Antarctic Field Safety training A.k.a "Happy Camper"

So, my camping adventure on the ice is completed. It was a very interesting experience to sleep in a tent out on the ice. We were only about 5 miles away from the town, but it felt like we were out in the middle of nowhere. The weather was nice on the day we went out, the temp erature dropped down to around -7F and it was not very windy. The night after it was very windy and in the morning it was Con 2. I have a new found respect for the cold and I learned a lot. Below are some photos from our trip out on the ice. The other participants except the Doc that I am working with were PHI helicopter pilots. A very nice and funny bunch. (I created a video as well, but the internet is very slow here and it will take me a very long time to upload.)

Packing the Hagglund 

Getting organized

Setting up tents

Setting up kitchen

Camp almost completed

A very cold me

"Ice Bar - Antarctica style"

People that didn't make the "cut" has starting to leave McMurdo. Today was a bad weather day so today's flight was cancelled. Tomorrow and Friday there will be big groups leaving. When everything is said and done we will be approx 370-400 people here and at the end of January beginning of February they will draw down even more and start prepare for the winter staff to come in and take over for the winter season.
We were told today that our contract length has not changed, but things can always change.

We have been told that there is going to be "freshies" on board the flight tomorrow (freshies= fresh food and vegetables). It is strange how much you are looking forward to things that we take for granted when you are living back home. We did get some fresh fruit that arrived when our latest team members arrived on Monday, it was awesome.

Discovery Hut and other things

Tonight we had the opportunity to go inside the Discovery Hut, which is located approx 3/4 of a mile from McMurdo. They told us during our arrival briefing that at the end of the month it was going to close so this would be one of the last times to go and visit it.

Discovery Hut was built by Robert Falcon Scott during the Discovery Expedition of 1901–1904 in 1902. It pretty much looks the same way as they left it over 100 years ago. It is colder inside than it is outside and that was probably one of the reasons that Scott and his crew never lived in the hut. They used it for storage and hang-out. 

Cook top

Old Digestive Bisuits, still some in the box

Long Johns from 1902

Inside the hut

Old supplies

Supply box from Scott's Expedition

Seal blubber and skeletons

Still no word about how things are going to pan out down here. We have not been told anything, so I guess that is a good thing. A few of the people I met in Christchurch and was on the same flight down to the ice are scheduled to leave on the next flight out. The flight today that would bring down 2 more of our team was cancelled due to bad weather that nobody knew about either here or in Christchurch. This is leading to more speculations as to what is going on. 

All I can do is to continue to do my job and see what happens. I have today finally got all my transport equipment put together and feel that I am ready to go on flight if needed. I am going to try to meet with PHI next week to check out the helicopters if needed to utilize them on a transport. They have 2 A-stars and 2 Bell 212 down here. Monday and Tuesday I will do my survival training, also called "Happy Camper". 2 days and one night out on the ice. I will post pictures and write all about it when I am done.  

Greetings

I have now been here for 3 days, I am starting to get used to the routine. A lot of things to learn at work, learning how to run the lab, doing x-ray, work in the pharmacy and getting all my flight gear ready. It is a slow process because the winter crew wants to get out of here, but they also want to make sure that we know how things are done before they leave.

As most of you have probably read on my facebook is that the shutdown affects us down here as well. Yesterday we were told that they are moving towards a care taker status, which means that only essential services to maintain the properties here will be continued. The medical care is considered essential and we have been told that they are not going to cut any of us that are already here. I did receive an email from our pharmacy tech that her tickets were cancelled as she was sitting at the airport waiting for her flight from Denver to LAX. She had been an alternate for 2 years when she finally got a position so she could come down here. Not a lot of people have found out if they are staying or going. They closed the bar and stopped selling alcohol in the store yesterday. It appears that most people are taking the uncertainty pretty well. I am sure that there are a lot of upset people around, but they are not showing it out in the open or I just don't see it.

I walked down to the Scott Hut tonight it was very windy and cold, so it was just a quick walk down and back. Saw the first wildlife here today, a seal laying on the ice.

View from my dorm room

Sun trying to set

McMurdo behing the Scott hut

A seal on the ice.

 

Finally here!!

We have finally arrived to Antarctica, the long journey is over. It was not without drama that we arrived here today. After a 4 hour flight the fog was heavy over Pegasus airfield on our arrival. We tried a couple of times to land, but with almost zero visibility the pilots did not want to risk it. They gave us emergency landing instructions and prepared us for a possible hard landing. On our third attempt we made it, we had to land one way or the other since we did not have enough fuel to make it back to Christchurch. The temperature was around 6F on our arrival and it did not feel that cold.

On our arrival to McMurdo station we (Anne who is the Nurse administrator and Liz who is one of the MDs that I am going to be working with) were greeted by the current medical staff who are Faye (winter MD), Mel (Winter NP) and Mark (Lead MD for the summer). They shared with us that they were ready for a MCI (Mass Casualty Incident). They were told that if the pilots could not land the plane on the runway they were going to attempt to land the airplane on the belly in the snow. Good thing we did not have to experience that.
After a quick briefing we got our linen and room assignments. Since our plane could not return back to NZ tonight there are more people than expected so the room I was assigned already had people staying there so my room mate and I are staying in a temporary room.

I am looking forward to get to work tomorrow and learn how things are done down here. We are guessing on how many days it will be before I will do my first trip back to Christchurch with a patient. My guess is 6 days. I will keep you posted.

Our ride to Antarctica Royal New Zealand Air Force B757 at Christchurch airport

First view of the continent

Everybody ready for landing

Finally on the ground in Antarctica

On Pegasus Airfield

Our ride in to town

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Christchurch

Arrived to Christchurch 3 days ago. We have been provided our ECW gear and are waiting to head down to the "Ice". Today we found out that our flight today was cancelled once again due to bad weather at McMurdo. So another day to spend in Christchurch. We will make another attempt tomorrow. Below are some pictures from Christchurch.

There are still a lot of damage seen from the earthquake that hit this city 2011. The rebuilding process is going very slowly. From listening to the people that had been here before the earthquake and have them try to describe what it all looked like before, I am getting a better understanding of how much damage this earthquake caused.

Ready to go  

Old Cathedral post 2011 earthquake

Re:Start area downtown Christchurch

"Container Mall"

On my way

The day of my departure has finally arrived. I am writing this as I am sitting and waiting to board my flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.

I had the hardest time with packing my bags. How much clothes should I bring with me for 5 months? Knowing I can't just go out and buy items that I am missing. I am suspecting that some items will be left in Christchurch before my "Ice flight". My bags weighed in at 46 pounds each when I checked in. I am allowed 2 bags  weighing 50 pounds each, there will also be some ECW (Extreme Cold Weather gear) added to my luggage when I get to Christchurch.

Below are pictures of the different airplanes I will be flying in during this very long trip.

American Airlines CRJ 200 (PHX-LAX)

QANTAS Airbus A380 (LAX-SYD)

Next posting will be from Christchurch New Zealand.

Changes

Friday was my last day as Clinical Manager in the ED at Banner Gateway in Gilbert. It was 10 months that I truly enjoyed. I got to work with a lot of great people, I will miss them all.

I have completed my CPMO/UTMB orientation and have spent the past two days with the people I am going to work with for the next 5 months in Antarctica. I am looking forward to get started on this new adventure. It feels like it was such a long time ago since I was offered the job. I have learned some things that are good to know before I leave on Tuesday. I realized that I need to get some more shopping done this weekend. Most of it smaller are things, but necessary. During our orientation we had a video conference call with the people on the "ice", it was very cool.  Below is a picture of the clinic down on the ice, McMurdo General Hospital. I will be working in there when I am not out on a flight.

We also found out that Brigita is starting on her new adventure the same week as I am leaving to Antarctica. She has accepted a new position in the Seattle, WA area. So she and Indi will be moving there next week. I am heading there when I come back.