Has anybody been to Antarctica?

[Barking Spider]

I'm going this winter (their summer) for a couple of weeks.:bounce:

Any advice/comments/stories?

[northzax]

1. who are you travelling with?

I've never been there, but spent a good chunk of my professional life working on environmental issues down there and am always interested.

[jpak]

2. I'm leaving next week for the Ross Sea (via New Zealand)

It will be my 6th trip to the Antarctic (3 trips to the Arctic).

Is this is rec cruise or for research????

[Barking Spider]

3. Research

Going to McMurdo for few days, then onward to a remote station for the duration.

[northzax]

6. which one?

and what's your speciality?

[Barking Spider]

8. WAIS

WAIS is the destination. I don't have an exact (lat/long) location - I assume the pilot knows where he is going, though.

Our team is testing radar equipment that will help measure snow accumulation & ice thickness. The ultimate goal is to be able to accurately and efficiently monitor glacial mass balance.

[jpak]

9. I'll be on the NBP (leaving NZ the 26th) and returning 11 December

Unfortunately, we'll be sailing back to NZ (rather than flying back from McMurdo).

Maybe we'll see you fly over...

:hi:

[LynneSin]

14. too bad you guys won't meetup - our first DU gathering on Antarctica

that would have been one for the record books

[Barking Spider]

18. great idea!

If there will be any DUers at McMurdo on Christmas Day, I'll gladly raise a pint with you!

Cheers!

[never cry wolf]

21. If there aren't any current DUers

You may just have to convert a few already there.

Welcome to DU and good luck!

[northzax]

10. first lesson of happy camper school, I hear

never assume. :)

there's been some good stuff coming out of WAIS, keep up the good work and travel safe.

[swimboy]

15. Welcome to DU, HomeOnTheRange!

:hi:

[jpak]

7. I was at MacTown last year on the way home

Quite the bustling metropolis (compared to the NBP).

Happy Camper School should be fun (jealous - we don't have to do that for ship work).

If you X-country ski - do the Castle Rock Loop - infuckingcredible!!!!

You can check out skis at the rec room at MacTown (get the ones with metal edges - better for the glacier run).

The plane ride sucks!!!!! (loud long uncomfortable) especially if you get a C-130. Wear some shorts and a teeshirt under your ECW gear (they make you wear that stuff on the plane) - if it gets too hot you can strip down.

Get over to Scott Base (for drinks and the store).

Expect to spent lots of $$$$$ on souvenirs in Christchurch, Mac Town and Scott Base - so save some room in your luggage!!!!

Spend some time in NZ afterwords if you can - rent a car and camp out (cheap safe fast convenient). Stick to the South Island if you don't have a lot of time to spend there.

Get over to Dux Deluxe in Christchurch for microbrews and pizza, and get over to Lyttelton for some cool bars (Irish Pub and the Wunder Bar - they serve absinthe) - you can take the bus from Christchurch (1/2 hour, $2)

and prepared to be amazed by it all...

:)

[flamingyouth]

4. That's really amazing sounding!

I have always wanted to go to Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic. :D

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. So have I!!!

:thumbsup:

[VelmaD]

5. I know a DUer who has...

He's in the UK and likely asleep right now. But I'm gonna pm him the link to this thread and maybe he'll have some advice tomorrow.

[Guy_Montag]

11. That'll be me

my experience is from working at Halley Research Station (British Base opposite roughly McMurdo) for 18 months between 2001-2003.

Sounds like you might be camping or staying in a small hut. But I can't really tell. My suggestions are: take a bloody good camera, the best you can beg, borrow or steal. Bear in mind that batteries go flat quickly in the cold, so take spares (they recover when warmed, so keep the spares inside your clothing). Make sure you put the camera in a plastic bag before you enter a warm place or you will get condensation on the lens & that is bad. Take a decent camera bag too, especially if you a carrying an SLR, you want it to be handy, but also safe. Take photos, lots of them, one of my regrets was I took lots of photos of impressive things, but none of work.

Remember the rule of thirds: photos first, safety second, work third.

Bring some books, well lots of books, you might get blown in for days or even weeks, even in summer. It happened to me more times than I care to think. Take a few games, travel chess or draughts, a pack of cards or something.

Hmmm, that's all I can think of just now. Oh, if you're camping take a blindfold type thing (one of those things they give you on airlines), it can be pretty bright in a tent at night.

Good luck & enjoy it.

G.M.

[Barking Spider]

20. Thanks!

Thanks for the great advice.

Cheers!

[hippywife]

12. Link to indie web-based radio station

that is based there:

http://www.anetstation.com/

[qnr]

13. Yes, multiple times. Looks like you've already received some good

comments. My trips down there were in the military, on polar icebreakers.

[Graf Orlok]

17. I've never been there, but I want to someday.

I'm a geology major in college and am fascinated with the glacial geology (specifically, the ice sheets) of Antarctica, as well as the ice streams.

What are you going there for? Research? Are you going to be taking core samples? :D

[Barking Spider]

19. Research.

I normally do research on ice streams in Greenland, but someone threw this dog a bone and I get to go South for the winter!

No core samples - just radar images.