NASA’s IceBite team recently returned from their first field season in Antarctica, where they installed scientific probes in the ice and scouted for sites to test drills for future Mars missions. In this installment of her blog, Margarita Marinova, describes a grueling hike to valleys near the team’s outpost, and reflects on her return to civilization.

The Astrobiology Magazine is providing a direct link to scientists on the IceBite team, where readers can ask questions about the science being conducted in Antarctica.