The Whole Wide World

We’ve got a little weather going on today. It’s currently -20F and with the wind chill it’s -47F. Out on the sea ice and at the airfields, it is a condition one, which is the most severe of our three weather status’. Here in town it’s a condition three which means business as usual, so despite the extra blowy conditions and low visibility everyone is out and about at work.

I recently welcomed questions about life down here and my friend Hilary was quick to send some over, so today I will answer those.

At McMurdo, do you have to pay for your meals and room or is that a part of the compensation?

Room and board is included in our compensation. Depending on which dorm you are in, you could have anywhere from one other to four additional roommates. When I first arrived I was lucky enough to have my room to myself for almost two and a half weeks, but at peak season, there were five of us in the room. A perk of wintering over is that everyone has their own room for the winter.

Do folks have to pay for extras like the coffee and items at the store/ bar?

Everything in the store and at the bar has to be purchased. The prices are reasonable. Coffee is run by volunteers and while there is no charge for the coffee, we tip our baristas.

Are there any pets at McMurdo?

Sadly no pets at McMurdo…or on the continent. That is part of the Antarctic Treaty. There are a handful of stuffed animals though, including fairly life size dogs and cats. Most of them have bald patches between the ears from all the petting McMuridites have given them over the years.

Who has been at the station the longest?

Good question. There are people who have been here since last August. I think fourteen months is the longest you can stay before you have to leave for at least a couple weeks. There are people who return season after season and one of those gentlemen is here this winter. I think he has been coming down for at least two decades, maybe three.

-Other than sunlight and fresh food and friends/family, what do folks miss the most?

I printed this question out and put it on our community board to see what responses it collected. Over the weekend station management decided to clear out all the VHS tapes on station. The community did not really react well to this change. VCR’s and VHS tapes are all over station and part of its charm in a way. With the addition of Starlink, they decided the VHS life was over. This resulted in heaps and heaps of memes on the community board about the VHS clear out. So, after a day of the question hanging on the board, the only thing written in was VHS is massive letters. Lol.

Personally, I miss non frozen nature. I miss climbing mountains and being able to throw my trail runners on and going for a long run in the sun. I also miss baths. I can’t wait to soak in a tub.

What is an amenity you wish was at the station?

This is an easy one. There are saunas throughout the dorms and they are all out of service. Multiple times we have been told the sauna parts are waiting in Christchurch and so we were very hopeful to receive them on the last flights of summer back in March and May, but they didn’t make the flights and we can’t use the saunas. Such sadness.

Is there another assignment at the station that you would be interested in doing?

I would be open to working in pretty much any of the other departments if I decide to come back in the future. Supply and the Berg Field Center are top possibilities, but I’d welcome a turn in any department…as long as it’s not the galley! That’s a one and done.

Thanks for the questions Hilary! Please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments if there are more.