I've created this blog so that friends and family (and anyone else
who's interested!) can keep track of my upcoming adventures and to give
everyone a flavour of what life in Antarctica is really like. As it's my first
time (both blogging and going to Antarctica) I can't say what exactly this blog
will entail although be sure to expect lots of photos of snow, ice and wildlife
(although I am quite certain there will be no pictures of polar bears or
the northern lights (the southern lights are quite possible)). In the mean time
I'll use this first post to try and explain where I'm going and to dispel a few
myths that people have about living in Antarctica (based off many of the
questions I have been asked).
I will be based at
Rothera research station (which is run by the British Antarctic Survey, BAS, for
loads of info about Rothera and BAS click here), which is on Adelaide Island just off the Western
Antarctic Peninsula. But where is that I hear you cry, well it is 2500km away
from the South Pole (7500km away from the Equator) and it's roughly halfway up
the bit that looks like it is trying to grab onto South America. Because it is
so far away from the equator it tends to be a bit chilly (hence why Antarctica
always seems to be pictured as a snowy, icy, desolate wasteland… because it
is), in summer Rothera can be as warm as 5℃ but in winter it can drop below -20℃.
This brings us to myth no. 1: won’t you be freezing cold the whole time? Thankfully
BAS has been kind enough to fit the buildings with central heating, so as long
as nothing breaks I will be warm when I am sleeping in my bed at night. As for
being outside, there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing… The kit
we get to wear and use is built for the cold and can do a really good job at
trapping warmth around your body although it is inevitable that at some point I
will be cold, although it is unlikely to be for the entirety of my time down
south.
Another question I get asked a lot is: won’t you be really
isolated and lonely? Well Rothera is actually quite big (by Antarctic standards),
in the summer 120 people are able to live and work on the base. Thanks to its
runway people are also constantly coming and going, either moving off to do
research in the field or to other stations around the continent. But once the runway
closes and the last ship leaves for the winter, there will be just 20 of us to
keep the station running and to continue with the ongoing research projects. So
how it will feel to live with only 20 people for 6 months is impossible to say,
but one thing is for sure I will not be in a tiny shack on my own! Also the
internet is surprisingly good so keep emailing and messaging me!
The fact that nobody comes or goes over winter leads to the
impression of us slowly wasting away as we eat our way through an ever
dwindling supply of tinned food. This may have been the fate of early explorers
to the region but BAS now has decades of experience as to how much food us
winterers like to eat. We will also have a chef wintering with us who will undoubtedly
be serving us up some amazing food even when the fresh supplies have gone.
So Hopefully you now feel a little bit more informed about where I
am going? If not don’t worry (I don’t think I truly know where I am going) there
will be loads of information to follow, but in the mean time here is a flying tour that someone from the current wintering team has made so enjoy and stay tuned!
