During our last three days in Taylor Valley, I took far too many photos. Well - not really, but too many to post here and maybe too many to put on the other website. We went to two really interesting places - the Commonwealth glacier stream channel and Nussbaum Riegel - opposite directions from camp. At that time, we were down to three people as Allan and Jon had made plans to be back at their homes for Christmas and so pulled out of camp early. It was quiet around camp and since we no longer had the radar gear, we spent our time "doing geology". We inspected outcrops, surveyed the landscape with our eyes, contemplated moraines, and walked a lot. And I used the GPS backpack to take points of moraine topography. I definitely got a workout walking up and down and along all kinds of landscape features.




3-6-Juliet (our helicopter) dropped us off near bedrock. It was highly weathered, so it took on a very foreign appearance. Here are some interesting photos of the terrain. I think the second photo makes the rock look like large logs laying on the ground. The wind must really howl up there sometimes. Makes sense. The Nussbaum is smack dab in the middle of the valley and much higher elevation. We had an excellent view of Lake Hoare, Suess and Newall Glaciers, and of course the mouth of the valley with Canada and Commonwealth Glaciers and Lake Fryxell. There is also a really good view of the glaciers on the South side of the valley. They are smaller and look like they are hanging, trying to reach the valley floor.

 

There were all kinds of ventifacts (wind-carved rocks) up on the Nussbaum Riegel. Another reason why I took many photos. I like the unique shapes.

 

By the way, you can see all of these new images here. Not a fancy site, but it does list all the images by name and you can click on them.