Traveling to Weddell World, Antarctica
From McMurdo Station, we travel over the frozen sea ice covering McMurdo Sound during late winter and early summer. We have a flagged road all the way to our camp. Generally, we get around in our work area using two types of vehicles, larger tracked vehicles with cabs called Sprytes, and snowmobiles.
Click on images to enlarge.
The Spryte, an archaic tracked vehicle.
The design is about 40 years old, yet these vehicles are still the mainstay
of sea ice travel within the US Antarctic Program.
Jess Purdy is in control (?). The Spryte is steered with two break levers.
The seal transportation box sled is towed by the Spryte for our seal capture trips.
Terrie Williams likes to drive in the fast lane....
Snowmobiles are a practical and fast way to get around on the sea ice, but their cargo and towing capacity is limited, and driving a skidoo can be very cold!
Sometimes we use both skidoos to scout ahead, checking for seals and cracks in the sea ice, and the Spryte to bring the bulky gear and tow the seal sled.
A Spryte on the sea ice with Mt. Erebus on Ross Island in the background.
A Spryte returning to McMurdo.
