-
Vicki tries on her new gear for Antarctica - Source: ONE News -
Related
There's no doubt about it. For most of us, going "to the ice" is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And when that opportunity coincides with the anniversary of one of our worst disasters, it is really something to contemplate.
It'll be my first trip to the Antarctic and I'm hugely excited. When the idea first came up weeks ago I kept expecting something to go wrong. Maybe someone else would end up going, or the trip would be cancelled, but the countdown continues and the ice is beckoning.
Two of us from Television New Zealand are flying down. I'm a newbie but cameraman Mike Fitzgerald has been several times before. He's the technical expert and down at Scott Base you need one because so many things can go wrong with television equipment.
The interesting thing about the "preparation phase" is you don't just "go" to the Antarctic. There's quite a rigmarole involved.
For a start it has cost several hundred dollars to have a "full medical". They don't want anyone there who is likely to be a health hazard - you can't go with serious heart problems, "significant" asthma could be an issue, psychiatric disorders are to be carefully assessed.
There's a long list of things the doctor has to check - blood tests, urine test, eyes, ears, reflexes, peripheral vision. There's a test for TB, a polio jab in one arm, tetanus in the other. We're only staying for a week and the list is even longer if you're there over winter.
Next there's the issue of what to wear. Always a matter of great concern, but when the temperature could be down around -20, it pays to get it right.
This is where Chris, the clothing guy comes in. He has rows and rows of jackets, overalls and thermals. All sizes, most shapes. The Extreme Cold Weather goosedown jacket with fake fur trim costs Antarctica New Zealand around $800. We don't have to buy it, thankfully we get to borrow it for the duration of our trip. It doesn't pay to be fussy about colour as everything comes in regulation black and orange.
The
boots are designed for walking in -100 and by the time Chris has
explained how to put on three pairs of gloves at the same time to
keep my hands warm, its becoming apparent just how cold it can get.
And lets not forget this is summer.
Our trip is timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Erebus disaster. We're in the privileged position of accompanying the six family members chosen to fly down to the ice. Weather permitting we'll travel with them to the crash site and also video the memorial service at Scott Base. For them it'll be a journey tinged with great sadness. They each lost a family member in this vast, cold, continent so far from home.
The Antarctic was the scene of our worst disaster but it's also stunningly beautiful and is regarded as the world's most important science laboratory. We'll be checking out some research projects, looking at the new windfarm and are planning to visit two of the historic huts. A hundred years on from the time of Scott and Shackleton, there's a huge amount of work going on restoring them and keeping them safe from the harsh elements.
So much to see, so much to do, will I be able to sleep when the sun
shines all day, every day? And will we see some penguins? Time will
tell.
Vicki will be blogging for tvnz.co.nz while she is down in
the Antarctic, so stay posted as the anniversary of the Erebus
disaster on November 28th comes closer.
