Devon's chilly, but having a great time.

Devon's Antarctica Adventures
Journal Entry 5
Read Part 4 of Devon's Adventure
Read Part 3 of Devon's Adventure
Read Part 2 of Devon's Adventure
Read Part 1 of Devon's Adventure

By Devon, 19

I was lucky enough to be able to visit the South Pole for about a week! I met the wonderful people who work at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and was able to see a lot of the sights, including tunnels that were dug into the ice a while back. The tunnels were cold and dark—definitely an experience!

Interesting Stuff

The most interesting thing I learned was that scientists have to locate the actual magnetic South Pole every year. Once it's found, it has to be found again the following year because it moves with the shifting of the continental plates (I thought that was neat).

Because of its exceptionally cold and dry atmosphere, the South Pole is the best ground-based observatory site for astronomical observations. While there, I worked with the AST/RO team of resident scientists looking into space with a huge telescope. Unfortunately, because they didn't have enough liquid helium, I wasn't able to see the telescope in action.

Devon finally reaches the South Pole.

Down and Out

Right now, there's a flu epidemic among the people stationed at the South Pole. Most of its inhabitants are ill and unable to work. It's so bad that they had to schedule a "down" day to let people rest. So far, I haven't gotten sick—so that's nice. I hope they are all feeling better.

The South Pole sits at about 9,300 feet but it feels like 10-11,000 feet because of the atmosphere's thinness at the end of the earth. Going to the Pole, I experienced a dramatic change in altitude in less than four hours—essentially, I did an 11,000-foot jump in no time flat! Once we arrived at the Pole, the team of scientists had us walk almost a half a mile to the station (with some stairs thrown in for kicks!). I got the feeling they were just trying to scare off the weak! But I did it! The key is to drink lots and lots of water!

Where to Next?

I'll be leaving soon to spend some time out at Lake Bonney in the Dry Valleys (near the New Harbor Camp where I was in journal entry 4). The lakes in the Dry Valleys region are permanently covered in ice (as thick as 20 feet!) and are inhabited only by algae and bacteria (no fish or big plants)—but I won't be diving in to check that out for myself! I'll be with the Long Term Ecological Research team so it should be very fun and educational.