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I just went to Antarctica, anybody else been "on ice" before?

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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
Hi NS. Apologies for obviously soliciting here but I felt compelled to share this with the community. If you have any interest in science, adventure, film, photography etc. check out our website, facebook, or instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/salsa_antarctica/
https://www.facebook.com/salsaantarctica/?ref=bookmarks
https://salsa-antarctica.org/
I have the luckiest job in the world doing media, education, and outreach for a research project called SALSA (Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access). Basically, in Jan 2019 we are drilling 4,000 feet into a Subglacial Lake in Antarctica to search for new forms of life and learn more about the subglacial environment. What is pretty exciting is this is literally the least explored environment on Earth's surface and might give hints as to how life may exist within our solar system. The thing is, is that I would definitely not be where I am without skiing. I first picked up a camera when I was 11 years old to make edits with my brother and slowly the filming and photography took over. I recently returned back home from going on the SALSA traverse where I filmed and photographed a bunch of tractors hauling 1,000,000 lbs equipment 600 miles to next years study site.

Anyways, anybody else been on ice? What kind of projects were you working on?

**This thread was edited on Jan 29th 2018 at 1:19:37pm

**This thread was edited on Jan 29th 2018 at 1:20:55pm
Jan 29 2018 1:00PM
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skierman
Posts: 8413 - Karma: 7,902
I'm pretty sure most of us have been on ice before. Trump is hiring some dumb asses for scientists these days.
Jan 29 2018 5:39PM
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JoeC92
Posts: 516 - Karma: 1,299
That’s a funny name
Jan 29 2018 6:36PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
I work for KBA. Spent last season at Mario Zucchelli and around Dome C, DDU, and McMurdo. This year I was out at Davis for 2 months.

Here's a Flickr album of the photos from the Ice.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/39282295@N03/albums/72157678281168672
Jan 29 2018 7:35PM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
jcaI work for KBA. Spent last season at Mario Zucchelli and around Dome C, DDU, and McMurdo. This year I was out at Davis for 2 months.

Here's a Flickr album of the photos from the Ice.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/39282295@N03/albums/72157678281168672


Those are some amazing photo! Love the black and white of the Skua. Davis looks super cool. Makes me a little jealous since besides seeing the topography around MCM our study site is pretty much flat white.
Jan 29 2018 8:01PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
I have been trying to work for pae for a couple years down there. If trump didn’t cut the Antarctica budget in half I would of went down there in those year. Would’ve been a
fuel tech.
Next season is though..... gonna go.
Jan 29 2018 10:25PM
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GnarshoSapian
Posts: 303 - Karma: 327
This is very cool, I would love to get down there somday. Thank you for the work you are doing!
Jan 29 2018 11:47PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
50KalI have been trying to work for pae for a couple years down there. If trump didn’t cut the Antarctica budget in half I would of went down there in those year. Would’ve been a
fuel tech.
Next season is though..... gonna go.


Do you know which base youd prefer to work at? McMurdo and South Pole are very well equipped and pretty good living but the altitude at the Pole can make for some shitty sleeps while youre acclimatising. I've never been to Shackleton or Byrd but I've heard they're great camps.

I'll likely be at McMurdo, South Pole and bouncing around Shackleton next season so maybe see you there.
Jan 30 2018 12:12AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
I would take whatever position. Probably will end up in mcurdeo. I did apply to some of the fuel traverse crew for heavy equipment operator but not sure if I will get that.
Jan 30 2018 9:09AM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
50KalI would take whatever position. Probably will end up in mcurdeo. I did apply to some of the fuel traverse crew for heavy equipment operator but not sure if I will get that.

If I were you, i'd go for McMurdo over Pole though people seem to have loved their experiences at Pole despite the altitude and super cold temps. Might just be because its a smaller community and less of a scene than MCM. If you have free time, MCM has lots of awesome hiking trails, xc ski trails, fat bikes, and theres even a designated ski slope by the New Zealand base. MCM honestly feels a lot like being on a college campus but in a strange location. Also I spent 3 weeks with our science traverse and it was super fun. Way cushier than expected. Hope it works out for you! I don't know the dates yet but I will be in MCM for at least a week in December and then January next year.
Jan 30 2018 11:58AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
Drugs are bad
Jan 30 2018 12:00PM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
The referenced post has been removed.

Awesome question! My bad, I really should have responded to this months ago. I apologize if this all sounds snarky as you've asked the most important question. I just want to do some justice to the scientists i'm working for. As far as specifics go, I don't have the science background to tell you exactly how as I am the web/media guy but I can explain to the extent of my knowledge. Firstly, one of the biggest hurdles and accomplishments of getting this project funded was creating a completely clean access system. This system was tested and developed over the past 15 or so years. Most of this group were previously involved in this project https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13667 which was the first truly successful subglacial lake drilling project. We are using a hot water drill, where the water is sterilized on site. IDK how it works exactly but I do know we will have massive sterilization module on site for the drill water. Likewise, any of the instruments/personnel/labs etc. that come into contact with the lake and samples are cleaned and tested multiple times. The field camp being set up for next year is going to be one of the largest remote projects in USAP history. It is a little terrifying because if one person makes one small mistake and enters a sterile lab, or even tests the cleanliness of something incorrectly, those samples will be ruined. More importantly, if anything with the drill and instruments goes wrong, it will contaminate the Lake which would be the worst case scenario. It sounds like you are aware of this but a Russian group drilled into lake Vostok with some dodgy methods and may have permanently contaminated the Lake. Anyways, that is pretty much what I know, and thanks for asking the important questions and humoring my response!
May 8 2018 4:08AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52027 - Karma: 167,120
Someday. Would love to get down there. If it happens it happens. Hell honestly if I find a giant bag of money I'd probably just take a trip down there to ski.

Would be cool to ski on every continent. Would be even cooler to run a snow cat on all.
May 8 2018 4:26AM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
theabortionatorSomeday. Would love to get down there. If it happens it happens. Hell honestly if I find a giant bag of money I'd probably just take a trip down there to ski.

Would be cool to ski on every continent. Would be even cooler to run a snow cat on all.


Yeah man, I never in a million years imagined I'd go to Antarctica but was just extremely lucky. If its any solace, the snow is absolute shit for skiing for the most part. I've heard there's some guided ski groups that go by boat to the Peninsula from Patagonia, but it seems like thats for the folks that got tired of paying a wazoo for Heli skiing in Ak and want to pay the double wazoo for Antarctica. If there was a cat ski operation, I'm sure it would make bank. What millionaire skier wouldn't want to ski in Antarctica right?
May 8 2018 4:50AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52027 - Karma: 167,120
HodorYeah man, I never in a million years imagined I'd go to Antarctica but was just extremely lucky. If its any solace, the snow is absolute shit for skiing for the most part. I've heard there's some guided ski groups that go by boat to the Peninsula from Patagonia, but it seems like thats for the folks that got tired of paying a wazoo for Heli skiing in Ak and want to pay the double wazoo for Antarctica. If there was a cat ski operation, I'm sure it would make bank. What millionaire skier wouldn't want to ski in Antarctica right?


For sure. figure it would be dope though, even if the snow isn't awesome. Idk. Someday maybe. I know they run transport cats down there probably do some road construction etc as need but guessing those people all have other jobs there that are a little more high profile.

If I ride Asia and South America soon, I'll probably just buy a sunfish off craiglist that isn't even water tight and sail away into the abyss toward Antarctica and sink 50 feet from shore with my ski gear.

I hope you've at least made some turns. Even if you don't have skis and you make some out of wood or cardboard, seems like a necessity to at least give it a whirl.

Maybe I'll just apply occasionally and if it works out dope, if not just keep rocking the southern hem ski season in the summers.
May 8 2018 5:01AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
Op you going back for another season?
Got an offer down there and taking it. Might see you down there if you go back.
Gonna be a Mcmurdo fuel tech.
May 8 2018 12:03PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
50KalOp you going back for another season?
Got an offer down there and taking it. Might see you down there if you go back.
Gonna be a Mcmurdo fuel tech.


I'll be be there! Probably will be doing some flying for the OP too.
May 8 2018 1:54PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
jcaI'll be be there! Probably will be doing some flying for the OP too.


Sick.
Do You know M. Tinervia? He’s been down there a couple of seasons Flying some helicopters.
May 8 2018 3:41PM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
50KalOp you going back for another season?
Got an offer down there and taking it. Might see you down there if you go back.
Gonna be a Mcmurdo fuel tech.


Hell yeah! I will be going back next season but just for a month. Will be in MCM from Dec 4th-14th I think and then Jan 4th-12th. Lets get some NSers together for a beer!
May 8 2018 3:46PM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
jcaI'll be be there! Probably will be doing some flying for the OP too.


Awesome! I just mentioned my dates in MCM above, but we should get some Nsers together for a beer or something. Or go shred the NZ ski hill?
May 8 2018 3:47PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
50KalSick.
Do You know M. Tinervia? He’s been down there a couple of seasons Flying some helicopters.

I haven't worked the NSF contract before so I don't know too many people in Mac Town.

HodorAwesome! I just mentioned my dates in MCM above, but we should get some Nsers together for a beer or something. Or go shred the NZ ski hill?


If I'm not working out of Pole, Shackleton, or Wais I'm definitely down for drinks and some skiing. Gallagher's is the place to be! If I do a full season, I'll be bringing a pair of skis for sure.
May 8 2018 4:18PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
NS ski party in Antarctica? I’m down.
May 8 2018 5:37PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52027 - Karma: 167,120
I emailed a company about some work for next year. Don't think I'll try and go down this year. Might take me a few years to land a job, but this is the first I've actually made contact with any employers. Maybe things will work out. Would be fucking dope.
Jul 3 2018 6:44PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
theabortionatorI emailed a company about some work for next year. Don't think I'll try and go down this year. Might take me a few years to land a job, but this is the first I've actually made contact with any employers. Maybe things will work out. Would be fucking dope.

See ya in Gallaghers haha
Jul 4 2018 12:24AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52027 - Karma: 167,120
jcaSee ya in Gallaghers haha


If I land a job ever I'll buy the first round for any nsers down there.
Jul 10 2018 2:30PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
HodorAwesome! I just mentioned my dates in MCM above, but we should get some Nsers together for a beer or something. Or go shred the NZ ski hill?
jcaSee ya in Gallaghers haha

I should be on ice on October 3. Look for a Mr.Coleman in the fuely building.
Sep 17 2018 10:10PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
50KalI should be on ice on October 3. Look for a Mr.Coleman in the fuely building.


Right on, I'll be bringing a plane down from Calgary in the first week of November so should be in McMurdo around the 10th-15th. Say hi to all my KBA coworkers!
Sep 18 2018 8:17AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
jcaRight on, I'll be bringing a plane down from Calgary in the first week of November so should be in McMurdo around the 10th-15th. Say hi to all my KBA coworkers!

Will do
Sep 18 2018 9:32AM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12548 - Karma: 116,894
What's the edge of the earth look like?
Sep 18 2018 12:29PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
TRVP_ANGELWhat's the edge of the earth look like?


Just a huge ice wall
Sep 18 2018 5:10PM
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,863
Uhh, I think you mean the edge of the world, there is no south pole
Sep 20 2018 11:38AM
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,980
trust me, your mom has definitely been
top and bottom
Sep 21 2018 10:31AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13132 - Karma: 19,253
I regularly go to the Canadian Arctic. I signed on for 6 months to deliver mining equipment as an engineering officer on heavy lift ships. I have been to Milne Inlet (north point of Baffin Island) and stayed the night in Pond Inlet last month. Its sick to visit these remote areas and it gives me ideas for expeditions. Salimiq National Park looks so sick!
Sep 21 2018 2:31PM
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McMafia
Posts: 72 - Karma: 154
HodorHi NS. Apologies for obviously soliciting here but I felt compelled to share this with the community. If you have any interest in science, adventure, film, photography etc. check out our website, facebook, or instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/salsa_antarctica/
https://www.facebook.com/salsaantarctica/?ref=bookmarks
https://salsa-antarctica.org/
I have the luckiest job in the world doing media, education, and outreach for a research project called SALSA (Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access). Basically, in Jan 2019 we are drilling 4,000 feet into a Subglacial Lake in Antarctica to search for new forms of life and learn more about the subglacial environment. What is pretty exciting is this is literally the least explored environment on Earth's surface and might give hints as to how life may exist within our solar system. The thing is, is that I would definitely not be where I am without skiing. I first picked up a camera when I was 11 years old to make edits with my brother and slowly the filming and photography took over. I recently returned back home from going on the SALSA traverse where I filmed and photographed a bunch of tractors hauling 1,000,000 lbs equipment 600 miles to next years study site.

Anyways, anybody else been on ice? What kind of projects were you working on?

**This thread was edited on Jan 29th 2018 at 1:19:37pm

**This thread was edited on Jan 29th 2018 at 1:20:55pm


https://www.google.ca/search?q=antartica+conspiracys&oq=antartica+conspiracys&aqs=chrome..69i57.7581j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 are these true? Is the earth flat? Are aliens in Antarctica? Whats the government hiding? We newschoolers need to know the truth
Sep 21 2018 4:42PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
freestyler540I regularly go to the Canadian Arctic. I signed on for 6 months to deliver mining equipment as an engineering officer on heavy lift ships. I have been to Milne Inlet (north point of Baffin Island) and stayed the night in Pond Inlet last month. Its sick to visit these remote areas and it gives me ideas for expeditions. Salimiq National Park looks so sick!


Bringing stuff to Mary River? I've spent the past few summers flying out of Resolute and Iqaluit. Pretty stunning neck of the woods up there.
Sep 21 2018 8:05PM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13132 - Karma: 19,253
jcaBringing stuff to Mary River? I've spent the past few summers flying out of Resolute and Iqaluit. Pretty stunning neck of the woods up there.

Milne Inlet is a mining camp for gold. Havent been to Mary River... Pond Inlet is quite the experience. Ive never seen an Inuit community before... they are so nice up there. What struck me the most was all the kids playing outside until late night. The view is quite spectacular. I would be so stoked to do an expedition from Iqaluit to Pond inlet and visit the circle of giants.

At the moment, Im heading to Baker Lake for supplies to the mining area. Its quite the hole. Its great that Rankin Inlet has a cellular network now.
Sep 22 2018 8:01AM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
50KalWill do


Nice to meet ya and fly you around that one day. In Ecuador bringing the plane North now.
Feb 12 2019 9:04PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
jcaNice to meet ya and fly you around that one day. In Ecuador bringing the plane North now.


That was a dope flight earlier in the season. The dry valleys are sick.

Just got done filling up one of your otters for the flight to South pole/Trek north. The crew seemed very happy to get out for the season.
Feb 13 2019 2:55AM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
Anyone going back this season or there already? I'm starting the trip down next Friday, should be in McMurdo around Oct 22nd.
Oct 2 2019 6:26PM
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,752
Have you been to the giant ice hole ? Got some interesting stuff in it if you can sneak in I hear 🤷🏼‍♂️
Oct 2 2019 7:16PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
SavageBiffHave you been to the giant ice hole ? Got some interesting stuff in it if you can sneak in I hear 🤷🏼‍♂️


Lol
Haven't seen any ice holes yet in my collective 10 months of flying down there. The penguin guards with lasers tho....
Oct 2 2019 8:09PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
jcaAnyone going back this season or there already? I'm starting the trip down next Friday, should be in McMurdo around Oct 22nd.


I got a short contract this season. Should be down there oct 9th-December 20th.

Looking to get that South Pole trip in this year.
Oct 2 2019 9:59PM
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ChadThundercock
Posts: 3071 - Karma: 831
Yeah I've smoked meth once
Oct 2 2019 10:12PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
50KalI got a short contract this season. Should be down there oct 9th-December 20th.

Looking to get that South Pole trip in this year.


See ya down there! I'm doing a short one too, supposed to also be flying to CHC on the 20th.
Oct 2 2019 11:17PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52027 - Karma: 167,120
One of the guys I worked with this season in Australia just finished a year down there doing runway work and supply hauls. Seems pretty sick. Someday Ill make it down hopefully.
Oct 3 2019 12:01AM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9433 - Karma: 62,389
do you guys drink a lot of smirnoff ice/do you ice each other a lot?
Oct 3 2019 9:26AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
SofaKingSickdo you guys drink a lot of smirnoff ice/do you ice each other a lot?


If it ain’t speights, we ain’t mates.
Oct 3 2019 11:35AM
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Segsxi
Posts: 457 - Karma: 1,675
funny you mention that, one of my current colleagues is applying to operate the machinery down there i wonder if this is what he is applying for. Sounds like it would be a pretty unique experience and I’d hop on it if I could! How much would one expect to get paid to go on one trip?
Oct 4 2019 8:05AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
Segsxifunny you mention that, one of my current colleagues is applying to operate the machinery down there i wonder if this is what he is applying for. Sounds like it would be a pretty unique experience and I’d hop on it if I could! How much would one expect to get paid to go on one trip?


Depends on your skill set.
I think dishwashers/stewards are lowest paid and it’s like 700 a week before tax. But they are usually are working 6 day schedule so kind of sucks but almost everything is paid for so there’s that.

The more unique your skill is, higher your paid.
Oct 4 2019 10:35AM
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