What does someone pack for a 30 plus day journey to Antarctica? I have always prided myself on being a good packer, weighing my pack for each trip abroad, always determined to bring down the weight in my pack for each succeeding trip. Most people when I tell I am going to Antarctica think temperatures will be in the negative digits especially when they put together that seasons are opposite in the Southern Hemisphere and I will be arriving to Palmer Station the last month of the fall season. Interesting enough, because Anvers Island is located off the tip of the West Antarctic Peninsula and surrounded by water, cold as it may be, the specific heat of the water keeps the area mild by Antarctic terms. Highs will normally range in the low 20’s and nights will get down to the single digits, but for a kid who grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, that is not terribly bad.
So that brings me to my question, what do I want to bring and what do I need to bring? I get the standard issue gear, more on that in a later blog, but I also will be traveling around a little in Chile and maybe Argentina when I return. Long Johns and thermal undershirts are the most essential items, as these are not generally issued with the Extreme Cold Weather gear. I packed a variety of Long Johns, each one an increasing weight for layering purposes, same thing with the thermal undershirts accounting for five items each. Palmer Station has a workout room and a hot tub, so I packed two pairs of swim trunks and six t-shirts for working out and sleeping in. Socks, shoes, boots, gloves and hats round out my wardrobe.
Books and music, things we want or things we need? Things we need, am I right?! My book list kept growing as a couple of my students gave me last minute books to bring along, thanks Ben and Hannah ;), so I am up to five books now and I loaded my iPhone with a ton of music – should keep me busy if I ever get some down time.
P.S. Every one of the titles to my blogs is going to be a song or lyrics from a song, on the day before I leave Palmer the first student, past, present, or future who can send me the list of song and artist will receive a t-shirt from the Palmer Station store!
Today’s Question: "How many layers of cloths do you have to wear when you go out?" - Maria Sic
Well Maria, it depends on what type of weather we are having that day. If it is wet or maybe snowing, I have a set up of vinyl jackets, pants and boots that will keep me nice and dry on really cold weather days, I have what we like to call “big red” it’s a very thick heavy coat that keeps you nice and toasty!
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