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I was lucky enough to go on a trip to the base of the southernmost volcano in the world - Mt. Erebus. The area is known as a 'Room With A View,' and is typically only accessible during the austral summer months. After a month of red tape and multiple changes to the plan, it was finally approved for a group of 10 people (2 drivers and 8 passengers) would be allowed to go during the winter for the first time ever. The last sunset was on the 24th (and will not rise until August 19th) and we were hoping that we would be able to get some good pictures with the twilight behind Mt. Erebus.
RWAV is located about 13-14 miles away from McMurdo Station at the base of Mt. Erebus.
Map of Ross Island for reference (we are located at the very southern tip):
Ross Island is home to four volcanoes: Mt. Erebus, Mt. Terror, Mt. Bird, and Mt. Terra Nova. Mt. Erebus is the only active volcano and can usually be seen with steam coming out of the top of it.
It was a very rough 1.5hr ride out to RWAV as the dry climate produces snow that packs together and isn't very soft. The ride is relatively comfortable for the driver and the passenger of the Pisten Bully, it can be pretty rough for people riding in the back. Temperature was about -8F (-30F with wind chill), so a very nice day, which was one of the requirements in order for the trip to be approved.
Anyway, I will stop rambling, so here are the pictures.
Must get fuel... and thanks to working with the government, the process must be more complicated that it really needs to be.
Riding in the back
The view sitting at the fuel pits... this will probably be a pretty nice trip!
Driving out to RWAV
Stopping to take in the view
A quick picture of me with Mt. Erebus behind me
Here are the pictures of us at RWAV. It probably doesn't look like much, but the weather was nice and the light behind Mt. Erebus was perfect. Due to the low light it was hard to take pictures of the distant mountain ranges, so most of my pictures are just of local area and Mt. Erebus. However, in the distance we had a great view of the surrounding mountain ranges. Here are the pictures:
RWAV is located about 13-14 miles away from McMurdo Station at the base of Mt. Erebus.
Map of Ross Island for reference (we are located at the very southern tip):
Ross Island is home to four volcanoes: Mt. Erebus, Mt. Terror, Mt. Bird, and Mt. Terra Nova. Mt. Erebus is the only active volcano and can usually be seen with steam coming out of the top of it.
It was a very rough 1.5hr ride out to RWAV as the dry climate produces snow that packs together and isn't very soft. The ride is relatively comfortable for the driver and the passenger of the Pisten Bully, it can be pretty rough for people riding in the back. Temperature was about -8F (-30F with wind chill), so a very nice day, which was one of the requirements in order for the trip to be approved.
Anyway, I will stop rambling, so here are the pictures.
Must get fuel... and thanks to working with the government, the process must be more complicated that it really needs to be.
Riding in the back
The view sitting at the fuel pits... this will probably be a pretty nice trip!
Driving out to RWAV
Stopping to take in the view
A quick picture of me with Mt. Erebus behind me
Here are the pictures of us at RWAV. It probably doesn't look like much, but the weather was nice and the light behind Mt. Erebus was perfect. Due to the low light it was hard to take pictures of the distant mountain ranges, so most of my pictures are just of local area and Mt. Erebus. However, in the distance we had a great view of the surrounding mountain ranges. Here are the pictures:
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