Today I followed some scientists onto the ice to document their launch of an underwater robot created by 8th graders. They brought a school teacher with them to Antarctica and her students had modeled their robot (called Sarah) after one that was created by these scientists and photographs the bottom of the ocean floor. Sarah floated too close to the surface but on a TV attached to her you could see the ice, bubbles and moving water that she filmed.

As we hiked the Castle Rock trail the weather turned from sunny to misty - we were hiking in a cloud.

We hiked the Castle Rock loop yesterday (Sunday, December 14). It is a nine mile walk across the most amazing landscape.

Boarding the LC-130 plane in Christchurch on December 12

I look forward to reporting from the ice beginning December 12. Please keep checking here.