I've put a lot of photos of the Geographic South Pole in my blog but very few if the Ceremonial Pole which is for dignitaries and other visitors. The South Pole Station is on an ice sheet that slides about 33 feet a year towards the Mawson Sea. In about 250,000 years the SP Station will plop off into the Sea, give or take 10,000 years. The Ceremonial Pole moves with the Station whereas the Geographic South Pole does not. When I go out and stand by the Geographic Pole I know that is where Amundsen and Scott stood over a hundred years ago. So on January 1st. of every year they survey and move the Geographic South Pole back about 33 feet. So the Geographic Pole is moving away from the Station but in actuality the South Pole Station is moving away from the Geographic Pole. So early this morning when I couldn't sleep, I put on my cold weather gear and went out to take a few photos of the Ceremonial Pole. The wind was only 8 knots which is low for here. I'm scheduled to leave today but my plane is on weather hold at McMurdo. We will see if I get out today. It will be good to go home and get well.
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