Dawn, from grid South looking grid North
Philip K Swartz - 1960-61 - South Pole Station - Antarcticans Database Project more

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Dawn, from grid South looking grid North

My camera had frozen. Walking out to the ceremonial pole for flag raising. There is "Bower's Pole" on top of the station (orange and black barber stripe with a reflecting garden ball on top) identifying the presumed location of the pole when the station was first sited and built, based on s few days of sun shots. The ceremonial pole was placed by Paul Siple, the fist scientific leader of the station, based on a series of star shots during the first winter. The second winter's scientific leader did a series of star shots and placed the actual pole about half-way between Siple's pole and the base, but this was in the area then used as an air drop zone so no flag pole was erected. With the whole ice cap moving somewhat anyway, no one really knew the exact location and Siple's pole continued to be used as the "real" pole.



Pictures from Philip K Swartz, overwinter, South Pole, 60-61