Castle Rock Hike

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(Antarctica Images) (Reports from the Field)
These images are taken during a hard day's hike up to Castle Rock. Gwynne and I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and go for a hike. Keep in mind that since my body has acclimated, nice weather now means 35 knot winds ( - 30C wind chill ) and -10 C temperatures. The hike is 7 miles from the fire house to the rock and back. Everyone is required to check out for that hike at the fire house and give an estimated time of return. You must always travel in a group also. They handed me a radio and we were off. The hike was hard right from the start. We found it very difficult to even find the trail head. Once we did, I started to notice that all the gear that I was issued and wearing at the time, was really heavy. I would guess that I had on at least 15 pounds of gear. The peak of Castle Rock is 413 meters high.
	The trail head.
		Gwynne looking at the scenery.


	These are all outside shots of the first tomato you come to on the hike. These tomatos are emergency shelters that are used during bad weather and as a short stop-over to get warm while hiking.
		Looking out from inside the first tomato.
	First mile marker, just on the other side of the first tomato. Yeah! one mile down, 2.5 to the rock.
		Castle Rock from afar.

	The second tomato on the hike. This one even has a phone inside for emergencies.
	Gwynne

	Castle Rock up close.
I ended up getting bad wind burn that day. I couldn't keep my hood up because I would start overheating. You are almost constantly taking you hood off and on, to keep yourself from sweating.

Castle Rock summit.
		Panorama views of Gwynne.

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