Happy Christmas, I Guess ...

The annoyance of being in Antarctica for Christmas, something that sounds kind of cool but isn't, has subsided.  Though this is mainly because Christmas Day is now a distant (and rather blurry) memory.

The remaining ANITA members at Christmas

So merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all!

The run up to Christmas down here was actually pretty fun.  With the ANITA cooperating nicely in all areas but its flight path everyone had the chance to kick back and relax.  I cant remember dates, because each night was all too full of sorrow drowning, but at some point I went to a Christmas show full of funny songs, founded years ago by a set of brothers down here and now something of a tradition, though only one brother was down this time around.  There has been alot of eating - I had Christmas dinner twice, once having snuck into the night shifters' Christmas meal (would have only gone to waste otherwise).  I've watched co-workers drink way too much and then breath Bicardi 151 fueled fire.  There other stories too ... but I'd better not go into them too much!

Anyway, having avoided exercise for a little too long apart from one 7 mile ski, I went on a long hike yesterday.  And seeing as my experience on Ob Hill was such fun, I joined Brian in a climb up this:

Castle Rock

Luckily I had help and motivation from Brian to climb the rock, had I been alone I doubt I'd have had the guts.  Once again, I am a pussy.

Brian on the ascent (there is a rope to hang on to pretty soon after this!)

View from the top over the sea ice