Having abandoned the warm embrace of home for life on the coldest, most deserted continent on the planet taught me a thing or two about life in Antarctica. Of course, an underdressed figure got lost under all of these layers, including one sporting a suspicious number of pom-poms. Yeah, it’s as fashionable as it sounds.
Let us take a journey, not through the wilds of Patagonia or across the Arctic tundra, but into that most fascinating land of life on the Antarctic Continent. Lace up your snow boots and join in the fun of camping in the great white desert with the added bonus of a warm smile.
A Warm Welcome in a Colder Climate
First off, let’s address the big question: Why camp in Antarctica? In short, because it’s one hell of a story and a great excuse to wear 17 layers while drinking hot cocoa! Campers in Antarctica get a view of being disconnected from the chaos of our everyday lives. The silence is such that you might actually start hearing your thoughts, and honestly, that is the very last thing any person would want to do on the ice.
Yet, it comes with thrills and chills—literally—the fine line between breathtaking landscapes and frostbite! I mean, if the wind blows hard enough to get you on your back while trying to get that awesome selfie with the icebergs, then I guess one is apt to survive anything, right?
Choosing Your Base Camp Wisely
In Antarctica, it is all about location, location, and location. You honestly do not want to wake up in the middle of snowdrifts and discover that you pitched up your nice, warm tent over some old glacier. Tents vs. Creative Accommodations: I learned pretty painfully that a fairly storm-proof tent is kind of important. Think of it as your security blanket, both literally and figuratively. That said, if wrestling with tent poles at -30°F isn’t your idea of fun, then perhaps consider “glamping” in a nice warm cabin room.
These things don’t offer room service, but they do offer walls, which, according to some, is at least a little further from a good night’s sleep than potentially frostbitten appendages in a tent.
Essential Gear: What to Pack
Here’s a list of some of the gear that helps me ward off the cold and bring the camping game up to department-store-Christmas-sale levels of cozy:
- Quality Sleeping Bag: Get yourself a sleeping bag rated for Antarctica. If you don’t, well, you might just wake up in the middle of the night and start questioning what brought you into this world.
- Thermal Layers: Think of these as your own personal insulation. I refer to them as my “liquid warmth” because they make my icy exterior feel like a snuggly burrito.
- A Good Headlamp: What better way to navigate a dark, icy landscape full of that unseen sheet of black ice than by pretending you’re one of the explorers in today’s world?
Fun (and Laughter) in the Extreme
Well, if you will insist that camping, per se, is a reminder of the comedy of the mundane in everyday existence, then you haven’t seen anything until you do so in Antarctica. From icebergs resembling all-too-familiar figures—the most famous one being the “Winnie the Pooh” iceberg—to the uncomfortable dance of trying to stay warm while at the same time looking semi-decent for those Instagram photos, each day has a good chuckle attached to it.
Wildlife Encounters: And then there are the wildlife interactions! Just about when you feel like you have it all down pat, some inquisitive seal wanting to see what you’re doing is going to hang around by your tent. Cute, but still a small reminder: you’re a guest in this icy wonderland.
Cultural Experiences: McMurdo Station feels like summer camp for adults—in fact, complete with icebreaker parties; trust me, all about the drinks and poor dance moves that one can pull out. No one resists the urge to recount mystery meals in the dining hall.
Underlying Challenges
Of course, living in Antarctica isn’t all s’mores and snow angels. Here are a few things to manage:
- Emotional Rollercoaster: Let there be no mistake, staying on the ice in winter is pretty lonely. The first time I saw sunshine after three months, I literally nearly cried. So to fight this, we set up movie nights, because at least we could all huddle with Netflix together in the cold (note: pack popcorn).
- Low Quantity of Goods: Seriously, if I hear “there’s no Wi-Fi” one more time, I’ll lose my head! That sounds silly, but come three weeks later, and without anything except offline stuff, you might get so desperate as to think about watching old video tapes – terrible!
For the Brave-Hearts
Only if you feel like you are but a foot away from really experiencing what it’s like to live at the world’s ‘polar opposite’ end, then be prepared because you are in for the time of your life!
You will bond with fellow researchers over daily shenanigans, laugh your way through glitchy tech (who needs a computer that’s not fully up to snuff, due to being coated in ice?), and see beauty and serenity that few are so lucky to witness.
Conclusion: Embrace the Icy Adventure!
It’s like a club that nobody else in the world can belong to—living in Antarctica. Certainly, it is not devoid of some hardship, though. What kind of adventure is it? So go on and take in the thrill; get ready for the cold; and enjoy every moment.
After all, if you can make it through an Antarctica winter, then there’s not a whole lot in life going to throw you off—except running out of marshmallows at a s’mores party.
