Patriot Hills (while waiting for
the IL-76)
The IL-76 was delayed
for six day due to the foul weather. All the Vinson Massif climbers,
the flight to the pole adventurers, and the skier's that had reached
the South Pole was back at camp by July 20. The weather shown
in the following pictures was not the worst, but indicates the
reason the planes could not land and take off.
Patriot Hills barely
visible from camp. Without the sunlight, one can not see drifts,
everything looks the same. This is a "whiteout" condition.
The planes were grounded
(or snowed in)
Camp tents are almost
buried in the drifting snow.