I left Los Angeles on November 6, 2008 on a clear day with a temperature of 81° F and good air quality. The day was so beautiful, it reminded me why people continue to flock to a city known for its high cost of living, terrible traffic, poor air quality, and high speed car chases. On a day like this, it is really hard to imagine the climate change I will experience in the next few days.
I will say goodbye to 80°F temperatures for the next two months.
I was feeling extremely excited, nervous, apprehensive, and a host of other emotions regarding the trip. As one of my colleagues stated, "Are you really going halfway around the world to spend a month at a remote campsite in Antarctica with no facilities and live and work with people you haven't met?" "Well yes", I told her. "That pretty much sums it up". There are a lot of unknowns to this trip and I am certainly out of my comfort zone, but I have been given an extraordinary opportunity that I cannot pass up.
A lot of the anxiety began to disappear when I checked in at the Los Angeles International Terminal and the Qantas agent told me that she had been checking in large groups of people with the U.S. Antarctic Program all day. She also mentioned that they would be on the 8:00 p.m. Los Angeles-Auckland-Christchurch flight. I sat next to a young woman who was on her first trip to Antarctica to work as a carpenter's assistant at McMurdo Station. Someone on the plane saw the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) luggage tag on my backpack, tapped me on the shoulder and introduced herself as the head of Human Resources for Raytheon in Centennial, Colorado. People are extremely friendly and more than willing to help you.
When we changed planes in Auckland, I was introduced to the Raytheon McMurdo Station Manager, Don Brogan. Don adopted a group of first-timers and walked us through customs, the best coffee shop, changing money, and other general information tips.
I arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday, May 8 around 11:00 a.m. (remember we crossed the International Date Line). A lot of the people with the USAP were staying at my hotel (the Windsor Bed and Breakfast), and we prearranged to meet at the cathedral square in Christchurch at 6:00 p.m. for dinner.
Jackie Hams in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand.
We all agreed to eat dinner at the Two Fat Indians Restaurant and had a great meal.
Nine people headed for the ice enjoy dinner at Two Fat Ladies Indian restaurant.
There are a variety of jobs available for people at the various permanent stations in Antarctica. As I look around the table, I see a firefighter and carpenter's apprentice going to McMurdo, a baker (yes, as in a bakery) headed for the South Pole, and personnel who identified themselves as providing transportation and support setting up the field camps. At the end of this trip, I will provide an information link for those who are interested in jobs in Antarctica.
On Sunday, November 9 I picked up my Extreme Cold Weather gear at the Clothing Distribution Center. It took at least two hours to try everything on and make exchanges for the correct size. The flight to Antarctica (Ice Flight) is scheduled for Monday November 10 at 0900. The itinerary is as follows: I will have to leave the hotel at 0510 in order to arrive at the Clothing Distribution Center by 0600. At that time, I will pack everything I will need on the ice in a bag to be checked and transported to Antarctica. I will keep a "boomerang" bag with essential items I would need if the plane could not land in Antarctica due to weather conditions and turned back to Christchurch. My personal luggage can be stored at the Clothing Distribution Center until I return from the ice in mid December.
I hope that I can keep the logistics involving the luggage clear in my head and I end up with the correct bag on the ice.
I check my clothing list carefully to make sure that I have packed correctly and in the right order.
If all goes well on Monday, my next journal will be posted from McMurdo Station, Antarctica.