Decisions, Decisions?

Today I was offered an opportunity to camp..... outside. 

At the Pole (and in McMurdo too), we can go through a survival training of sorts.  In 12 hours, I would go through some classroom training, then hike about 5 miles away from the station, learn to start a stove, set up a tent, and survive in the elements.  It seems like great training (for perhaps a distance sled dog race?!?!).  And, it would allow me to go to field camps around Antarctica if given the opportunity. 

It's been -30'ish here, with windchills in the -50's. 

Should I or shouldn't I? 

("You only live once" is playing in my head!)

Veteran's Day

We celebrated Veteran's Day at 11:11am on 11/11/11 at the Geographic South Pole.  It was nice.

Greenhouse!!

So, I volunteered in the greenhouse today!  I spent just over an hour trimming dead leaves off the plants.  For now, we are just letting things grow so their will be lots of greenery when the tourists show up in about a month for all the 100 year anniversary celebrations.  After mind January, we will tear it all down and replant so the winterovers will have freshies (fresh veggies) during the winter when planes can no longer bring them food.  It's fairly warm, about 70% humidity, and the light is super bright inside the greenhouse.  I tried to take a few photos, and they aren't the best... but I figured y'all would want to see what it looked like!!  Excited to learn something about gardening at the Pole this season!!!

My Mansion

Well, not exactly a mansion, but I’m LIVING at the South Pole of the World!  I was finally able to get some pictures of my Jamesway (tent).  My beautiful establishment is in Jamesway 8, apartment 7.  There are about 14 rooms in my building.  I am fortunate because I’m in the middle, right next to the furnace!  So, heat gets to my room first and is the warmest air.  We keep our building about 70, so it’s very comfortable.  Unfortunately, I was only able to photograph my room, not the inside of the building.  Many work rotating shifts, and sleep during the day, so the hallway is always dark.  The pictures of my room are taken from my bed.  My room is about 8 x 6 or so.  Whoever was here before me insulated it very well.  I have old war wool blankets on the non-plywood walls.  The Jamesways themselves are also from the war.  

I’m really fairly fortunate with the room I got!  I can’t believe it even has a door locking system (well, the piece of wood is hung, quite literally, in place by a few screws sticking towards the outside, and therefor doesn’t “really” lock.. but it holds the door closed!).  

My Jamesway is on the left side of the picture.  There are about 18 or so Jamesways.

Does my front door have curb appeal???

Great storage!

Must keep the shoes and next days clothes on the top shelf!!!  The floor is ice cold, but the top is toasty!

My door lock!

The previous owner left me Christmas lights!  This is the vent that goes above my bed.  It's got a few holes in it, so the warm air blows on me while I sleep!!  

Tonight was laundry night!  Whoo hoo!  This is once a week, one load maximum occurrence.  And the washers are super small!  Tomorrow I am volunteering in the greenhouse!  Everyone is encouraged to help out, and I picked the greenhouse!  It’s 70% humidity and super warm in there!!  (South Pole is 3% humidity).  Hopefully I’ll learn something!  I’ll be working there about 3 hours a week for the season!  

Jeppesen, you have followed me all the way to the South Pole

For all my aviation friends: I got to revise the Antarctic Flight Information Manual today.

As the ice sheet moves, some of the runways throughout the continent change.  Pretty neat to see!

Shower day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, friends I've made it.  It's Monday night here on the ice, and my last shower was Thursday morning.  I made it 5 days! Here at the South Pole, we don't have much water.  Even though we have plenty of ice, it takes a lot gas/electricity to melt.  We don't have much of that either.  The gas at the South Pole is either flown in (a few thousand gallons at a time), or "trucked" in (from McMurdo, it takes 30 days to get here).  Soo.... at the Pole, we are allowed a 2 minute shower, twice a week.

So, happy day!

I promise I will get a picture of the Poles/Station up at some point.  (I haven't even walked out to the Pole yet!!)  For now, enjoy a picture of a LC-130 that came in today.  The picture is taken right outside my office on an observation deck.  5 winterovers finally escaped!  (Winterovers- about 40 people who stay here from the time the sun sets in February until it rises again in October.. they keep the building running and enjoy the negative 100+ temps!  They see no planes or any other people, they are locked in!)

At the South Pole, Sunday evenings mean science lectures (not football!)

So, at the Pole I am surrounded by scientists!  Every Sunday night, someone will give a presentation about their project.  Last night we heard all about the mountain range and lakes burried a mile and a half below the ice sheet of Antarctica!!  I was amazed. 

I found a quick article about the topic, but you might have to google for more information!  Really fascinating!!

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/science/australian-antarctic-science-strategy-200405-201011/international-polar-year-2007-09/projects/agap-antarcticas-gamburtsev-province/science-at-the-heart-of-antarctica

It's my job

So, at the Pole, I am a Comms Operator (Communications).  I love my job so far!  For my Express Jet friends, it's just like being the SOCC Manager, only for Pole operations instead of airline operations.  About half my job is flight following the flights to/from the Pole.  The military jets take off, report times to Mac Center (McMurdo Center), and I hear them.  I record them and note the progress.  When the aircraft are within range, I give them the current weather (Metar), then a current altimeter/winds on final approach. It's great!  I love talking to the military pilots!!!  When airplanes come and go, I announce it to the station, so everyone is aware and they stay clear of the skiway (runway).  Today, we are up to 187 people at the Pole!

The other half of my job is emergency response.  I monitor most systems and ensure they are operating properly (Powerplant, generators.. ).  I also monitor fire alarms and coordinate response to medical emergencies.

My job is the best!  :)  I get several visitors a day- just popping in to check out a radio, reserve a conference room, watch planes land, or just ask what time lunch is served!  It's certainly the hub of all information on station!  I also have the best view in the house!  My office overlooks part of the runway and the Ice Cube project.  I think I'll know just about everyone on station by the time my 3 months are up!

The World Revolves Around Me!

I have made it to the South Pole of the World!!!  We landed in a LC-130 (ski equipped) jet around lunchtime today.  I've been busy ever since!  (Good thing- windchill is -51.... dare I say I've been cold for a good portion of the day?!?!?)

It's great to finally unpack my things in my tent- it's so stylish!  The previous owner left me many goodies.. and my space is divided by plywood, with a concocked door!  Many tents just have sheets!  So, by Polie standards I'm living well!  In fact, I'm sitting in my bed, using wifi to blog!!  :)

As I mentioned before, the satellites come and go- in fact, I will lose them in just a few minutes!  I'll post pictures when I get a little more settled!  For now, I need some dinner and rest!  I start my new job tomorrow.

Cheers!!!!

Made it to McMurdo, Antarctica!

Well, I've made it to the ice!  :)  It's 11:30pm, 5:30 (yesterday, by you) central time... and after a very long day, I've finally found a moment to post a few pictures!  I'm scheduled to go to the Pole in 8 hours (after a few hours of sleep), but the weather is forecasted to be crummy... so, I'll keep y'all posted.  For now, just a few pictures from the trip in and a quick hike earlier (saw 3 seals hanging out, with their hole to get in the water to right)!