After working at McMurdo Station during Oct-Dec, 1996, I was sent to Palmer Station for about 6 weeks, providing communications and broadcast field tech support for the "Live From Antarctica-2" tv broadcasts. We finshed them Feb. 6th, and headed out for Punta Arenas, Chile on Feb. 15, 1997. The 4 day ride aboard the research vessel Polar Duke went smoothly. The "Duke," has been providing the US Antarctic Program with the transportation of personnel between Punta Arenas, Chile and Palmer Station for the past ten years. It also is an ocean-going research platform for Antarctic marine science, and is ice hardened to permit it to get into areas that would thrash most ships from the sea ice found down here. In May, 1997 it will make its last sailing in the service of Palmer Stn., as the contract with Rieber Shipping (Norway) concludes its ten year term.

The weather at Palmer Station during January and February was rather pleasant, especially for Antarctica, with temperatures a little above 0 deg. C. and typically some wind. It rained on and off, and we even had a few beautiful sunny days. Remarkably like winter back in the Pacific Northwest.