Thank goodness there are people like you and your team mates to carry out the tough stuff, on behalf of the rest of us. Thank you for your sacrifices..

I am based in Invercargill – I work at the Southland Hospital Operating Theatres as an Anaesthetic Technician, been doing the same medical team stuff for 20 yrs (Soldier and Civilian). I am interested in the concept of large deposits of methane gas trapped in ancient ice – is this a reality and if so, what are the consequences of introducing this into our atmosphere (if any) ? There are so many things we (the general public) don’t appreciate.

Keep safe and know that your work is appreciated by all of us.

Kind regards

Stuart

The clothing we have been issued to wear while down in Antarctica are called Extreme Cold Weather Gear, or ECW for short. The most notable and recognizable of these is the “Big Red,” a big Canadian goose down jacket that is the toastiest thing around. It has so many pockets for storage, that it weighs a ton by the time I’m ready to head into the field. I keep snacks, hand warmers, gloves, pens and pencils, my camera, a notebook, and a water bottle close at hand. The other articles of clothing include the “Bunny Boots,” wind pants, balaclava to cover the head and face, and of course long johns and wool socks! Check out my “Geared Up and Ready To Fly” blog for some photos of me trying on my gear.

I am married, and my wife and I do not have any children. My wife has been very supportive of my involvement in this project, and to her I’m incredibly thankful because I wouldn’t be able to be here if it weren’t for her. She knows that it has been a dream of mine to travel to Antarctica to be a part of a research expedition. At the same time the separation for so long is the hardest thing for her. She must go on with her day-to-day life that would normally include me without me. She’s not so worried about the extreme environment. She knows that we’ve received the training we need to work safely down here and that we all check on each other as part of our protocol (radio check-ins while we’re in the field, for example). Something a colleague of mine who had been down to Antarctica twice before I came this year told me to “play by the rules and nothing bad will happen.” These are words I live by down here. She knows I’m safe.

I’m looking forward to your further questions.

All the best for now from the Ice,

-Howie