Dawn in Antarctica

My new Glacier Sorel boots arrived!  With extra liners.  Plus liners for my old, less warm Sorels. They go with my skirt! The Glaciers are rated to -100°F or -73.3°C. I find the increase in the number of significant digits after a unit change amusing. Are they really rated to exactly -73.3°C? I'm sure that if it gets down to -73.4°C, my feet will get cold! I typically wear size 8 women's shoes.  However, I bought size 9 men's boots.  One of the key things I have found for foot comfort is to be able to wear a couple of pairs of socks and still have my boots loose around my feet.  That allows good blood circulation to my feet, which is essential for keeping them warm, particularly when standing around handling lines for divers under the ice.  However, I think most people would think that the boots feel way too big.  They do have good laces at the ankle, and I can tighten them down so they won't fall off.  And my feet and ankles are very strong, so I don't

Pooping in the Dry Valleys is a topic that no one talks about, so I will because there are two very important issues with human waste for remote camps in Antarctica: 1) Health and 2) Environmental Protection.  I'll start with some background, discuss the importance of hygiene, and follow up with environmental issues.  The last section includes what I'll bring this year as my emergency "shit kit" and how to use it.  I'd appreciate any suggestions for improving the kit or the procedures! Tyler's image of our Lake Joyce Toilet Tent in 2010 (from  his blog ).  The black barrel with the funnel is for "grey water", e.g. pee, dish water, etc.  Some tall men can go directly into the funnel - I've accidently walked "in" on them doing it.  Note that there is a vinyl berm below the barrels to catch any drops that miss from the waste barrels or refueling the generator (red).  Everything is strapped down to keep the wind from blowing things over

The United States Antarctica Program (USAP) provides us with a LOT of field support, including gear, supplies, helicopter hours, space in labs, etc.  This is all arranged through the PolarIce web site, e-mails, and a few phone calls.  The process started when I submitted a proposal to work in Antarctica.  I filled out an Operations Requirement Worksheet ( mine for this project  pdf).  This ORW is reviewed with the science of the proposal to evaluate whether or not the field plan is reasonable.  Once the proposal was funded, I prepared a Support Information Package ( mine for this project  pdf).  In preparing the SIP, I consulted with USAP staff in addition to my field team.  I also went over previous gear lists.  Once I submitted the SIP, the USAP staff person assigned to assist with the project (Meghan : ) worked through the requests, making sure everything is available and in order. Meghan figured out our fuel needs, and various other things that I didn't have the experience to

As I prepare for my upcoming trip to lakes Joyce and Vanda, I keep going back to my favorite images from my first trip.  The McMurdo Dry Valleys are so beautiful!  There is nothing quite like rocks and ice arranged in natural sculptures.

Some things are different for women in the field, and we have some special health concerns.  This is text from a file that someone at McMurdo gave me AFTER my first deployment to the McMurdo Dry Valleys.  I thought I would post a slightly edited version here.  This is not my text, and I don't know where it comes from for sure.  It is information that should be widely shared among women who may be heading into the Antarctic wilds! ++++++++++++ Women’s Health and Comfort Concerns for Antarctic Field Deployment URINATION: Pee Bottles are required in the Dry Valleys unless you are in a camp facility with another sanitary setup.   For trips away from camp, even for a few hours, take your pee-bottle.   A pee bottle is simply a water bottle appropriately labeled that still has a good cap. You can get one from the BFC.   Transporting your pee to an appropriate disposal site is your responsibility – as is keeping the bottle from freezing!   Aside from Dry Valley use, a pee bottl

This morning, I went through our official "Research Support Plan" which details all the equipment, fuel, helicopter hours, etc. that the United States Antarctic Program agrees to provide us.  Of course I found some problems.  I apparently requested 50 boxes of cover slips, rather than 1 box of 50 cover slips.  Those aren't the things that matter, though.  The bigger issues are with not all the ice drilling equipment we need, our last chance to change the tent requests, etc.  Overall, though it is looking good.  And sorting through the logistics in the hot Pasadena sun (I'm in LaLa land this weekend) makes me very eager to go! We also got a link to the newly revised 2013-2014 US Antarctic Program Participant G uide .  Check it out for all the crazy little things that matter!  I was going to pick out a favorite item of interest to share, but at 102 pages, there are so many things one could highlight.  I'll pick these two: Don't litter (page 44) and avoid the