Pipes under the snow provide our heat - including for the early New Year’s Party at the South Pole.
Temperature: -25.3 C, - 15.5 F Windchill: - 36 C, - 32.8 F Wind: 11 knts. Weather: overcast in the morning clearing in the evening.
This Sunday was filled with all kind of different activities. Because of logistics, today was also our official New Year’s Eve.
The morning was filled with answering emails and posting one more journal. I made it to the gym before brunch and enjoyed the New Year’s Eve prep- activities in the gym below. The ceiling was going to be decorated with an old parachute.
Gym getting ready for the Party
I was amazed how hard everyone worked to make this event very special.*
After brunch about 8 of us met Craig Bell, the utility engineer (same person I met to learn about the water production) for the famous "tunnel visit”. We were going to see the tunnels underneath the station that contain all the pipes for water and sewage and the wires for communication.
We were asked to bundle up because we would be in temperatures of about – 65 F for an hour. The tunnel was situated in the "fern” layer of the snow: the layer between the soft snow above and the ice layer below.
Waiting to go into the tunnels
We just came out of the "Beer can” Stair case and are inside the connecting tunnel between station and power plant. We are about to enter the pipe tunnels soon.*
Craig Bell inside the tunnels
Craig is pointing out the different pipes. The large pipes are for water and sewage; the smaller contain electrical wires, and above all are the IT wires.*
Group inside the tunnel at -65F
Our group is now inside the tunnel at – 65 F. It was a small space and we had to walk in a row.*
Shrine deep inside the Tunnel
We were amazed about the shrine carved into the ice. Different people left different artifacts.*
Preserved fish forever
One winter-over station members left this display inside the tunnel.*
New pipe to the new Rodwell
This is the pipe for next year’s connection to the new Rodwell (water well).*
Winter-wonderland under the surface
Some tunnels contained more moisture and looked like winter-wonderland.*
**After an Hour of -65 F
**
Elke just stepped out of the snow tunnel after and hour of -65F. We got a taste of what it would be like outside in the wintertime at the South Pole: average temperatures will be -85F to -90F with likely wind-chill factors of -115F.*
Fortunately we were only a few stairs away from a comfortable warm room upstairs inside the station! I made it in time to do some shopping at our store for packages to the USA and to Germany.
South Pole Station Store
We can get postcards, hats, and shirts at the store. We can also rent movies for free.*
Post-office at the station
The post office is open Sunday and Wednesday afternoon for an hour. The store and the post office are run by trained volunteers. These are Rose, Bill and Beth stamping our mail to all our friends and families.*
Cleaning the ARO lab
The day continued at ARO. Amy and I had planned to clean the lab for next week’s visitors from NOAA. I am vacuuming the Dobson room.*
Irfan’s Science talk
At 8 pm after dinner, Irfan from Florida, one of the Aurora specialists gave a talk on his research.*
At 9 pm the New Year’s Eve party started with the Blue-Grass Band performance.
The Blue Grass Band
The Blue-grass Band was ready, including BK (right) the station manager and one of the lead singers.*
Craig’s band
Craig and his 12 person band continued the next part of entertainment. Holly (shuttle driver), Sarah (Carpenter), and Lisa (dining room assistant) were great vocalists with a remarkable dance routine. Since Holly insured herself playing basket ball, their routine had to be slightly changed. All at the station appreciated their effort and hard work.*
The saying "working hard and playing hard” is certainly true for all at the South Pole Station. Just Remarkable!
**New Year’s Eve decoration: **
In the meantime we all admired the gym ceiling decoration: an old parachute and some old weather balloons with colorful lights! The windows were darkened and we enjoyed the wonderful festive atmosphere.*
Rock Band Music
Kate (winter-over station manager) and Chris (firefighter) were part of the third band playing for us.*
To the New Year!
We all, Elke , Don Potter (Helped to build the telescope, no he is not related to Harry Potter) and Bill Steiner (carpenter, helps to put the outside siding onto the new station) are wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!*
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