7 February 2012 Packing for Palmer Station

Journal

For the past week I’ve gotten a lot of questions like, “Are you packed yet?” and “What does one take to Antarctica?” In answer to the first question, I’m almost packed. In answer to the second question, it depends.

One of the most important things I’ll need is my passport to get into Chile. I’ll also need the special U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP(abbreviation) United States Antarctic Program) luggage tags I was issued after passing all the Physical Qualification exams. I love the fact that they have penguins on them.

Passport and Luggage Tags — My passport and USAP luggage tags (aren't they cute?)

I will definitely be taking my Flat Penguins from Mrs. Hoffman’s 3rd and 4th grade students at Park Forest Elementary. I think they are fantastic! Please keep your eyes peeled; they will appear in pictures from Antarctica.

I’ll also be taking my lucky rocks from the Blue Hill Peninsula in Maine. I carry them almost everywhere all the time. I know my 1st and 2nd grade friends at the Blue Hill Consolidated School will recognize the names of the beaches they came from.

I will also certainly take photos of my family. I will miss my family a lot.

Famiy Photos — My brother and his family and my in-laws

What about outdoor gear?

Flat penguins, lucky rocks and photos are all fine and good, but I'll obviously need some other things. As I’ve mentioned, Palmer Station is north of the Antarctic Circle. This means that it’s much warmer at Palmer Station than it is at Mc Murdo Station or South Pole Station, the other two U.S. scientific research stations in Antarctica. Unlike my friend Alex Eilers, who is studying Weddell Seals on Ross Island as I write this, I will not need to wear the bunny boots and red parka Extreme Cold Weather (ECW(abbreviation) Extreme Cold Weather clothing) gear that she wears in the field.

Alex in her ECW — My friend Alex Eilers in her bunny boots and ECW parka

Instead, I’ll get Peninsula area ECW(abbreviation) Extreme Cold Weather clothing gear. Once I get to Punta Arenas, Chile my clothing will be issued to me by Raytheon Polar Services. I’ll borrow the gear for my expedition, and will return it in Punta Arenas on my way home in March.

Peninsula Area ECW(abbreviation) Extreme Cold Weather clothing Gear

1 GOR-TEX wind jacket
1 Helly Hansen rain jacket
1 polar fleece jacket
1 red down parka (optional)
1 pair rain pants
1 pair polar fleece pants
1 pair Carhartt pants
2 thermal tops
2 thermal bottoms
1 balaklava
1 neck gaiter
1 polar fleece cap
1 pair leather work gloves (unlined)
1 pair leather work gloves (insulated)
1 pair rubber gloves (with liners)
1 pair GOR-TEX mitts
1 pair polypropylene gloves
1 pair wool gloves
2 pair tube socks
1 pair snow boots (Sorel or LaCrosse)
1 pair goggles
1 duffel bag

What else will I need?

Because I’ll get all my clothes for the field in Chile, packing will be pretty simple. The only things I need to pack are clothes that I will wear in the lab, pajamas, toiletries (my toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc.), extra socks, underwear, a bath towel and a bathing suit. Yes, I said a bathing suit! Believe it or not, there is a hot tub at Palmer Station. There is also a gym, so I’ll be packing some workout clothes too. Dr. Amsler recommended that I bring an extra bag along, because I’ll definitely want to buy gifts for my friends and family in Chile and at Palmer Station. Much to my surprise, there are t-shirts and other souvenirs for sale at Palmer Station. I’ll also need to bring sunglasses, water bottles, my laptop and cameras.

Here's a video of me with Bella, my dog. She's a good supervisor.

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