I left Los Angeles at 10:20 p.m. on Thursday November 15, 2012 and arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday November 17, 2012 after a quick plane change in Sydney, Australia. Here is a teaser: If it is 10:20 p.m. on November 15, 2012 in Los Angeles, what time is it in Christchurch New Zealand?
Those of you who know your geography very well are no doubt asking why I flew to Australia from Los Angeles to get to New Zealand. Did I not pass over New Zealand to get to Australia? You are indeed correct and 18 hours later I arrived in Christchurch. This time my accommodations are different, as downtown Christchurch was destroyed by the earthquake. I am staying at the Sudima Hotel adjacent to the airport, the U.S. Antarctic Program Office, and the International Antarctic Centre which contains the Clothing Distribution Warehouse (CDW). One really positive aspect about the hotel is that I can walk from the Christchurch airport to the hotel, the CDW and from the hotel to get the transport plane to the ice.
The International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, NZ connects visitors to the Antarctic experience through displays, wildlife, and educational activities.
The U.S. Antarctic Program office building houses support staff who oversee the logistics for U.S. participants.
The first order of business was to check in to my hotel, followed by an adult beverage, dinner, and 12 hours of sleep. I went to the CDW on November 18 at 9:00 a.m. to pick up my Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) gear. All of the ECW gear is assembled based on the sizes submitted on forms ahead of time and where you will be going. This is the time you try it all on and make sure it fits and exchange those items that do not fit. We are outfitted from head to toe with various layers for different weather conditions. This process is less confusing that the first time, but still stressful because I have to determine what I can carry on the plane now that I have professional cameras to consider. Overall I am happy because a lot of my items are brand new and I will be the first to wear them. A lot of the ECW gear has seen many seasons on the ice!
Jackie Hams begins the process of trying on ECW gear at the Clothing Distribution Center in Christchurch, NZ.
The king of ECW gear is the "Big Red" jacket. I tell my students that wearing Big Red feels like wearing a mattress on top of several layers of heavy clothing but it really does the job and keeps your torso warm.
Jackie Hams trying on the Big Red jacket.
If all goes well with the weather, I will make the first ice flight to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. You can see the military transport plane behind the cars in the airport parking lot below. Sometimes planes cannot land at McMurdo due to the weather and return to Christchurch. I was lucky the first time around and I am feeling lucky again.
The plane seen just beyond the parked cars will provide transportation to the ice.