Life at the South Pole Station: a retrospective photo journal.
Temperature: -26 C, -18 F
Windchill: - 36. 5C, -34 F
Wind: 7 knts.
Weather: clear and sunny.
It is Sunday, and brunch is served at 10 am. Many people enjoy this day as their day off from work and many activities are planned in the gym (soccer, volleyball) and in the dining hall (spelling bee contest). I was busy packing my bags, mailing the last packages and postcards (the post office is open this afternoon) because tomorrow, Monday, January 14th, I will be leaving the South Pole before noon.
I was also looking forward to see the "John and Jerry” show-presentation, an account about the history of the 3 stations at the Pole by John the station design engineer and Jerry the NSF construction manger.
Introducing the IGY Station:
John is introducing the IGY station layout during the "John and Jerry road show”.
Entrance to the first Station (Old Pole):
The entrance to the first station had changed since the 50ties. This was the entrance during the 1970/71 season. This entrance was an inclined stairs/tunnel which took you some 26 feet down to the main corridor. This station is now buried completely by snow about 4 miles from the telescope. The photos next to the entrance are now hanging near the conference rooms inside the New Station. (Photo, John slide show)
It was amazing to learn that John actually stayed in all three stations. How much the design of the stations has changed over time!
I would like to share with you some of the images I took of the structures and life inside and outside of the New Elevated the Station.As always, science work is going on around the clock, such as yesterday at the IceCube drilling field where Teresa and I had a chance to observe the Digital Optical Module (DOM, neutrino detectors, see journal, December 16, 2007) deployment. We were glad to hear that they were close to completing their deployment goals.
Signing the DOM before deployment:
Elke signing the DOM (Digital Optical Module) before deployment.
DOM hole and string :
Over 60 DOM’s will be on one string down to 2500 meters into the ice.
Thank you IceCUBE scientist Albrecht Karle for taking us along to the drilling fields!
A few days ago, I fund it interesting that the traverse tractor was taking apart for shipment back to McMurdo in preparation for the upcoming winter.
Tractor preparation for shipment:
Jack Sharp is preparing the traverse tractor for shipment with a 'Herc".
Going back inside the station one has several choices to enter the station. In either case 2 freezer doors help to keep the cold air outside: there was a 100 degree difference between the outside and the inside during most of the days I was at the station.
Double freezer doors at the South Poe station:
I am entering the second of the two freezer doors at the South Poe station.
Thick walls at the South Pole Station:
Thick walls at the South Pole Station will keep everybody warm even during the winter time. Northie and Southie are enjoying the warmth, but wish they could be outside. However, where would they find their food?
Food is always important for everyone. It is the nourishment all are looking forward to during the day. Food is stored outside when it is allowed to be frozen.
Food Storage outside:
Food Storage outside. Food that can not be frozen needs to be stored inside the station.
Food delivery to the galley:
The cargo team is delivering food to the second floor near the galley (kitchen).
Food delivery to the second floor:
Food for the station needs is pulled onto the second floor delivery platform near the galley.
The kitchen crew:
The kitchen crew, including chefs, cooks and dining hall assistants, was an amazing team. This is their gathering during a Saturday safety meeting.Thank you kitchen crew!
Saturday kitchen crew: the management!
Every Saturday, the kitchen crew has a day off and all members of the management of the station is doing the cooking. Here are science coordinators Al and Paul making lunch.
Helping with the dishes:
Every night, members of other departments are helping out with the dishes. That afternoon, Glenn, Elke and Ethan (right) were the dish washers for a few hours.
Winter Station Manager helps with the dishes:
Winter Station Manager Katie Hess was helping with the dishes during the evenings! Her hard hat was very becoming, I thought!
Recycling at the station:
Everybody has to recycle at the station. These are labeled containers for all types of material outside the station. The containers are then shipped to the United States. There are smaller recycling bins inside the station.
Other duties for everyone is cleaning the bathrooms once a week, playing "house mouse” as we say.
Bathroom (left) and berthing area entrance (right):
Bathroom and berthing area entrances. The door to the berthing (old NAVY term for dormitory) is particularly heavy to keep all possible noise outside. Because of shifts, there are people sleeping during all hours of the day.
My dormitory hall way:
The doors to each room are also very heavy and close very smoothly not to awaken the neighbors. Elke is standing in her dormitory hall way in front of her room.
Water fountain:
When I would open the hall way door, I would pass the water fountain. There are fountains near every birthing area. Since it is very dry, we need to drink water all the time.
The main hall way at the first floor:
When I would open the hallway door and turn right. I would face this hall way. I am on the first floor. The galley would be upstairs.
The station store:
Down the hall is the station store. It was open every night. Besides T-shirts and hats, one could also buy post cards. Movies could be rented free-of-charge.
Mail from the station:
The store also functions as a post office. These were the packages prepared so cargo can move them to the shipping area. The next plane would take them to McMurdo, then Christchurch and California. Flat mail goes faster than packages. I had a lot of last mailings to do.
Thank you all volunteers at the ost office!
The computer room:
The computer room was open 24 hours every day. The office, however, had day-time office hours. I was able to use the computers day and night!
Pat, our doctor:
Pat was our doctor. She and her assistant Leslie were on night duty every other day. It was a very intense time for them. This was Pat's first time on the ice and she is thinking about returning.
Leslie, our medical assistant inside her medical lab:
Leslie, our medical assistant inside her medical lab. This was her first time for her on the ice. She had planned to do so for over 20 years.
Our Hospital!
The medical station is very modernized. These are our 2 hospital beds.
Drawings by Pat:
Every single person at the station seems to have a special talent. This was Pat' art she posted for us before Christmas: The goddess of the storm!
Volleyball in the South Pole Gym:
I observed that many people took care of their health by participating in sports, such us skiing, yoga, working out at the gym, playing soccer, or playing volleyball in the South Pole gym.
Skiers at the South Pole Horizon:
This is one of my favorite images: skiers at the South Pole horizon are skiing to the ski hut (about 2 miles away from the station). Many people used their Saturday and Sunday to ski to the hut.
Tomorrow I will leave for McMurdo. I wondered if I will ever return to this place of, incredible science, effort, and imagination.
Halo over the ski-way:
This was a particular beautiful halo appearing right after the dedication.
Thank you South Pole!