Pictures From My First Week at the Pole

Leaving McMurdo Station for the South Pole.

Someone told me that these skis, used for landings at the South Pole, cost nearly a million dollars and have 40 coats of teflon.

Slightly more legroom on this flight.

Me on the way to the South Pole.

Staging for a "combat offload" with the rear door open.

The Hero Shot: I finally made it to the Geographic South Pole!

The candy-stripped ceremonial pole with all of the flags is a short distance a way.

The large geodesic dome is one of the first things visitors see at the pole.

That's me at the entrance to the Dome.

This tunnel leads from the entrance into the Dome.

This is what it looks like inside the Dome.

These look like icicles hanging from the top of the Dome, but it is really just mostly very airy snow.

Kelly demonstrates how to prepare a weather balloon for launch.

And there it goes...

There I am in the weather office.