Week 3 at the Pole

SPsign
NSF/D. Larsen

Signs are everywhere. When you’re lost or unsure about which way to go, a sign with an arrow (or two, or more) can be very helpful. And it’s definitely true that at the South Pole, with its unvaried horizon of snow-covered ice, you could easily be confused about which direction you’re facing. But, once you’ve got the station in sight, it seems a little late for needing a sign—right? Maybe the sign serves a separate purpose, its long shadow a reminder to passersby that the days of sunlight here are numbered. As long as the sun remains, though, you can still see the trail left in the sky by a departing LC-130. Plus you can readily see where you left your bike.

brightsun
NSF/D. Larsen
planetrail
NSF/D. Larsen
bike
NSF/D. Larsen