It was a relatively balmy day at Amundsen Scott South Pole Station on January 5, 2001. It was about 7 degrees below zero, and the wind was calm, making it possible for me to pose without a hat at the most southern point on the globe at the height of the summer season. Despite the flat appearance of the surroundings, this plateau of ice is nearly 2 miles thick, making this point nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. - Ernie Mastroianni