The Ice Tunnels

Over the past few days the weather has not permitted good visibility. I'll refer you to my last post for weather info. Cold is just cold after a while. I never thought I would consider -60F "nice". The weather (visibility) finally broke allowing a view of the ever setting sun. A spectacular one at that. Today the sun is completely below the horizon but we will still see the glow during a period of twilight that will last few weeks. On one side we have the setting sun.

And to the other a rising moon. Just amazing to see. Pictures do not do these two justice. At least not with my camera.

You are probably wondering about the mentioned ice tunnels. There are about two thousand feet of utility tunnels under the ice at approximately forty feet below the surface. These tunnels were originally cut by a large machine and are now maintained with smaller hand held electrically powered chainsaws. The ice is continually on the move and periodically utility lines need to be adjusted and tunnels widened to accommodate the shift. That's me in the picture for scale.

The temps hover around -60F year round keeping things really frosty all the time. The slightest bit of moisture freezes almost instantly.

Some of the tunnels are rather tight spaces. Other areas can be cavernous in comparison and rather surreal at first glance.

Throughout the tunnels some have left decorations arranged in a manner that highlight the properties of the ice. In the below image a five inch diameter hole was bored into the tunnel wall and small items placed within it. The blue seen is light from above reaching through the Ice.

Near the station water well more moisture is present and it reacts to the cold with spectacular displays. Our water is melted from ice deep enough to be a few thousand years old. The water we drink was surface snow when the Romans still ruled part of the old world. Water so pure and devoid of minerals that it has to be treated prior to consumption.

Next Post? South Pole Rides