i'm scheduled to leave the pole feb 6, weather permitting. then a couple weeks in nz before returning stateside.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
one more week
i'm scheduled to leave the pole feb 6, weather permitting. then a couple weeks in nz before returning stateside.
Friday, January 23, 2009
south pole tourism
Here's how this summer’s tourism compared to last year:
Total number of NGA tourists, guides, and staff to South Pole:
2007-08 180
2008-09 269
Number of NGA person-hours spent on station:
2007-08 700
2008-09 1800
Total number of tours given:
2007-08 18
2007-08 36
Total number of NGA tourists, guides, and staff to South Pole:
2007-08 180
2008-09 269
Number of NGA person-hours spent on station:
2007-08 700
2008-09 1800
Total number of tours given:
2007-08 18
2007-08 36
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
emergency response
i am a volunteer on one of the emergency response teams. work with trauma team (first aid).
we have weekly trainings and monthly drills, but today the alarm was a real one. a glycol leak in the garage. 2 years ago there was a glycol leak in the power plant and someone was badly burned plus vapors caused respiratory problems. fortunately this time the glycol was not as hot and of the three people exposed, one had only mild eye irritation. with trauma team no longer needed, i was switched to scene security and eventually to spill response cleanup. made for a long day, but glad nobody was hurt.
we have weekly trainings and monthly drills, but today the alarm was a real one. a glycol leak in the garage. 2 years ago there was a glycol leak in the power plant and someone was badly burned plus vapors caused respiratory problems. fortunately this time the glycol was not as hot and of the three people exposed, one had only mild eye irritation. with trauma team no longer needed, i was switched to scene security and eventually to spill response cleanup. made for a long day, but glad nobody was hurt.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
royal visit
Prince Albert II of Monaco stopped by South Pole today. I got to meet him and chat for a bit.
"Prince Albert and his group will be dropped about 10 km from station on Tuesday evening. The group will spend the night on the ice at this location. Wednesday morning the group will ski into pole with a planned arrival time of 9:00 am.
The prince has a mission of promoting global environmentalism.
The following website also provides a few details of the prince’s Antarctic tour."
http://www.fpa2.mc/fondation.asp?page=ANTARCTIQUE
"Prince Albert and his group will be dropped about 10 km from station on Tuesday evening. The group will spend the night on the ice at this location. Wednesday morning the group will ski into pole with a planned arrival time of 9:00 am.
The prince has a mission of promoting global environmentalism.
The following website also provides a few details of the prince’s Antarctic tour."
http://www.fpa2.mc/fondation.asp?page=ANTARCTIQUE
Saturday, January 10, 2009
tour guide
I played tour guide for Chus Lago, the first Spanish woman to sky to the South Pole (all the way from the coast). She skied 1,117 km, alone for 59 days, seeing nothing but flat white. Originally her journey was to be unsupported, but she was running out of food so asked for an airdrop towards the end of her expedition.I met her Friday night at 1 am when she got in, then took her around station the following morning. She was thrilled that the first people she saw after being alone for 2 months were two women at the South Pole. First Judy, the night shift heavy equipment supervisor, intercepted her a little ways out. Then I showed up to escort her to the pole and her camp.
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