I had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's celebration. What do you do for Christmas in Antarctica? First and foremost, you extend your family since they're probably not with you. We had a beautiful acoustic show at the waste management barn. There was a Charley Brown Christmas play. There was a run to the top of Ob hill, where the cross for E. Falcon Scott British explorer was erected after he failed to return from the South Pole (the original is still there after 100 plus years). Of course, there was a grand dinner with many friends and much wassailing. And finally, in my case, I had the privilege of ushering 7 folks, many of whom had never been on a helo flight, or ventured into the dry valleys, on what they all described as a once in a lifetime experience. We delivered gifts and tidings of joy to all the camps in the field, saw natural wonders of glaciers, mountains, and penguin rookeries, and all in all had a great day. It was a humbling experience joining folks who had worked hard down here for up to 18 seasons enjoying this opportunity for the first time.
The memorial cross atop Ob Hill. White Island in the backdrop left, Black Island backdrop right.
The runners enjoying the spoils of victory.
View of town from the Ob Hill, looking at Winterquarters bay just past town, and McMurdo sound spanning beyond to the north.
A look at the course. Ob Hill viewed from town.
At a field camp called F6 with the group and some scientists, aka: beakers (like on the muppets)
Giant 13m dish pointed at the horizon responsible for receiving and relaying most of USAP communication. This site and the pic below are located on Black Island about 10nm from McMurdo.
Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds. The corner viewed here is where the legendary long lost scotch whiskey was found and returned. So they say.
Gargoyle ridge. Incredible ventifacs (wind carved stone).
Have a latte at the base of your favorite glacier.
Candada Glacier at Lake Hoare.
Lunch and Christmas cookies at Marble point with Kristy, Karen, Crunch, Me, Tim, Rachel, Anita, and Lavonne.
Sleigh rides and presents with the I-169 Taylor Glacier group.
Might as well put some of this ice back since it wasn't used for the tree.
Ice core holes drilled deep into Taylor glacier, revealing 12,000 year old ice for research. My research was a little different. Goes mighty fine as a glass shaped to hold your beverage, or broken up and put into your favorite adult beverage. Has a special snap, crackle, tinkle, and pop-fizz as it releases ancient air from super dense ice.
The ascent of Castle Rock, New Years Eve Eve.
The descent, tougher than the climb; but why?
The walk home is always longer than it looks around here.
The celebration continued on New Years Eve with Ice Stock. Several bands played a variety of music, surrounded by spectators, chili feed competitors and booths, a fish hut converted into a coffee shop called Sawbucks. Full set up complete with two pigs roasting on a spit, a mud pit for dancing, and plenty of drinks for everyone. I'm front man in a few pics with my punk/rock band "Kress Vehicle Suicide". Yeah, we rocked it hard for the new year. I was also crowned most kissable on stage by a group of science girls we flew to the dry valleys on a regular basis. My girlfriend wasn't as stoked about the award, but I reassured her that it was ok with the news that I only had the most kissable "cheek". 
Swing by a 3,000 foot ice fall named VXE-6. Makes you feel pretty small and insignificant.
Hanging out at the Adelie Penguin rookery at Cape Royds. Several thousand penguins here with average of two chicks per mating pair. Chicks are about 2 weeks old here, give or take. Some eggs still being tended here too. Skua (gull like sea bird) were occasionally seen raiding the colony to try to steal chicks. The raids cause quite a stir in the colony.
For the Friday before New Years, we enjoyed a hike to Castle Rock, about 6 miles round trip. We stopped for libations, wrestling, sledding, and general tom foolery at the two emergency shelters, as well as on the top of the rock during the trip. Its a slightly technical climb to the top as the pics below show, made no easier by the advanced level of merry-making that was taking place during the long journey to the summit. No one accused anyone of being smart or over cautious on this trip. But we did have fun. Until 5:30 am. Some of us in broken glass. Some missing some clothing. But it's ok, we all still had jobs on Monday.
The descent, tougher than the climb; but why?
The walk home is always longer than it looks around here.
