Images of

ANTARCTICA

Photos by the Masked Boondoggler

Photos © 2002 The Masked Boondoggler

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Over the summer there was a crew of technicians at McMurdo who were renowned for their ability to score massive, excellent boondoggles. This group will remain unnamed, however one of their members (who may or may not have been my officemate) was kind enough to share some of his/her/its pictures with me before leaving. This page has some of this individual's pictures from a multi-stop Dry Valleys boondoggle. For the record, it should be noted that he/she/it stated to me that some "work" was actually performed during this trip. Although I cannot verify the accuracy of this statement, there are some good pictures here - from the coolest place on the entire Antarctic Continent. I'm not sure where all of these pictures were taken, but I have put some commentary for the ones where either a) I recognize the places or b) I looked at a map of the Dry Valleys and figured out where it had to be. This is the boondoggle-mobile... the A-star helicopter. I believe this is at one of the Taylor Valley camps - either Lake Hoare or Lake Bonney.

This is a picture looking eastward from Marble Point, the helo refueling station build between the Wilson Piedmont Glacier and the Ross Sea. This is Mount Erebus, with a few icebergs stuck in the ice.

Same view - nice clouds.

This panorama is looking out northward from Marble Point.

I think this was also taken at Marble Point, looking NW.

Here is a view westward into the Taylor Valley, with Lake Fryxell and the Canada Glacier in the foreground. Peak 1882 is on the right of this picture (see here for pictures from my trip to Peak 1882...which was absolutely NOT a boondoggle in any way, shape, or form!!!)

A view looking southeast from a bit farther into the Taylor Valley. Mt. Lister is the large peak in the background.

Another one while flying westward along the Taylor Valley. 1882 is on the right.

This is a view looking SW from beyond the west end of the Taylor Valley. The Pearse Valley extends to the left here, where it meets the Taylor Glacier as it flows into the Taylor Valley.

Another view of the west end of the Pearse Valley.

This is the view looking SE toward the other end of the Pearse Valley, where it ends at the Taylor Glacier. Mt. Lister is in the background.

A southeast view of the Taylor Glacier and Mt. Lister again.

Another view of the same scene. Out of sight to the left, the Taylor Glacier ends in almost a point, where it melts into Lake Bonney.

This is the view looking south from the backside of Peak 1882, which is the peak at the middle right of the picture. The Taylor Valley extends horizontally (out of view behind the ridge) in this picture, and Mt. Lister is in the background as always.

I can't figure out where this picture is by looking at the map....but it's cool anyway.

This looks suspiciously like one of the glaciers flowing into the Taylor Valley, but I'm not sure which one.

Here's the A-star parked at the tip of a glacier. Again, not sure which one this is. I think I remember the Masked Boondoggler telling me this was at either the Lake Hoare or Lake Bonney camp.

The helo with the glacier again.

Another glacier picture from a little higher up.

More glacier action!

This is a neat-o pic of the entire glacier front.

Some mountains with a glacier.

Similar view, but with the A-star flying by.

Glacier and mountains in the background, and a lake in front (Hoare? Bonney?).

Cool pic of the helo taking off from somewhere in the Taylor Valley.

A nice panorama of some mountains...again, not sure where these are exactly...

It looks like this pic was taken near the same place as the panorama above.

A ground level view of the desert expanse of the Dry Valleys.

So who is this Masked Boondoggler? Well, here is the culprit...relaxing in front of the glacier face. Note the curious lack of work being done in this picture....

Another picture of the boondoggle in full effect.

Cool pic - looking up to the top of the glacier face.

Another one from the foot of a glacier.