When you’re going to one of the coldest, most remote places on the planet, what do you pack?
From layers made of wicking material to pull moisture away from your body when you sweat under the heavy coats, to sunglasses that can deal with the intense reflection of the sun’s rays off the ice, to remembering postcards to mail from the South Pole post office, my packing list turned out to be quite unique.
If you know me, you know I love lists. Below is my drafted packing list for the South Pole.
Not included is the Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) gear that I’ll be issued in New Zealand. Read about ECW in my previous journal
Take a look!
Packing List
Outside Clothes
- 4 Wool socks
- 3 base layer shirts – wicking material
- 3 base layer pants – two thin, one thick, all wicking material
- 1 extra gloves
- fleece zip up
Inside Clothes
- 4 t-shirts
- 1 sweatshirt
- 2 jeans
- 1 comfy pants
- 1 pajamas
- 3 regular socks
- 1 workout outfit - yes there’s a gym there!
- 1 swim suit - yes there’s a pool there!
- 1 flip flops – for the shower
- 1 tennis shoes
Bathroom:
- sunscreen
- dry shampoo – only two 2 minutes showers a week!
- camping body wipes
- toothbrush/toothpaste
- shampoo/conditioner
- soap
- brush/hair ties/bobby pins
- lotion
- towel/washcloth
- Advil/Tylenol/Altitude Sickness Meds - over 9,000 ft there!
Other:
- 2 water bottles – get something so it won’t freeze
- backpack
- good sunglasses – the reflection of the sun’s rays off the ice is pretty intense
- proof of my flu shot
- eye mask - it’ll be 24 hours of sunlight there!
- long-distance phone card - it’ll be as if I’m calling from Colorado
- 4-5 chap sticks
- postcards to mail - there IS a post office at the South Pole!
- headphones/iPad/iPhone – download lots of music & books
- camera/cable/charger
- computer/charger – make sure it has the right security system installed
- pencils/notepad/coloring book
- NZ electricity converter
- Power bars/dried fruit/Vitamin C
I think the employees at REI are going to be my new best friends.
Questions?
Do you have a question about Antarctica, project IceCube, or anything else about my expedition? Post in the comments section below and I’ll get back to you!
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