The Patriot Hills staff works incredibly long hours, 7 days a week. No days off. However, every once in awhile they get the rare opportunity to take a “night off” and get some recreation in. It was our luck that once of these occasions happened to occur last night, and also that they were nice enough to extend the invitation to us to join in the fun. This particular event was sledding and skiing. During the day, some of the Patriot Hills staff took a snow cat (I think this is the name of the machine, it's kind of like a snow plow on steroids, used to groom the snow) up a large snow ridge extending off the mountains behind camp, and groomed a skiway down the side of the ridge. It was like a resort! Most of our group was tired and decided not to go, but Thomas and Mitchell and I couldn’t resist (in truth, I have been sick and probably should have stayed in and recovered, but who can resist?!?!?) It was SUCH FUN. Really a once in a lifetime opportunity. Flying down the mountain in these little teeny plastic sleds made for toddlers, getting completely plastered in snow and wiping out at every other turn (at least I was!) What’s more, we had first class skidoo service right back to the top of the mountain after every run. What more could you ask for?!?! Seriously??? Sledding down a groomed skyway in the middle of Antarctica? It was fantastic. I’ve got a photo of each of us, Mitchell is in the top photo, I'm in the middle, and Thomas is below.