Winter Over (VIII)

Richard W. Frank

Winter Over (VIII)

Week 18: A Long Day's Journey in Night

All is good with the world as our little Mactown family celebrates MidWinter's Day on Sunday June 22, 1997. All of a sudden we are on the other side of the mountain as we near WINFLY on August 20th.

Last week was spent in the middle of a winter storm that robbed us of contact with the rest of the world. Our satellite communications are relayed via Black Island, sixteen miles away, and bounced to us on Ross Island. Unfortunately, it is much more exposed to the elements than Mactown and was, consequently, shut down by the Condition One weather (visibility less than 1/10th a mile, winds faster than 52 knots, or temperatures less than -75F).

The entire station was sent home for a day and restricted to their rooms except to go to meals. Flagged routes were set up from the two dorms to the galley 100 yards away. Walking between buildings was an adventure not to be taken lightly as people had to pair up to make the walk.

On Sunday the twenty-second, everyone gathered over at the New Zealand Scott base to celebrate midwinter. There was a barbeque as well as the annual Winter Polar Plunge. The Kiwis dug a hole in the Ross Ice Shelf, and all interested parties jumped naked into the 29F water. Amidst much vocal support and laughter from the spectators (including our medical team with an idling ambulance) one changed from his ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) gear into his towel and sandals. With camcorder lights and camera flashes to light one's way in the 2pm winter darkness, one donned a wet and freezing harness under the arms just in case the shock causes heart failure under the water. A single leap put one in the water with the curious krill lit with an underwater light. The sea ice is about two feet thick at this point with an icy ladder attached to the side of the hole. Profanity came in handy during the hour it seemed to take to get out and into the heated shed. The hot tub and BBQ brought back life to the extremities and finished the day well. There was even a darts competition with the South Pole Station via radio.

The most startling thing about Midwinter is how quickly the months have gone and how soon things will change. Winfly is on August 20th, 22nd, 24th, and 26th. Four C141 flights will bring 235 strangers as well as freshies (fresh food), mail, and other cargo into our world. The last six weeks will pass in a flurry of changed routines and noise.

How quickly and how monumentally slowly the last eight months on ice have gone. I have done so much I had never dreamed of and so little of the grand schemes I had planned. A world outside this small station is chimeral and a vague memory. The world was created here wasn't it?

For now, we look down the winter slope on the last 111 days here. The July 4th proceedings at the Heavy Shop party should be fun. We are thawing several whole pigs slaughtered in 1973 for the festivities.

The beer is rather old now and the beards are getting longer, but we are all hanging in there. We received an e-mail from the CEO of Antarctic Support Associates in Denver telling us that we have not been forgotten (yah, right).

I am busy making grandiose travel plans for when I leave, but I can't imagine it will ever happen. I might be suckered into working next summer at Pole for a little more extra cash, but I am not holding my breath. It is against company policy to let people stay on the ice for a summer-winter-summer. Something about cabin fever and mental health....

I hope you are all well and forgive me for the sporadic e-mail. The internet does go down regularly, but that is no excuse. One is actually expected to work down here, and it does get in the way ten hours a day, six days a week. I really do not have as much to write about as y'all due to the conspicuous lack of entertainment options we have. One can only write about the greenhouse and radio and cooking for so long.

I thank you all for writing this little Antipodean troglodyte, and I really do appreciate hearing about the outside world. I apologize for sending a general letter, but I have limited time and typing ability.

We will actually be receiving real mail on the Winfly flights, if you are so inclined to drop me a postcard. Thanks again for everything.

Until next,

Rich Frank, ASA

Winter-Over

McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Box 700, PSC 469

FPO AP 96599-5700

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