How’s the commute?
Yes and no. I did not have to get my (ONE) wisdom tooth removed, because it was fully erupted from the gums.
My wife on the other hand, had to get all four removed, because they were still beneath the gums, but very close to the surface.
The reasoning was that an erupting wisdom tooth was prone to give serious problems, and although there is a dentist there, he’s not equipped to do major work. They’d prefer to avoid any potential problems.
Those overwintering used to have to get their (healthy) appendixes out too, but I don’t think this is the case anymore.
Usually good, except when there was a pile up of Krill on the A-5
Was there a Mcdonalds?
Ha! No, in fact since McMurdo is a Navy base, there is no commercial activity like that at all (at least there wasn’t 12 years ago!) Scott Base does not have any commercial stuff either, as it is run by the New Zealand government
They have live webcams that update every 15 minutes.
Do you know if anyone has been born there? I’m guessing if they make you yank out a healthy appendix a kid is a no-brainer.
I didn’t think any of the land was owned by anyone in particular, I thought it was kinda everyones. Did ya’ll ever sit around and say “holy crap, we are in Antarctica!” What was the coolest thing? (besides the crab legs) What was the worst part? You described the Navy base as like a mining town. Do you mean like, gambling, drinking and prostitutes? Oh, I guess there aren’t any of those, but I’m thinking as more of a rough sort of place, is that what you meant?
I’m surprised there are that many folks down there. I envision it as rather a “The Shining” sort of place. Was it creepy or scary?
I’m moving to a mountain that is currently 8 degrees. I’m a Floridian, give me some advice on how to adjust to “oh my god it is fucking cold.”
RUTABAGA! (just checking if that was the code word)
I had to google this one to see if I remembered correctly, but yes Chile and Argentina have both flown pregnant women down to give birth in order to help their claim to ownership.
More or less - the claims are still there in a way, but are held in check via the Antarctic Treaty
Yes, frequently! I was always amazed at some of the Navy people though, who thought of the place as a crappy tour of duty.
The 24 hour light, and the odd mirages that we’d see sometimes - upside down mountains from the far away Transantarctics.
Sitting in a blind for 4 hours straight recording boring observations.
Ha! certainly no gambling or ladies of the evening, but drinking yes - I guess I meant more in a visual sense. And not an “old west” mining town, but a modern, Northern Canada type of place, where the whole town is built expressly for workers at the nearby mine.
Not in the slightest. McMurdo was a busy place, full of Navy people, scientists and support people. Everyone is there to do a job, and was very friendly.
Our field camp was a great place. Much more “away from it all”, as it was a one hour helicopter ride away. We all got along well together, and enjoyed the occasional visit for re-supply, or a visiting geology party, or one time some Italians from another base across McMurdo Sound.
I assume that’s 8 degrees F? Hmmmm -13C
You have to be like Shrek. Layers. Keep your head warm. Warm head = warm hands as they say. Watch out for wind. Brrrrr. very cold. Don’t lick the clothesline - trust me on this one.
GHHHHHHAAAARRRHGSHJJGHSHSHSHS!!!
nope.
I’m interested in your clothes. Um, let me rephrase that. I’m interested in your cold weather gear. I’m trying to perfect the skill of dressing warm for cheap. Failing that I’m going for warm and expensive.
What were your layers for a windy -30 C day? I’ve heard that Antarctic gear can involve as many as 7 to 9 layers. Anything exotic, or was it just more of everything? Any brand recommendations? What about gloves / face / goggles / boots?
What do you do about layer management? When I go snow camping I generally go with 4 layers. I often have trouble with the fleece layers getting twisted around. OK, I got my knickers in a twist. What did you do about it?
Did you use air activated heat packs or solid fuel pocket heaters?
Did you have some kind of emergency kit in case a guy got soaked by sea water? What was in it?
Aurora?
I have seen Northern Lights 3 times. The first two times it was just a vague green hue. The last time it was like something out of Star Wars. Have you seen any displays of Aurora Australis?
Just want to say Euphonious Polemic, that I’m jealous of you. I’ve made it to within 48 miles of the North Pole via a plane onto an ice camp (and my coworker popped up @ the North Pole via a SSN). And I tried for like five years to connect with someone who could get me down to the South Pole. Even wrote to the NSF Polar Board for leads of which one panned out–the company I was working for (no missions for Antarctica after I started and then the company shutdown and moved to Northern VA).
Consider yourself lucky…
Since we were there in the summer, it never got below -20 C. Most of the time it was significantly nicer than that where we were.
In general, when the weather is very nasty down there, you don’t go outside. I’ve been told that in whiteout conditions, you can get lost 2 meters from the door. That’s more in the wintertime though.
We’d wear 3 layers on the bottom, 4 or so on the top. I had a couple of pairs of long underwear (not at the same time) one wool and one silk (!) I generally wore heavy wool pants. We did not have to worry much about getting clothes wet, so wool was OK. On top, t-shirt, shirt, wool sweater, parka. A good hat and gloves were a must. No googles, but I did wear good sunglasses with side screens. We wore Sorrell type boots with felt liners and 2 pairs of socks.
Lived with it.
No heaters of any kind like that. Again, it was generally only -10 out, and the air is very, very dry. Some days I’d be outside for 12 hours at a stretch, and was warm and toasty the whole time.
If anyone ever did get wet, we’d head to the hut, which had a DFA (Diesel Fuel Antarctica) heater. We were on land the whole time, although for the first month or so there was sea ice directly in front of the hut. It was strictly forbidden to go out on the sea ice, ever since a field party from Cape Bird got stuck on an ice floe for 3 days some years previously. We almost went swimming on New Years day, but called it off when we saw a couple of leopard seals eating many penguins just out in the water.
Sadly no, since we were there in the summer and there was 24 hours of daylight. It’s supposed to be quite spectacular for those that overwinter.
Here’s a link to Raytheon Polar Services Company. They hire all sort of workers with a wide variety of skills.
We’ve had two ATMs there for twelve years.
Did you have to carry an egg around on your feet?
Ever run into/listen to A net station
Cool! I just missed them. Not that we had any need for money at Cape Bird.
That must have been a fun job. “Bob? We’re sending you down to do a customer install. Yeah, I know… this one is a little different. They’re using satellite for the backhaul to the network. You’ll be on site for a few weeks. Oh, and you’d better pick up some warm clothes.” 
I’d go.
The link mentions that there’s no McDonalds. (Yet…)
I can’t believe I forgot to ask: what’s the bathroom situation in the hut? Septic tank?
Did McMurdo had regular toilets with running water? Where does the sewage go?