Antarctica is often described as a five-month-long slumber party, a college dorm, or an introvert’s hell by its residents. Despite its harsh conditions, this remote and cold continent attracts a few thousand adventurous individuals each year.

In 1959, twelve countries, including Chile, Japan, Australia, and the United States, signed the Antarctic Treaty. This treaty ensures that Antarctica is used only for peaceful purposes, banning military bases but allowing military transport for people and supplies.

A Day in the Life at McMurdo Base:

Keri Nelson, a veteran of 16 Antarctic seasons, describes McMurdo Base, one of the three US outposts, as a bustling town with up to 1,000 people during the summer months from October to March. The base hosts a variety of personnel, from scientists to support staff. Many support staffers have multiple jobs, such as Evan Townsend, who worked in the kitchen, tended bar, and managed the craft room during his stint there.

McMurdo Base offers modern amenities such as a gym, a craft room, and a DVD room. Social activities include fashion shows, music bands, and classes taught by staff members. The base’s proximity to New Zealand’s Scott Base allows for inter-base socializing and activities. Just three kilometers (two miles) from McMurdo, New Zealand’s Scott Base staff often visit for jam sessions, book club meetings, and movie marathons. Staffers also volunteer to teach yoga, languages, or other interests.

Nelson describes the three main US stations in musical terms: McMurdo as gritty bluegrass, South Pole’s Amundsen-Scott Station as symphony music, and Palmer Station as fun pop music. Each station offers a unique living and working environment. McMurdo, the largest and busiest, is always bustling with people moving between stations or going on expeditions and research trips.

Life at Port Lockroy

Laura Bullesbach, who worked at the UK’s Port Lockroy post office, experienced a more serene and isolated environment. The small island and close quarters necessitated close cooperation and daily routines, from cooking to monitoring penguin colonies. Her team lived in a hut with two rooms, without running water or proper flushing toilets. The tasks ranged from cooking meals and surveying the water for plastic to giving educational talks to visitors from private, scientific, or commercial ships. The perks included occasional use of onboard showers and access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Securing a Job in Antarctica

Securing a job in Antarctica requires both the right skills and the ability to live in close quarters for extended periods. Nelson, for example, leveraged her nursing training to land a job as a janitor at McMurdo. The interview process can be intense, with questions probing applicants’ tolerance for cleaning up unpleasant messes. Living in Antarctica means dealing with limited privacy, extreme weather, and potential medical emergencies. Despite these challenges, many find the experience immensely rewarding. Nelson, for instance, enjoys the sense of peace and perspective the continent provides.

Chris Long, who started his Antarctic journey working in the galley of a Russian icebreaker ship, now manages logistics for scientists at Scott Base. Despite the chaotic waters of the Drake Passage, he finds the unconventional lifestyle fulfilling. The environment demands a specific type of personality; the ability to work well with others is as crucial as technical skills. Bullesbach’s final interview involved a “selection camp” where candidates’ practical skills and teamwork abilities were tested.

Packing and Preparation

Antarctic workers pack minimally, often relying on communal resources left by previous residents. Essential items include personal clothing, hygiene products, and entertainment such as books and board games. Electronics like Kindles and the use of solar panels help maintain some comforts of home. Larger bases like McMurdo have lending libraries, gear, clothing, and medical supplies ranging from basic bandages to serious equipment like defibrillators.

Medical facilities at larger bases can handle a variety of procedures, but serious cases may require evacuation, which can take several days. Long recounts serious injuries, such as a vacationer who broke her arm and continued her trip with a cast, or a Russian scientist who performed emergency surgery on himself when his appendix burst.

These scenarios highlight the need for self-sufficiency and the ability to handle emergencies in an isolated environment.

 Challenges and Rewards

Living in Antarctica is a unique and challenging experience that offers a rare opportunity to live differently. Despite the difficulties, many find it an enriching and peaceful experience, underscoring the continent’s fragility and the importance of its preservation. Climate change is impacting Antarctica, shrinking glaciers, and prompting new territorial claims, particularly by countries like China. The continent’s future is uncertain as it faces environmental and geopolitical challenges.

Antarctica’s appeal lies in its ability to offer a different pace of life, away from the constant connectivity of the modern world. Both Nelson and Long express a deep attachment to the continent, and Bullesbach applied for another expedition shortly after returning from her first. Nelson has even started a podcast, “Antarctica Did That For Me,” to share her experiences.

In a fast-paced, globalized world, Antarctica provides a unique sense of peace and a chance to feel connected to the planet in a profound way. Nelson sums it up: “When I’m there, I can feel exactly as tiny as I am in this universe, no smaller than I am in this universe, but no bigger.”