To answer Dick's how did water get there question. They don't have a definitive answer but there are 2 main theories.
The first is that it's a very briny saltwater from mineral leaching. This lowers the freezing point enough that it can stay liquid
the 2nd theory is a bit more interesting. When ice is compressed some of it will turn to liquid. ski's and ice skates actually glide over a microscopic layer of water produced from the weight of the skater and the friction of moving across the ice. They extrapolated that theory out in a couple of directions. they think that the weight of the ice sheet pressing down helped create a layer. that's combined with the thermal insulation provided by miles of ice (think igloos it can be -40 outside and 32 inside) and then add on geothermal heat from the earth's crust could cause liquid to form.
Hope that helps
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HI Clay, Just got back from California, shuttle landed there and it was my time to go so I have been catching up on your travels. Your expedition sounded very interesting, however I agree a few eeew factors there, and from the sounds of it I would guess that there were not any females on that trip ie: nalgene bottle relief. So now who is at the camp that you help set up? Cold here again I have my fireplace going!!!! Shari
Hey Clay, The weather is hitting hard here. It was under 22 degrees ALL day. Dad wonders if that is preparation for your climate.
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