Déjà Vu: Ice II: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Emergency Medical Evacuation

Aside from freezing to death, having to be medically evacuated from the continent (medevac) is probably the greatest fear of every winterover.

As the NSF Station Manager put it, "A Medevac is not a decision we take lightly nor is it a decision that can be made without consensus of key parties in medical and in the operational aspect at the NSF HQ. They pose an inherent risk at any time of year and especially during the winter season and are only considered when there is potential loss of life or limb."

Fleet Operations (the department in charge of maintaining the roads and moving snow around with heavy equipment) was tasked with preparing the runway for the C-17 to land and did so in only five days. Between the runway coming together quickly and a blessing from the weather gods, on June 30th, we had a successful medevac.

(I Drive Photo by Jerry MacGregor)

(I Drive Photo by Jerry MacGregor)
More information can be found in this Air Force article covering the medevac flight.

For the privacy of my fellow winterover, I won't go into details regarding the illness. The medevac was successful and my fellow winterover is set to receive the medical attention in New Zealand and will hopefully be on the road to recovery soon.

Today, more than ever, I am grateful for my own health and safety.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

It's Freakin' COLD in Antarctica

Sometimes it even hurts to breathe. That's when this fun mask comes out!

Remember - don't mess with me, I'm a total bad ass!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Don't Open Until Midwinter!

Goodie boxes in Antarctica are always a treat, but even more so during the long winter months of no-outside-mail. Thanks to our dear friend Robyn, we had package mail packages to open for Valentines Day, Easter, Midwinter Dinner and, yet to come, the 4th of July. Thanks to my forgetful brain, the packages were out of sight and mind until exactly the right moment.

Kris goes right for the pink fuzzies!

Cedar gasps at all the loot!

Clad in hot pink part glasses with a handful of miniature
glow sticks, Kris is ready to shake his booty!

MC looks on in wonder.

Jen tries on the leopard dress!

A purple masked villain?

Cedar, Jen and MC bargain, discuss and rummage through the goodies.

Cedar sports a pink plastic rosary gangster-style.

Kris tries, but his "gangster" needs work.

Jen checks out the lotions!

Ahhh...THANKS for the treats Robyn!!!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Magical Midwinter

Midwinter Dinner; the midpoint in the season, when, for one night, everything and everyone sparkles and shines. This year was no exception. Despite the rumored low-key theme of the event, the galley decorations and food were something out of an incredible dream.

I was again impressed by the time, effort and creativity put into every aspect of the evening. From ice sculptures and a snow sled bar, to a fully constructed replica of the inside of Scott's hut, history, present day and a timeless sense of adventure glowed softly under copper chandeliers and rope lights.

This year's theme incorporated all nations across the continent via canvas painted flags, place card trivia and snippets of historic information. Whether reading about the Koreans midwinter menu or Norwegian style ECW gear, I learned what my international predecessors went through on their journey, gained a deeper appreciation for the boundless of adventure and peered deeper into the depths of the human spirit.

While the struggles, explorations and triumphs of my own life have been vastly different than those of the early globe trotters, I felt a sense of self-respect for my part in the Antarctic experience. I followed my dream to the bottom of the world and observed the power of possibility, the result of perseverance and the realization of what some might have deemed impossible.

Maybe that's what gives midwinter it's sparkle.