Just accepted an alternate position and going through PQ process right now for the USAP at McMurdo. I know they sell cigs and dip at the station. I figure the NZ government probably wouldn't be too keen on me bringing 50 packs of Zyns in my luggage

I'm reading a book about the North and South pole explorers, there is a lot written about the difficulty of conditions, cold, hunger, etc.

But no one writes about how does if feel to be at the pole. If we feel bad from magnetic storms, we should feel something at magnetic pole, right? Dizziness, nausea, anything

Hello everyone,

Who goes down for the launch and recovery for LDB? Is it actual NASA personnel or is it contracted personnel through Amentum/Leidos?

If some one is born on a dual national base or disputed territory in Antarctica do they get there parents citizen ship or both.

I have an upcoming interview with BAS, does anyone know what format it will be?

Ie Competency (STAR), behavioural or something else.

Thanks

Hello all,

Just wanted to share my experience and let future USAPers understand some things about relationships and going to the Ice.

I was in a decent, but not perfect relationship and engaged to my significant other for a year. I came home to a broken home, full of cheating and lies. Multiple guys running through this girl that was my everything.

I admit that my mistakes in our relationship played a part in the way it unfolded, but wanted to touch on a few things that are critically important in keeping the relationship alive while you are down there.

Make sure you don’t lose track of yourself. Realize that you are human and that the Ice shouldn’t make you into someone you’re not.

Understand that the once in a lifetime opportunity of the Ice is not for always the right choice for your spouse.

Understand that you need to put in three or four times the effort to make sure things stay together.

The distance is not easy and flight delays can make or break the relationship like this recent one did. If I had arrived off the Ice 3 weeks earlier, I could have salvaged my relationship. Instead I lost my everything and will regret my trip to Antarctica for the rest of my life.

There is nothing on the Ice that makes sense to leave your spouse behind. If you guys can handle it, great, but if there is ANY doubt in the relationship, don’t do it. I really encourage you to stay and make sure things stay together for your relationship.

I can answer any questions if you guys feel comfortable asking. I want to admit that I jumped the line due to my situation and took someone’s spot on the LC130 based on a gamble divorce situation. I appreciate the NSF station manager, the Winter OPS manager, and all of the others that helped me secure that spot. I am sorry for taking the spot, but I would not have been able to live with myself or been emotionally stable enough to stay on the Ice. There is not enough support for events like this.

Thank you for anyone who reads this. It is difficult for me and I just wish that I could have done the right thing and declined the contract before I left.

I have accepted a contract (pending PQ, passport, and other jazz) to work at McMurdo for the austral summer. I've been reading up on interesting Guinness World Records that have been done in Antarctica, like Metallica being the first band to perform on all 7 continents, and two Kiwi dancers setting four world records related to dancing. Also can't count out the extreme records, like people skiing solo all the way to the south pole.

I would also imagine with the population at McMurdo you could convince a certain number to gather dressed as something like Superman or Harry Potter and snag the record for "largest gathering for people dressed as x" and having it being at McMurdo Guinness would like that.

Besides the non-human world records (temperature, oldest penguins, etc.), what do you guys think would make for something fun to attempt? Or any ideas for something that hasn't been done yet on the ice?

Just a question, also I never understood why they never wanted people to live in Antarctica.

If there's someone here that knows about the hvac controls position DM me, have a few questions about the position, I have an alt contract for the electrician position but all those positions have been filled for the most part (confirmed this with someone down on the ice plus my recruiter)

The only other open position that I see which I might be qualified for is the power plant electrician position.

Thanks in advance!

Received a call from recruiter and got a technical interview without applying for a position.....

Was emailed a link for the position they wanted me to apply for and next day was scheduled for the tech interview...

Is this normal? I took it as a good sign, but, what do I know....

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Hopefully someone can help. I'm a USAP deployer, and I have a primary contract to come down for mainbody for McMurdo, but I have to go to London early next month. Are there any BAS folks who can help me with info to help me get PQ'ed while I'm there?

I have / had UC. I had my colon removed so techinically I don’t have the disease anymore and I don’t have a ostomy or anything.

Would I be cleared? It says that for UC there may be acceptance if no symptoms for 5+ years and recent colonoscopy but I don’t need colonoscopies anymore because I don’t have a colon lol.

I’m the same as everyone else, can eat and physically exert myself normally. The only difference is I need to drink a little more water and may go to the bathroom 3 times in one day.

What do you think?

Just got offered a primary contract for WinFly (in addition to my summer contract with GSC)

And I'm just really curious if there's like any perks or whatever that come along with getting down there before the mass of summer folks come in.

It's my first time going down there so I'm trying to get as much info I can.

It’s my dream to work in Antarctica. Of course I’d be okay doing anything, but I’d love to do higher skilled things such as research and/or health.

I’m finishing my nursing degree this year. I also have so many credits before I went into this degree that I could finish another bachelors within another year - 2 while also working on my nursing experience. I’m guessing the best thing for nursing experience would be emergency care? If there were some wilderness training for nurse rescue I’d do that as well.

If I’d need another bachelors what should I pursue? Or should I just go straight for an MSN? Anything else to improve my chances on working down there? Maybe finding work at other research / remote stations.

Anyway, thanks!

One of the many shots taken tonight, what a stunning aurora!

Location: Davis Station Antarctica Date 16-04-2024 Time 2:00AM UTC +7 Panasonic Lumix G9 + Panasonic 9MM F1.7 3200 ISO 2 second exposure

So, my wife and I got home a few weeks ago from an amazing expedition cruise to Antarctica. We were on the last sailing of the season on the MS Roald Amundsen with Hurtigruten Expeditions. Before we went, we spent a lot of time researching camera gear and buying gear for the trip. We did get a handful of nice shots so I don't really regret it. However, if I had to do it all over again, I'd have just taken my iPhone and my GoPro. The main camera and lenses were heavy and I wish I had spent more time just soaking in the experience and lest time worrying about pictures.

It also turned out that Hurtigruten had a professional photographer on board who was taking photos and video of the whole cruise. After we got home, they emailed us a "logbook" which contained over 140 very nice photos he had taken as well as a 20 minute edited video. If we had known that was going to happen, we would have just used the GoPro for a few nice clips of us doing some activities and the iPhone for a handful of shots of us on the ice and ship since there was no guarantee if you would be in the shots the ship photographer took.

TLDR: Find out if your cruise includes a ship's photographer and if you will get the photos they take. If so, consider less gear and more just soaking in the experience.

Hey everyone!

I just found all the VHS Tapes that USAP decided McMurdo didn't need anymore!

They're on the Surplus Auction that 6 Mile is doing for USAP. Would be real funny if someone bought them and slowly started sending them back...

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https://preview.redd.it/qvdklz3cw5uc1.png?width=1909&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5298655b54c8f530908504e9ed360e32f3bd403