The morning after we arrived, we headed out onto the Ross Ice Shelf to complete a cold weather camping course.
We set up camp, built a snow wall, and a quinzhee (igloo-like shelter).
We had a great view of Mount Erebus.
One of the people in our group carved a penguin out of snow that watched over our camp.
Eric with Mount Erebus in the background on a warm, sunny day.
Eric in front of Mount Erebus the next morning after the cloud ceiling dropped.
Kate also with Mount Erebus in the background on a warm, sunny day.
Kate was quick to learn how to climb using loops tied with prussic knots.
Eric was a little slower, but made it--putting the prussic knots to the test.
We had a day practicing techniques for rescuing people from crevasses. Here Kate and I are learning how to tie knots.
.......and of course Kate completed hers first.
Kathy volunteered to be the "victim". Here she is dangling by a thread dependent on Kate and Eric for her very life.
It was touch and go for a few minutes as Kate and Eric tried to decide whether is was time for a coffee break (smoko) or not, but with some help from Peter Braddock, our mountaineer, guide and instructor (including all things Kiwi), they were able to launch a successful rescue.
Kathy is rescued!