18 October 2016 Expecting the Unexpected

Prefield Call

Yesterday I had a pre-field call with the team of people who are helping me get to the pole. We talked about everything from what to pack, to internet connectivity in Antarctica, to where I’m staying when.

Here are a few highlights of what I can expect:

• At the South Pole Station each person is allotted two minute showers twice a week. It’s all about water (and energy) conservation when you’re so isolated. Bring on the camping wipes and dry shampoo!
• Internet at the South Pole Station is limited to when the satellite comes up. There will be a schedule posted of when there will and will not be internet access and I’ll need to plan accordingly.
• Pack a water bottle. The South Pole is at an altitude of over 9000 ft. Combined with the thinner atmosphere, altitude sickness is a concern. Staying hydrated is key! Now I need to figure out a way to keep that water bottle from freezing.
• Remember a bathing suit. At the South Pole Station there’s a gym and sauna for me to use!

The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Photo credit: Matt Kauer, IceCube/NSF

The more I learn, the more excited I get!

Expecting the Unexpected

The most common piece of advice I’m hearing is to expect the unexpected.

Right now I’m scheduled to be on-ice early January 2017, but the exact date could (and probably will) change a few more times. Even once the date is set, factors such as the weather could still delay me.

Once I’m there, I will be an active member of the IceCube research team. But what exactly will I be doing? Well, that I’m not quite sure about yet. Daily tasks will all be determined by what needs to be done when I get there. I could be working on calibration, or I could be organizing equipment, or…who knows! Whatever needs to be done I’m another pair of hands and another brain there to do it.

While I’ll admit it’s a bit nerve-wracking not knowing all of the details, I’m confident that I’m in good hands with my support team backing me up every step of the way. So for now, I’ll continue to be flexible, prepare as much as a I can, and expect the unexpected.