Amber on Ice

The resupply barge just left town. The barge comes in each jan/feb to bring 400-500 containers full of resupply goods for McMurdo and South Pole. During "Vessel Ops" as they call it all of the bars and store shut down. Workers go to 12-hour shifts for 24-hour coverage. The center of town is turned into a receiving area. Heavy equipment is in operation everywhere. The NAVCHAPs arrive to perform the long-shoreman duties. With the high winds, dusty roads, and lot's of heavy equipment McMurdo turns into a dustbowl. It really is quite an endeavor to observe.