January 24, 2000

Chris Denker (left) and Steve Dunbar (right) weighing cargo for retrograde.

It was another wild day of unpredictable weather. The front that appeared out to our west yesterday, spun over the Antarctic Peninsula today, bringing driving rain and wind. As I write this, we hit the day's high gust of 59 knots. Folks paced anxiously, wondering if they would get out. The office that I have been using as a studio has a nice picture window view of Hero Inlet and out across Arthur Harbor. We had a lot of traffic, as weather watchers popped in to survey the prospects. Not good...

Steve and I sorted through gear and prepared boxes of equipment for retrograde shipment back to the United States. We also spent and hour and a half in an "outbrief" meeting, talking with Polly Penhale, Bob Farrell, Ken Doggett and Rob Edwards about the Antarctica 2000 project and how everything went. It was a nice opportunity to reflect on the process and to acknowledge all the dimensions and efforts of those who made this undertaking possible. I feel both privileged and honored at having been part of the National Science Foundation's Antarctic Artists and Writers Program. It has been an extraordinary experience!

The afternoon passed quickly with no significant change in the weather. I checked in with Bill Fraser and Donna Patterson, hoping to get out one more time to record giant petrels. We will see what tomorrow holds in store...