Dragging the skiway for the planes
Philip K Swartz - 1960-61 - South Pole Station - Antarcticans Database Project more

Back to thumbnails   Previous     Next   

This area lay to the west of the main station and was about 5000 feet long. This particular day the temperature was about 70 F below zero, but with no wind and with bright sun it was just like a warm spring day, jackets unzipped, etc.
The first plane to land at the start of the 61-62 season came in awful weather. When asked about the condition of the ski-way, the pilot replied it was “a bit rough and not too well marked.” When the weather cleared, we realized that he had completely missed the ski-way and had landed on virgin snow!

Pictures from Philip K Swartz, overwinter, South Pole, 60-61