Monday, October 30, 2000

First Week at the Pole

My first week here at the South Pole has been a good one. I have made my home in Upper Berthing's room 16 and it is quite hospitable. I started training for my job the day after I arrived. And I have found the food here to be some of the best I've had anywhere.

It didn’t take me too long at all to get aquatinted with the base. The hub of Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is a metal geodesic dome, 50 feet high and 165 feet in diameter, is known simply as "The Dome". It is not heated, but it keeps out the wind. Found among the three major buildings it houses are the Galley (where we eat), the Science Building, the communications center, the library, the pool room, the Post Office and store, and the bar.

Upper Berthing is located on the second floor of the Science Building under the Dome. It derives its name from that of navy quarters, which they once were (the U.S. Navy built this station.) But unlike most navy quarters, each person in Upper Berthing gets his or her own room. They are small rooms, about 6x9 feet, but quite cozy. My bed is elevated like a loft and I have a desk beneath it. I set up my notebook computer and am even able to get on the Internet when the satellites are up.

There are only about twenty-five rooms under the Dome, and they are very popular. Most of the people who are lucky enough to get a Dome room are winter-overs like myself. The majority of the people just staying for the summer live out at "Summer Camp," which is a conglomeration of heated canvas military tents called Jamesways. It is a short hike to the Dome from Summer Camp, but the people who live there seen to be quite satisfied with their accommodations.

Kelly and Lis, the meteorologists who spent the winter here, seem to be in good spirits and glad their replacements have arrived. They haven’t hesitated to begin training so we can take over. I have been working on the night shift with Kelly, while Meghan and Anna, who just arrived here Friday, are working days with Lis and Dar. Dar is the senior meteorologist for the summer here. He came on the same plane as me, but wintered here just last year as a meteorologist, so he already has a pretty good idea of what the job entails.

The primary function of meteorologists at the South Pole is to provide support for the planes that fly here all summer. Other important responsibilities, which will be continued through the winter by Meghan and me, are science support and keeping of the meteorological records for the station.

And the food...oh the food. Maybe I should devote a whole journal entry to the food, but since so many people seem to be curious, I’ll say a little here. The food is great. Definitely some of the best I’ve had anywhere. Although mealtimes are the best, there is always snack food and desserts out and the leftover fridge always has something good in it. Most of the cooks here are not cooks, but chefs, drawing recipes not from a cookbook, but from their imagination. And I like how they think. Pumpkin spice soup, London Broil, peanut butter-chocolate tortes, pork chops in raspberry sauce, and homemade pizza that rivals Pizza Hut every Saturday night. Yes, the food here is good indeed. I could go on and on, but I think I’ll keep some for leftovers when I’m hungry for something to write about.