The flight to McMurdo...

At 5am the next morning a shuttle arrives at your hotel to pick you up. It deposits you back at the CDC, which is near the airport and has it's own check-in area. There is a flurry of activity as everyone dresses in their ECW, checks-in for the flight, and then sits around and waits. Eventually, if you're lucky and the weather cooperates and the plane is working, you board a C-17 for the flight to Antarctica. A C-17 a cavernous cargo jet, and although it may not look like it in the picture below, it is immeasurably more comfortable than the older C-141s that used to be a miserable part of the deployment experience. The seats in the middle of the C-17's cargo hold are removable, with more or less seats installed depending on the number of passengers. Wise travelers, however, may opt for the less-comfortable webbing seats along the side, as they allow you to stretch out you legs and get up for a walk-about any time you like.

Here's a view of the cockpit. The Air Force crews on all the flights I've taken have been very gracious about allowing people to come up for a look.

Our first view of Antarctica. A bit cloudy this day...

When you're about to land the loadmaster implores you to go straight to the shuttle buses when you exit the aircraft. Once on the ground attendants shout at you like carnival barkers to get off the airfield and board the buses. Nevertheless, people lose their minds, spread out and stand around on the sea ice.

Like herding cats?

But the thing is, you're in Antarctica fergawdssake! The feeling is intoxicating. The view, cold air, mountains, and ice. This is the culmination of months of effort and many days of hard travel. Of course you want to look around, greet your friends and take a picture. If you don't, it's time to stay home.

Continue on to Part 3: Flight to the South Pole