Extreme Cold Weather Gear & the Flight to McMurdo, Antarctica

Who is even organizing all of this? Do you book your own flights down through a travel agent? How is this even logistically happening? You’ve read that the NSF funded the project (under the "Why I Write this Blog" tab), and you are familiar with the purpose of TRACERS grant.  I sense you are feeling a thirst for more acronyms. Here is one: USAP.

The United States Antarctic Program (link: http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/antarct/usap.jsp) has been operating/organizing research of and around Antarctica since 1956. They have been the people we have been in contact with throughout the whole journey from planning logistics to executing logistics.

A group of us, spanning from scientist, technicians, students, interns, medics, mechanics, ship crew, cooks, magicians (kidding), etc. will be flying from Christchurch, New Zealand for 8 hours to McMurdo Station on a US Air Force C-130 plane named Hercules. 

For me, the newbie, it feels so badass. About 5 hours in to this flight, weather conditions at McMurdo will be assessed and if not safe to land, Hercules will “Boomerang” back to Christchurch and wait another day to fly out.  Oh, fun Antarctic storms?! Why do we have to turn back?! Let’s brave them! Safety third, I say! That’s how people get hurt, Allison, safety FIRST. 
 

During this window of limbo, we try to keep ourselves occupied around Christchurch running, reading, exploring, visiting the museum or botanic garden, day-tripping, hunting the elusive and endangered Kiwi, blogging, drinking copious amounts of coffee and local beer, eating as if we’ll never eat good food again from all the restaurant options including Thai, Indian, Pub-style, Sushi, Mexican and yes, I’ll admit it, Kentucky Fried Chicken (don’t judge me!) until our scheduled flight-time gets set. 

To prepare for such extreme weather we are issued Extreme Cold Weather Gear from the United States Antarctic Program. We have to go to the Clothing Distribution Center to try on every piece that is issued to us and make sure it fits properly. 

Fit for a Ninja! Believe it or not, those fashionable white boots are HEAVY!

The clothing we use today is similar to what the early expeditioners used but of course our gear is super high-tech fabrics 

"The men wore layers of woollen and cotton clothing, with windproof jackets and trousers on top, and used a variety of mittens, often in many layers to give extra warmth. Woollen and windproof balaclavas, wired hoods and goggles. The clothes froze solid overnight in the tent and had to be forced back on in the morning. It could take more than an hour to get ready for the day." -Scott's Last Expedition exhibit, Canterbury Museum

Extreme cold weather gear (ECW) issued to Antarctic participants. We were given at least 6 pairs of different gloves and mittens. I wonder how long it will take to get dressed each day. We are required to wear some of these items on the flight down to McMurdo Station.

We were not given sunscreen or sunglasses but both are extremely important to have with you while working outdoors on the ship deck.