Week 26 at the Pole

Snow drift all the way up the side of a storage container at the South Pole, light auroras overhead.
Ilya Bodo, IceCube/NSF

There’s a lot of snow around at the South Pole for a place that’s classified as a desert. That’s because it is carried in from strong winds that blow across the continent. And the blowing snow accumulates around the station and all the structures located at the Pole, including the IceCube Upgrade storage containers as well as the IceCube Lab, appearing in the serene image at the bottom. Last week was quiet at the South Pole. Quiet weeks are great for taking on complicated board games, popular with many of the winterovers. Last week it was Frosthaven.

Tall snow piles between outdoor storage containers at the South Pole.
Ilya Bodo, IceCube/NSF
Four winterovers engaged in board game on a long conference room table.
Joe Baines-Holmes, IceCube/NSF
The IceCube Lab in winter under clear starry sky.
Ilya Bodo, IceCube/NSF