Elaine Explains

Our Lady of the Snows aka Rollcage Mary - my favorite place at McMurdo Station.

It’s so peaceful and quiet there, away from the hustle and bustle.

I wrote another piece for Interfaith Americaa about the spiritual offerings at McMurdo Station and my experience on my layovers there!

https://www.interfaithamerica.org/dispatch-from-antarctica-science-faith-part-2/

I hope you enjoy it 💙

What even is real life?!?

I am back! (Well at least physically - emotionally and mentally we are still adjusting).

Leaving McMurdo was sad. I’m definitely crying in this picture but also smiling because I’m sad to be leaving a place that made me so happy! 



Afterwards I travelled through New Zealand. Some highlights are GORGEOUS lakes and watching the sunset for the first time in over a month and seeing STARS! Also, I got sunburnt INSTANTLY since my skin hadn’t seen the sun and didn’t know what to do with itself.

Back in Los Angeles, I hung my flag in my classroom to remind me of Antarctica and all the amazing people I met there! You are with me in my heart, and I can’t wait to share all my stories with my students!

Thank you for following along in my adventures! It has been a dream to share my experience in real time with you all, and I can’t wait to keep sharing my science adventures!

Love, Elaine

P.S. I saw ONE PENGUIN. It is an emperor molting off of Scott Base. This was the best picture I could do

Support Staff Superheroes!

As I reflect back on my time in Antarctica, I keep thinking of all the amazing support staff that made my entire experience so amazing. For every scientist here, there are 5 more hard-working and super helpful people making that science happen.

PLEASE read the full journal at to hear more about what these amazing people do!
https://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/icecube-and-the-askaryan-radio-array-2022/journals/2023-02-03

The thing that sticks out to me from talking to and meeting all these people is everyone sense of adventure. Every single person who told me their story mentioned that they were just going about their life when the decided the needed something different, and they wanted a change. It's so amazing to be able to bond with people of different ages, from different countries and ways of life, all over a shared sense of adventure and excitement! I am so grateful for each and every person I encountered, and I am holding them all with me. Quite literally!

So here is my thank you to the:
- IT Department 💻
- Galley Staffs 🍝
- Cargo, Fuel, and Vehicle Maintenance ⛽️
- Waste Management 🚮
- Clothing Distribution Center 🧣
- Medical Teams ⚕️
- Flight operations 🚁
- Power and Water Plants 🔌💧

And now for something a little different! I wrote a piece on my personal relationship with science and faith. That’s all I’m going to say about it here - but check out the full article at https://www.interfaithamerica.org/dispatch-from-antarctica-science-faith/

I kept busy during my time in McMurdo Station seeing everything I wasn’t able to when I was in isolation!

- Climbed Ob Hill (my lungs feel amazing at sea level with normal oxygen content again!!) 🏃‍♀️
- HAD A LATTE - with REAL milk!☕️
- Toured the PolarStern Icebreaker!⚓️
- Toured the Power Plant and Desalination Plant🔋💦
- Found Bill! And Ariel!🪱
- Found PolarTrec Polly! 🐧

Read the full account here!
https://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/icecube-and-the-askaryan-radio-array-2022/journals/2023-01-22

It was the hardest day.

I have had so much fun, and grown so close to these people, it was so hard to say goodbye. 😢

After waiting years, two weeks feels too short when you’re living your dream. ✨

But I’m focusing on the amazing memories and how lucky I am ❤️

Also, YOUR POSTCARDS ARE FINISHED! This is proof they have been mailed! 📫

I’m currently in McMurdo Station, Antarctica awaiting a flight “off the ice” as they say. 🛬

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

I cannot say thank you enough for your support! Even if we have never met in real life, all of your questions, comments, and encouragement have given me amazing purpose here. I wanted to come here to share the amazing science that happens here - so thank you for letting me do that!

Thank you to…
- California Science Center
- USC
- PolarTREC
- IceCube
- My friends and family
- Wisconsin Libraries
- My schools! Especially ASCS
- All the people here at the South Pole!
… and many many more! 

Hugs from the South Pole to wherever you are!

P.S. If you missed the live event this morning, it will be archived at www.polartrec.com in a few days!

South Pole Science Spotlight!

(Say that 10 times fast!)

There are SO many cool projects going on here at the South Pole! Read more details about them in today’s journal! 


https://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/icecube-and-the-askaryan-radio-array-2022/journals/2023-01-17

- IceCube Neutrino Observatory 🧊
- Askaryan Radio Array (ARA) 📡
- South Pole Telescope 🔭
- Auroras and Thermal Winds 🌌
- Seismic Activity 🔨
- COLDEX (and ice cores!) ❄️
- Meteorology 🎈

And much much more!

PS - don’t forget to register for my LIVE event - Tomorrow, Wed. Jan 18th at 10am PST! 💻

WE'RE GOING LIVE!!!!!

Join me and my team this upcoming Wednesday, January 18th at 10am PST for a live Zoom FROM the South Pole!

If the internet cooperates, I have some fun surprises planned :)

All are welcome - individuals, classrooms, friends and strangers alike. I can't wait to see your beautiful faces!

To get the Zoom link, head to www.polartrec.com and look for the link to register for the Polar Connect Event with me! (Elaine Krebs)

The full link is www.polartrec.com/polar-connect/register

You must register to receive the link! See you there!

Postcard FAQ's Round 2!

I am starting to get a reputation as the postcard lady as I fill out the rest of your 700 postcard questions! 📬

For the longer explanations - check out the full journal at https://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/icecube-and-the-askaryan-radio-array-2022/journals/2023-01-16

Here are the highlights:
6. How's the food? - AMAZING 🍲
7. Why is the sun out 24/7 - the Earth rotates on a tilted axis! 🌎
8. Do you have heat/water? YES 🚿
9. What discovery have you made? - Sun Dogs! ☀️
10. How have you grown? - This trip has forced me be courageous and to break out of my shell more than every before ❤️

Look how happy we are to be COVID free here at the South Pole! I have gotten so used to wearing masks that is hasn’t been that big of a deal…. Until your breath starts freezing inside your mask and you’re wearing an icicle on your face. Huge shout out to our amazing medical teams in New Zealand, McMurdo Station, and South Pole Station for all the testing!

It’s been lots of work AND play here at the South Pole!

From photography club, to cribbage tournaments, to pickle ball matches, to informal TV binge watching parties - there’s always something here to do at South Pole Station! 

Check out my journal at www.PolarTREC.com for the full scoop!