hanging out on our remote airfield runway for small planes... so cute!

Penguins!

Adelie Penguins came across the sea ice & visited us at our base on Ross Island! A great day!

This is the Swedish Oden ice breaker ship (along with the coast guard ship- the Polar Sea- it breaks up the sea ice and creates a channel for our supply vessel to reach the base for off load) the little black dots in front of the ship are 75 or so Adelie penguins!

ice pressure ridges

Here are some of Paul's scenic shots of the ice pressure ridges that form when the temporary sea ice collades with the permanent ice shelf of Antarctica. Amazing !
Sea Slug AKA Weddel Seal hanging out in the ridges.

mt erebus, fishing shacks on skis & more

Hi all! Some quick pictures to enjoy! Paul at the top of observation hill , behind him is Mt Erebus - the volcano!
front door of paul's shop and work dept. building- Facilities Engineering Maintenance and Construction (FEMC )
Portable fishing huts - on skis - used mostly by researchers.
Monica outside the base on the ice shelf near our airfield.