This morning, I had a great time interviewing in NYC with the Columbia Sportswear team for the new position of “Director of Toughness“. I was actually expecting a more formal sit down meeting room interview, but what I found was a casting-session style panel, with lots of lights and cameras. Talking with the Columbia crew was fun – they had me show them the (correct) way to pack a sleeping bag, and we chatted about my various experiences working in Antarctica, running in North Korea, and sailing the high seas.
An excerpt from the job description: The Directors of Toughness will answer the call of the wild with Columbia Sportswear in the most epic six-month position for anyone who lives and breathes adventure! These two die-hard adventurers will have the unparalleled opportunity to test Columbia’s gear in wildly iconic locations around North America, and the world. With over 75 years of experience in the industry, Columbia knows a thing or two about building tough gear, and is ready to take its mission of testing to the next level. The Directors will put their gear and personal “toughness” to the test through exhilarating expeditions supported by Columbia’s range of innovative apparel, outerwear, footwear and equipment, demonstrating an ability to withstand unpredictable weather conditions and harsh terrains. The journey will be documented by the Director of Toughness and publically broadcasted everywhere from national television shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live to social media to allow the greater Columbia community to travel along on this adventure and testing experience of a lifetime!
If you feel alive in the wild, dream of Snapchatting a 100 ft. cliff-dive, Instagramming from the top of Mount Rainier and putting gear to the ultimate test, this position is for you!
We’re looking for two outgoing, personable outdoor enthusiasts committed to going above and beyond physical limits and personal expectations to guarantee that our apparel and gear keeps people warm, dry, cool and protected in any weather or geographic situation. We are seeking those who possess perseverance, creativity and an irrepressible spirit to help them survive, thrive and most importantly expertly share their journey across unusual and challenging environments.
For the duration of the experience, the Directors of Toughness will call the beautiful bridge city of Portland, OR home. Portland not only hosts the headquarters of Columbia Sportswear, but is also a mecca for outdoor adventurists. However, 85% of this journey will be devoted to traveling, and there’s no telling where you will end up!
Skilled at skiing or snowboarding (resort and/or backcountry)
A pro at balancing gear and navigating trails of varying degrees
Adept at pushing through a long, hard day, subsisting on trails snacks and the occasional wild berry
Prefer sleeping under the stars to high thread counts and room service
An outgoing, media-savvy personality, and affinity for being in front of the camera– whether on a smartphone’s live stream or a television’s live feed
A talented, artistic photographer with an eye for taking”insta-worthy” photos that tell a story and generate a lot of likes
Awareness of and imagination about where gear can best be put to the “toughness” test
A love for creatively sharing wilderness adventures with others through social media, and the natural ability to promote the company by doing so
The presentation skills, professionalism, and good judgment required to be a public image of a worldwide company
Must have a valid US passport with no restrictions and with no less than 18 months before expiration; must also have a valid driver’s license
Earlier this year, while I was traveling through Beijing, China, I stayed in Leo Hostel. During my short stay there, I was interviewed by a Chinese school group producing a short segment about travel in China. In the segment, I speak a little about my travel experiences, and why I think it’s a great idea to stay in hostels while traveling solo.
In short, staying in hostels is cheap, and gives you great opportunities for meeting new people, joining interesting tour groups, and enriching your travel experience overall.
After a year of training, travel, expeditioning, and preparation, this Austral Summer I’m going back to Antarctica to work with the United States Antarctic Program on an science expedition at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp, one of the most remote permanent field stations in Antarctica.
I’m very excited to be going back to the ice, and luckily this time have more than the five days of preparation I had last time. Here’s a bit more information about my upcoming scientific deployment, including details on getting me to send you mail from Antarctica!
My Job in Antarctica – Ice Drilling Field Specialist
This year, I’ll be working at the WAIS Divide Ice Core Field Camp for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center as an Ice Drilling Design and Operations group Field and Drill Specialist. I’ll be on the ice from from December 2014 – January 2015, living and working inland in Western Antarctica .
Basically, I’ll be living in a remote field camp in Antarctica working on a small team to disassemble, package, ship, and store the large DISC Drill. The DISC Drill is an ice coring drill, which has been used for past 7 years to drill 3000+ meters into the antarctica ice in order to extract pieces of ice from deep in the ice sheet. These “core samples” were then packaged up and shipped to a lab and storage facility in Denver. This season, the ice drill is due for some maintenance, upgrading, and relocation to Eastern Antarctica, and it’s my team’s job to take the whole thing apart and get it packaged up and flown back to McMurdo Base, where it will then be transported back to Madison, Wisconsin to undergo repairs and upgrades.
Relevant Links and Files Regarding My Job In Antarctica Summer ’14-’15
I’ll be living at the WAIS Divide Field Camp, which is a remote field camp in Western Antarctica. To get there, I travel for about four solid days. First, I fly from my home in Colorado to Christchurch, New Zealand via standard commercial airlines. Usually it’s Denver>Los Angeles>Sydney>Christchurch. Then after going through the Extreme Cold Weather gear issue and associated training and briefing at the International Antarctic Center in Christchurch, I fly with the United States Air Force Operation Deep Freeze on a LC-130 Hercules cargo plane from Christchurch, New Zealand to McMurdo Base, Antarctica. Once at McMurdo, I layover for a day or two – until the weather is good, and then get back on an LC-130 and fly from McMurdo to the WAIS Divide Field Camp. Beyond that, I’m not 100% sure on living accommodations, camp setup, etc – those will all be sorted out in the coming months. Photos of WAIS Divide, courtesy of waisdivide.unh.edu.
Photo from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_drilling/sets/72157626163425403
Photo from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_drilling/sets/72157626163425403
Photo from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_drilling/sets/72157626163425403
Photo from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_drilling/sets/72157626163425403
Photo from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_drilling/sets/72157626163425403
WAIS Divide Ice Core: Backlit Snow Pit A researcher examines layers in a snow pit deposited by different storms. Credit: Dr. Kendrick Taylor (kendrick.taylor@dri.edu) Photo from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_drilling/sets/72157626163425403
My first deployment in Antarctica, 2012-2013, South Pole Station
My first deployment to Antarctica was during the Austral Summer of 2012-2013 at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, where I worked as the station’s breakfast cook, and as a field science assistant, wilderness-EMT, and station tour guide. I had a great time working at the south pole, and am excited to get back to the ice to reconnect with old friends and colleagues. During my time at the south pole, I wrote an extensive blog, covering every aspect of live at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Here’s the wrapup, and links to all of my articles, photos, and videos.
I also did a fun promo spot with San Francisco-based clothing brand Betabrand:
Promoting an emerging destination can be a tough sell, but up-and-coming tourism promoters learned winning strategies at this year’s New York Travel Festival. NY1’s Valarie D’Elia filed the following report.
Travel shows usually exhibit their fair share of tried-and-true destinations.
At the New York Travel Festival, an up-and-comer on the consumer circuit, a couple of places that might be considered a tough sell were trying to get a foothold in the tourism game.
… Adventure travel consultant Jeffrey Donenfeld describes what about Serbia appeals to the adventurer. “The sell in my eyes with Serbia is, this is way off the beaten track in undiscovered, pristine and beautiful country and location that is just begging to be explored,” he says.
To apply, I wrote two essays speaking to my interests in the program, as well as issues facing the region. Here’s what I had to say:
Arctic Summer College Application Essays – Summer, 2014
1. Please describe your personal interest in the Arctic Summer College, its relevance for your career, how you intend to contribute, and how you intend to use the knowledge/network acquired through the course.
Participating in the Arctic Summer College curriculum this summer will act as integral educational opportunity and building block of my aspirational career working within the Arctic field support and stewardship industry. I strive to support the efforts of conservators, advocates, and scientists in promoting sustainability and cooperation in the Arctic region.
Previously, I worked with the United States Antarctic Program at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. While on the station, although my primary position was as a cook, I took every opportunity I could to get involved with the various science, research, and conservation groups on station. I was lucky enough to be able to contribute my time to a number of science teams, as well as work as the station’s Tour Guide. As a field science assistant, I participated first hand in building and maintaining complete science and industrial equipment, and realized the extensive amount of energy and skill is required to maintain efficiency, effective operations at the poles. As tour guide, I conveyed to international tourists, adventurers, and community leaders my enthusiasm for the work being done, and the ecological and social imperative to properly protect the unique and valuable antarctic environment.
I look forward to furthering my polar studies, and supporting sustainability and responsibility in the arctic. I intend on using my knowledge and network acquired through the course to identify productive and responsible roles for both myself as well as other emerging professionals in the arctic. Additionally, I plan on discussing my experiences both with Arctic Summer College, as well as my further experiences in the arctic on my personal website as well as other relevant publications, to further support our goal and message of sustainability and cooperation in the arctic region.
2. What steps do you think are most critical to sustainable development, environmental protection, and/or international cooperation in the Arctic? Please describe an innovative yet practical development in your field that can positively impact the policy landscape.
More than anything, I feel that broad spectrum, international transparency and communication is critical for ensuring efficient and effective management of the arctic region. With so many international interests, and unique cultural, sociological, scientific, and ecological assets in this unique environment, it will take a truly international cooperative effort to maintain sustainable development and environmental protection well into the future.
In addition to robust communications, I believe that a progressive long-term arctic management plan will be critical for maintaining focus on the primary goals, and ensuring long-term execution of both strategic vision and continued multinational cooperation.
In my field of work, an innovative, practical, and effective development has been the constantly increasing use of digital media and communications to reach out to students, scientists, supporters, and the public to build widespread support and awareness. In my own personal work, I’ve been able to connect with more than 600 people per day through my website, exposing my readers to the human details of life in the polar regions, and the harsh realities faced in these remote, fragile environments. I’ve witnessed firsthand the positive impact my content has made on people, and I know a number of my readers who have been inspired by my experiences enough to get directly involved in support and stewardship groups themselves. For me, the best is receiving enthusiastic letters from readers, and being able to guide them in the direction to support ongoing and future conservation and support efforts at the poles.
As a prime example, recently I worked[1] with the BICEP2 CMB Telescope team at the South Pole. The research I assisted proved to generate groundbreaking data when the team announced[2] their papers[3] [4] earlier this year. Thanks to a well-developed digital media strategy and robust network of supporters, the team’s announcement of their extraordinary data made international headlines, and connected with people well beyond the typical scope of the project. This kind of widespread coverage is essential for maintaining and supporting projects like this, and their success underscores the role of these unique environments in critical basic, and applied research.
I look forward to continuing to learn about the issues facing the arctic region, and connecting with the community at large through arctic summer college to build mutual support for the group’s diverse scope of projects and responsibilities.
The first session of the 2013 Arctic Summer College took place on July 8, 2013, looking at Scientific Research in the Arctic. Dr. David J. Scott, Executive Director of the Canadian Polar Commission (CPC), joined Arctic Summer College Fellows as an expert speaker. Dr. Scott provided a concise overview of the work, objectives, and priorities of the CPC, discussing measures for translating knowledge into action to benefit people of the North and coordination with Canadian and international partners. (click for complete presentation PDF)
More on the course:
The Arctic region is a unique place at a unique moment in time and decision-makers have the opportunity to set a new course for expanding natural resource development and establish a model of sustainability for the global community while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples. In recognition of this tremendous window of opportunity, the Arctic Summer College brings together emerging leaders and experts to consider options for promoting sustainability and cooperation in the Arctic region.
The Arctic Summer College creates a network of emerging leaders and experts that will be brought together for 10 weeks in a series of web-based seminars (webinars) Mondays from 18:00-20:00 Central European Time from June 23 to August 25, 2014. The program aims to build a lasting, policy-oriented network of Arctic professionals to strengthen communication between peoples and nations, scientific disciplines, policy areas, and across the science-policy interface to improve governance and sustainable development in the Arctic.
Participation in the Arctic Summer College is open to applicants with ideally 2-10 years of experience in a related field, and a desire to share perspectives and seek professional collaboration with a network of peers. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through May 30, 2014. Applicants will be informed about the outcome of the selection process by June 6, 2014.
Recently I had the opportunity to meet with G Adventures Bruce Poon-Tip, as well as Global Purpose Specialist Eduardo Cartaya. After a number of inspiring converstaions, I submitted my application to work with them at a Chief Exploration Officer – a G Adventures guide. For your interest, here are my brief answers submitted online. I’d love any comments of suggestions for these questions in comments.
What motivates you to want to lead tours? More specifically, why do you want to lead tours for G Adventures?*
I want to lead tours for G Adventures for the opportunity to inspire my peers with exploration, wonder, passion, learning, and connecting. World discovery for me is a deeply personal process, and I look forward to sharing my passion, and the passions of the world with others.
Why do you think people take group tours rather than travel on their own? Why would they choose G Adventures trips?*
To explore the world in a new, interesting way, provide context to their explorations, connect with other, both within the group and surrounding it. Variety, wonder.
What would be the best part of being a G Adventures leader?*
To share my passion and enthusiasm with others, and provide an incredible experience.
How can you, as a leader, promote and encourage day to day Sustainable Tourism on your tours?*
As a NOLS LNT Outdoor Educator, by being an educator and champion of the local area, ideals, and goals of sustainable tourism.
What is the worst thing you could imagine happening on a G Adventures tour, and how would you deal with the situation?*
Injury and scattering of the group. Situation would be dealt with by clear communication and a well-defined plan of action
Of all the places in which you have traveled, which has had the biggest impact on you and why?*
After 4.5 years of putting all of my time and effort into pursuing my ultimate dream of living and working in Antarctica, I finally made it happen and worked at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica. The entire journey was an incredible experience, and opened my eyes to life in the middle of the highest, coldest, windiest and driest desert in the world, at the most remote outpost of humanity. Truly an incredible experience.
You are one week into a five week tour and several passengers have approached you in regards to the hygiene of one particular passenger. After having a brief discussion with this passenger’s roommate, you discover that the passenger in question does not bathe, did not bring any toiletries with him/her, and believes that jumping into the sea once a week is sufficient cleansing of the body. What do you do and how would you approach this client?*
Ask them for their thoughts on their own personal hygiene, and how they see their hygiene fitting into the group. Discuss with them calmly and respectfully the overall group dynamic and expectation, and find a mutually agreeable solution.
You are 3 days into a 3-week tour; you and your passengers are waiting for a bus. You recognize a daypack that belongs to your group that has been left unattended on a bench. You try to determine to whom it belongs. There is no nametag and upon opening the front pocket, you discover a bag of marijuana. Is this a problem? How would you deal with it?*
Yes, it’s a problem. This situation would be dealt with by clear communication about the expectations of the group and local laws, while avoiding unfairly singling anybody out or creating an uncomfortable dynamic within the group.
If you have received $1000 to pay for accommodation, and you need to pay for 3 double rooms at $35 USD per night and 2 single rooms at $25 USD per night, for 7 nights total, how much money will you have left over?*
You’d be $85 short.
You are beginning a trip and have not yet met your group. Due to an unexpected natural disaster, you have just learned that the itinerary will have to change with an added cost of $300 per client. How would you prepare your opening remarks? How would you expect the group to react, and how could you participate in resolving the situation in order to have a successful trip?*
Again, clear communication about the realities of the situation. Keep things upbeat, direct, and honest about exactly what is happening. I’d expect the group to react negatively to a price increase in general, but understanding of the situation given the clear communication, and I’d expect to resolve the situation by working with the guests to makeup for the difference and/or provide reasonable accommodation otherwise.
You and your group have just arrived into town during a major street festival. You have to weave your group through cobblestone streets filled with exploding firecrackers, water balloons and inebriated locals dancing away. Upon arriving at the hotel, you discover a passenger is missing. It is a concern as she has had little travel experience, is 50 years old and does not speak the local language. If she has held on to the detailed trip itinerary that you gave out at the beginning of the tour, she will know the name and the phone number of the hotel. What do you do?*
I’d first ensure the safety of the remaining group, and make sure they’re in a safe, collected situation can be made comfortable while the other group member is found. If I had adequate human and communication resources, I’d establish a search plan and make sure she would be found, while keeping the rest of the group in communication, and aware of the plan, backup plan, etc. I’d also be sure to stay in communication with the home base, as per procedure.
Describe a time, perhaps linked to a challenging task or assignment, when things were difficult and you were working under pressure.*
While ski mountaineering in the Northern Tetons, a member of our group got sick and frustrated living in a snow cave, and decided to desert the group. We resolved the situation by communicating clearly, and providing him the support he needed to ensure his safety.
Describe a recent experience of working with other people. What did you contribute and what was the outcome?*
At the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica, I worked hand in hand with 150 other people on the station to successfully support the science and building operations of the National Science Foundation.
Give an example of a situation where you solved a problem in a creative way.*
While trekking in northern Myanmar, I was held and questioned by a number of members of the rebel militia. We resolved the problem by sitting down for a beer and discussing everything, coming to terms, and all having a good time in the end.
Describe how you handled a situation where you had to initiate and complete a task in the face of resistance from others.*
During a Mass Casualty Incident drill at the South Pole, I had to work with a large team of emergency responders to successfully stabilize, transport, and treat a group of sick, unruly patients.
Percolate helps brands create content at social scale. Some key features include:
– Track events and plan content at the intersection of brand voice and cultural relevance
– Employees never miss a social moment with the Percolate Photographer app
– Create branded images at the speed of social with the Percolate Image editor
Recently a blog reader wrote to me about my photos taken with the Sony RX-100, as well as my creative process. Here’s the exchange:
Hi Jeffrey
I have done quite a lot of looking at people's photos using the RX100 and I can say without exaggeration that yours are the best I have seen by far. I find it incredible that all the photos in this post
https://www.jeffreydonenfeld.com/blog/2013/07/traveling-through-australia-new-zealand-southeast-asia-and-japan-summer-2013/ were all taken with this camera.
Great work and a pleasure to view, thanks for all your hard work posting these images.
If I could ask one question, you state shoot RAW and then process, do you find a lot more dynamic range in the RAW shots and do you have any quick fix settings for to get you in the ball park or do you process each one according to taste?
I took this camera to China and got some of my favourite photos with it but generally shot JPGs. Do you process each photo or just the keepers?
-Simon
Simon –
Thanks for checking out my pics, I’m glad you liked them. You might also be interested in these items –
In general I find I have better flexibility when shooting in RAW – both for the dynamic range, as well as range and purity of white balance. Additionally, for archival purposes I like to have as pure of a file as possible. In many cases my old images have been found by people wishing to purchase them or use them in media productions, and the ability to re-edit to suit a client’s needs has proven useful. Memory is cheap nowadays, and it’s trivially easy to carry a pocket of SD cards around and just keep ripping away full blast.
I don’t apply any blanked develop settings, and usually quickly apply basic copyright info to the metadata on import (I use lightroom, latest version whatever that is). I then usually do one or two passes of stars to edit down to what I feel like is a good workable set, and then edit those. As I’m editing, I’ll sometimes eliminate another 1/4 of the photos that I don’t feel like I can get totally there with an edit. From the other 3/4 that get edited, I upload those to flickr, and then usually embed about 1/2 of them in the related blog post.
Generally with coherent sets of photos (like for a given trip or event), I’ll try to keep the general feeling and editing style of each photo similar, but I do them each individually by hand. Occasionally I’ll cut/paste develop settings from one to another, usually if the images are very similar, or I’m showing a progression and want to focus on that instead of the distinctness of any one photo.
Let me know if ya have any other questions, and send me a link to your photos from china!
The New York Travel Festival aims to reinvent the consumer travel show for tech-savvy, immersive travelers. We go beyond booths and brochures to provide interactive experiences to people who see travel as a means of experience, not just escape. NY Trav Fest brings together a unique blend of consumers, media and industry to mingle and discuss the future of travel together.
Antarctica Talk and Slideshow, 3-4pm: “Surviving the world’s highest, coldest, windiest and driest desert — Antarctica” ADD TO CALENDAR
Exploring Earth’s Most Extreme Continent – Antarctica.
During the ’12-’13 Austral Summer, Jeffrey Donenfeld deployed with the United States Antarctic Program to live and work at the most remote outpost of humanity, in the middle of the highest, coldest, windiest, and driest desert in the world – at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, South Pole, Antarctica. Live on the station was extreme in every sense – extreme weather conditions, extremely cold, extreme science, and extremely fun. Join Jeffrey as he shares critically acclaimed photographs and first-person video clips shot while on station, as well as hear how YOU can make your own journey to explore the earth’s southernmost continent.
This morning I got a brief mention in the Washington Post on how to survive in cold temperatures. They only published a few from my list – here’s the full list:
Tips on how to survive the cold weather, from an Antarctic worker’s perspective:
Layer Layer Layer. Instead of one big bulky jacket, plan your cold weather clothing out in versatile layers. In general, start with a light baselayer, then one or more medium insulating layers like sweaters and pullovers, then a warm “poofy jacket” layer, and then top it all off with a waterproof shell layer. This way, you can adjust the amount of clothing you’re wearing for the conditions and amount of work. If you’re feeling warm, you can remove layers. Cold and you can add layers.
Stay warm, but not too warm. On very cold days it can be tempting to wear everything you’ve got, even while you’re working outside. But if you’re doing work, get too warm and start sweating, and then stop working, that sweat can cool you back down rapidly, creating a dangerous situation. Plan your layers to stay warm for the amount of work you’re doing outside, while not overheating.
Wear wicking fabrics, avoid cotton. Wear fabrics such as wool and synthetics, that will wick away sweat, dry fast, and stay warm even if they get wet. Fabrics such as cotton are indeed comfortable when dry, but as soon as they get wet they lose their insulating properties. In very wet environments, or wet snow, avoid down insulation, and stick to synthetics. At the South Pole Station, Antarctica, our coats are insulated with goose down, because it’s so cold there that nothing every melts – totally dry.
Remember to protect your face and any other exposed skin. Working in 24/7 sunlight at the south pole requires all skin to either be covered at all times, or lots of sunblock to be used. If you’re going to be outside for an extended period, make sure to cover exposed skin- like your lips, nose, ears with sunblock. Better yet, cover up with a neck gaiter or scarf. The goggles we wear at the south pole often have nose guards attached to them, for sun and wind protection.
Use eye protection. When snow covers the ground, it acts as giant reflector of the suns energy. Be sure to wear adequate eye protection for the high light levels. Additionally, if you’re going to be working on snow in full sunlight for a while, be sure to apply sunblock to skin facing the ground – I’ve seen numerous people sunburn the bottom of their chin, nose, and roof of their mouth from sunlight reflected off the snow.
Take extra layers and backups. While working on the Antarctic Ice, losing something as simple as a glove or sunglasses becomes a major safety issue. Always prepare with backups of essential items, such as hats and gloves, eye protection, and extra layers. I usually carry a few single use charcoal handwarmer packets too, just in case.
I’ve recently returned from about a year of constant travel. During my travels, I planned most of it on my own using a few custom planning forms I’ve developed over the years, as well as a few basic tools. However, after researching the current offerings of travel planning tools on the internet, I now know that there’s a bunch more out there that would have made my job a lot easier.
Out of my research, here are five great adventure travel planning tools that will make strategizing your next journey much easier:
Bon Voyaging
Avid traveler and entrepreneur Nikki Cohen’s brand new Bon Voyaging tools provides you with an online interfaces tailored to research, explore, plan, and organize your next trip. I was involved in the feedback and testing process of the app, and I love the unique multi-pane design, as well as PDF printout view of your completed journey, complete with background and graphics customizations.
Outbounding.org
A Reddit for travel geeks, this is my go-to list for new travel ideas. Community submissions get filtered and discussed, and the cream floats to the top. It’s very very difficult for me to browse this site without getting a serious case of wanderlust. View my own profile.
TripIt
My personal standby favorite for automatically keeping track of logistics details is TripIt. Simply forward your travel booking confirmation emails to a special email address, and all of your travel details are extracted and consolidated into a unified timeline. The info syncs to a mobile app, and is available for offline viewing when you’re looking for your confirmation number while checking in at the airport, franticly looking up your departing train’s platform number, or wondering how many more miles you need to travel before you go platinum.
New tools are just great, but what about making the most of what you already use? Chances are you already have a Pinterest account, and might already use it to collect shopping items, design ideas, etc. Now, you can save travel ideas with the new Pinterest Place Pins. From Pinterest: “Place Pins were designed to combine the beautiful imagery of a travel magazine with the utility of a map online so you can share it with friends. You can access them from anywhere on your smartphone, too, which means you can find new places on the go and even get directions! Place Pins also include extra details like the address and phone number right on the Pin so you can easily pull up useful info on a weekend adventure or before a night out.”
Pinterest Place Pins in action
Roadtrippers
Aimed squarely at developing road trips within America, RoadTrippers features a super compelling UI, with an extensive places database, as well as lots of pre-made guides. As soon as RoadTrippers expands its scope to all of the Americas, I might use it to plan my dream road trip from Denver to Usuaia…
Ps.. Looking for some personal help planning your next adventure? Drop me a line.
During the Austral Summer of 2012-2013, I traveled to Antarctica to work as a Cook, EMT, Tour Guide, and Photojournalist at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. While I was living there, I took over 10,000 photos, hours of video footage, and published an article about life in Antarctica on my blog every single day. Here’s a brief wrapup of my time in Antarctica, with links to all of the content I produced.
After flying DENver>San Francisco>Los Angeles, I flew on an Airbus A380 from Los Angeles USA to Sydney Australia. Then I flew on a Boeing 777-300ER from Sydney Australia to Christchurch New Zealand.
Outside the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand. This is the New Zealand office location of the United States Antarctic Program, and serves as the departure point to the main US Stations – McMurdo and Amundsen-Scott.
At the Clothing Distrubution Center at the International Antarctic Centre, we receive our Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) Gear. We’re given a few minutes to try everything on for size.
The US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, which I flew from Christchurch, New Zealand to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. This military jet can fly both people and supplies.
Abord the C17 flying Christchurch>McMurdo. People sit in conventional airplane seats, as well as on webbing seats along the walls. Additionally, my flight was carrying pallets of scientific equiptment and machinery.
Flying over Antarctica, with the tips of huge mountains poking out from beneath the polar ice cap.
Upon landing at McMurdo, I’m shuttled to the station by this giant bus. I only stay at McMurdo for one night, before getting back on a flight to the South Pole.
Inside the shuttle facility at McMurdo Station. Everybody who is going to South Pole must tag their bags accordingly, so that bags are correctly routed when “Bag Drag” happens – the loading of everybody’s luggage into the luggage facility.
The LC-130 Hercules, which I flew from McMurdo Station to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. This plane is much smaller, and is one of only about 10 “LC” models equipped with both skiis and wheels for landing gear. The plane can take off on wheels from a traditional runway, and land on skis on an ice runway.
Inside the “herc”, everybody sits along the wall, with bags and equiptment in the middle and in back. The airplane is loud, and earplugs are passed out at the start of the flight.
Once airborne, free roaming around the airplane’s cargo bay is allowed. The view out the window, passing over the Transantarctic mountains, is beautiful.
Finally, arrived at the South Pole. On the day I arrived, the temperature was -40 degrees – that first breath of air was cold!
Arrived at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica. The geographic pole is about 200 meters away from this sign.
The mirrored ball at the Ceremonial South Pole. This pole is only used for ceremonial purposes, and does not mark anything.
Ceremonial South Pole, with my United States Antarctic Program – issued ECW Jacket. It has a patch with my name on it, and a USAP logo patch.
Slicing meat in the Kitchen. One of my jobs on station was as the lead breakfast cook, and assistant lunch cook.
My daily breakfast spread, consisting of eggs, potatoes, bacon, an entree, french toast, yogurt, cut fruit, granola, oatmeal, and pasteries. I made this breakfast 6 mornings/week for all 170 people at the station.
The galley, where the station crew eats. The TV’s on the cieling show the “galley scroll” info, such as weather, flight schedule, social events, and internet access times.
The post office at the south pole station is the world’s southern-most post office. Normal US mail rates apply.
The southern most post office in the world, as well as our general store. Here, we could buy apparrel, souvineers, toiletries, and rent DVD movies.
The greenhouse is not used in the summer, however in the winter it’s used to grow fresh food for the station staff to eat.
Beneath the elevated station, there’s a labrynth of storage, supply, and utility spaces. This includes the Ice Tunnels, Storage Arch, Fuel Arch, and Vehicle Maintenance Facility. This is the entrance to the under-ice utility corridors, at the base of the “Beer Can”. the structure connecting the elevated station to the utility spaces.
Inside the ice tunnels, which route water, sewage and electrical lines. 50 feet under the ice, the temperature here is a constant -60 degrees F.
A utility technician taking readings on one of the massive engines which make the station’s power and heat. The station burns 600,000 gallons of AN8 jet fuel yearly to keep everything powered up and warm.
The South Pole Telescope, which is able to look at the Cosmic Microwave Background, a remanant of the Big Bang.
Working with the KECK Array science team on maintaining the receivers that make up the telescope.
The heart of one of the receivers of the KECK Array, the niobium framed focal planes. These get cooled down to around 250 milikelvin.
Liquid helium escaping an overflow valve, while air condenses instantly into a liquid.
Outside of the Ice Cube Laboratory, the Askaryan Radio Array team sets up their workshop.
Twin Otters are frequently used by science teams for accessing remote field camps.
The roof of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Atmospheric Research Observatory, where the cleanest air in the world is sampled.
A luau under an airdrop parachute in front of the station. This was on the last day of 2012.
A concert on new years eve in the gym. New years eve at the south pole included multiple performances, drinks, and lots of dancing.
Running the South Pole Marathon. 26.3 miles in -20F temperatures. I ran it in 05:41.
To run outside, full head protection must be worn, including a gaiter and goggles.
Since the south pole station is on a moving sheet of ice, the location of the marker planted in the moving ice drifts by about 10 meters per year. Every years on new years day, the Geographic South Pole Marker is re-planted at the true pole of the earth, and a new metal marker is revealed. In this ceremony, the station staff are symbolically passing the American Flag from the 2012 marker location to the new 2013 marker location.
Toursts visit the south pole too. Although they are allowed in the elevated station for brief tours, they are restricted to camping out in the “NGO Camp” about a half mile away from the station. Adventure Network International runs the tourist camp.
Tourists visiting the south pole. Most tourists arrive on airplanes, such as this DC-3 Basler turboprop. Other groups of tourists ski in, covering the last degree or two degrees of lattitude.
The south pole station hosts many guests throughout the season. Here, I’m pictured with NASA Astronaut and UTMB Medical Director Dr. Scott Parazinski on my right. On my left is former NASA ISS Lead Flight Surgeon and South Pole Lead Physician Dr. Sean Roden.
Skiier Vlborg Arna Gissurard
The Golf Ball, which houses the GOES and Skynet satellite uplinks. These links provide voice and data access to the station.
The GOES-3 Satellite dish, which is our main communications link to the outside world.
The medical clinic, which features a full trauma bay, dental bay, medical laboratory, exam room, and two ward beds.
As a certified W-EMT, I was a member of the station’s emergency response team. Here, we’re triaging patients during a Mass Casualty Incident training exercise.
On the Pegasus Ice Runway, with Ivan The Terrabus ready to transport people from the ice runway back to McMurdo Station.
On top of Observation Hill, high above McMurdo Station. McMurdo is much much bigger than South Pole Station, and is situated on Ross Island, on the actual ground. South Pole Station is built on top of the polar ice cap.
The Maersk Peary tanker ship, which supplies McMurdo with fuel for the winter season.
Finally leaving the ice on an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. Read more about my experiences in Antarctica at https://JeffreyDonenfeld.com/Antarctica and contact me at Jeffrey@JeffreyDonenfeld.com .
Since I’ve started blogging about Antarctica, I’ve received a number of questions from readers. To address as many of those questions as possible, I’ve made a long FAQ document. Frequently Asked Questions about Antarctica.
My Job in Antarctica
During my time in Antarctica, I lived at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The station is American-run, but supports scientists from all over the world. For a bit more on the specifics of the station, check out the Wikipedia Article.
The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is an American scientific research station at the Geographic South Pole, the southernmost place on the Earth. The station is located on the high plateau of Antarctica at an elevation of 2,835 meters (9301 feet) above sea level.
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Since the Amundsen-Scott Station is located at the South Pole, it is at the only place on the land surface of the Earth where the sun is continuously up for six months and then continuously down for six months. (The only other such place is at the North Pole, on the sea ice in the middle of the Arctic Ocean.) Thus, during each year, this station experiences one extremely long “day” and one extremely long “night”. During the six-month “day”, the angle of elevation of the Sun above the horizon varies continuously. The sun rises on the September equinox, reaches its maximum angle above the horizon on the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, around 20 December, and sets on the March equinox.
During the six-month “night”, it gets extremely cold at the South Pole, with air temperatures sometimes dropping below ?73 °C (?100 °F). This is also the time of the year when blizzards, sometimes with gale-force winds, strike the Amundsen-Scott Station. The continuous period of darkness and dry atmosphere make the station an excellent place from which to make astronomical observations.
The number of scientific researchers and members of the support staff housed at the Amundsen-Scott Station has always varied seasonally, with a peak population of about 200 in the summer operational season from October to February. In recent years the wintertime population has been around 50 people.
I was hired to work as a cook at the south pole station. My primary job was as the breakfast cook, and my direct employer was Gan-A-Yoo Services, which is a subcontractor under Lockheed Martin’s Antarctic Support Contract. I got up at 3am 6 mornings per week to single handedly cook breakfast for the entire station staff. For more info on my kitchen job, see my article: Working In The South Pole Kitchen.
I also worked as an emergency medical responder on the station’s “Team 4”, which was in charge of emergency medical response. I worked alongside the fire crew, our nurse, and the station’s lead physician Dr. Sean Roden. More: Team 4 – Emergency Medical Response.
Although long, the journey to and from the south pole was incredible in itself. I flew via commercial air from Denver Colorado > San Francisco California, San Francisco California > Los Angeles California, Los Angeles California > Sydney Australia, Sydney Australia > Christchurch New Zealand. Then on US Air Force Operation Deep Freeze military flights from Christchurch New Zealand > McMurdo Station Antarctica and McMurdo Station Antarctica > South Pole Station Antarctica. The entire journey took a solid three days of travel, but was a spectacular tour. Articles on traveling to and from Antarctica:
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Living at a frozen polar station is interesting – super interesting. The entire station is suspended above the ice by pylons, and includes everything we need to survive. In addition to the elevated station, there’s also a labrynth of support corridors and arches buried deep under the ice. I documented as much of the station as I could. First, be sure to watch my South Pole Station Tour Video on YouTube. Additionally, below are links to my writeups on each part of the station.
The primary goal for the South Pole Station is to support scientific research and exploration. There are an incredible amount of world-class science experiments going on there, and since I lived on station, I had the opportunity to explore almost all of them. Living and working with scientists every day led to a continous stream of once-in-a-lifetime conversations about their work, science in general, the universe, etc. Additionally, I spent much of my free time actually helping out a couple of the experiments. Notably, I spent a good amount of time in the field building the drilling rig for the Askaryan Radio Array, and helping out with drilling operations. Check out my time working with ARA. Here’s a collection of content about the science going on at South Pole:
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Life at the South Pole is unique, but we still try to keep a bit of a normal life there. This includes celebrating holidays, lots of fun and games, and exploring the unique place we’re in. Notably, I had the opportunity to run the South Pole Marathon while I was there. More about life at the south pole:
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On getting a job in Antarctica: Getting my job was hard. Very hard. It took over 4 years of constant research, training, networking, and organizing – and in the end, my job offer came just days before I departed. Definitely a hurculean effort – but after everything, I can truly say that it was absolutely worth the dedication and struggle. Working in Antarctica has been (and hopefully will continue to be) an incredible, life changing experience. If you stay dedicated to it, and make it happen for yourself, it will be an amazing voyage.
If you’re not looking to put in the required effort to land an actual job there, you still have options on getting to the ice. I’d highly recommend looking at Adventure Network International. They run a couple very high quality tours to Antarctica, both to the coast as well as to the South Pole. During my time working at the south pole station, I had the opportunity to give station tours to a bunch of the ALE groups, as well as hang out at their camp. Writeups on tourists and tourism at the south pole:
During my time on the ice, I took over 10,000 photos, and shot hours of video. I shot on three main cameras: My Canon 5Dmk2 w/ EF 24-70 f/2.9L lens, Sony RX100, and Apple iPhone5.
A brief audio recording on my thoughts on Antarctica…
https://www.jeffreydonenfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Jeffrey%20Donenfeld%20on%20Antarctica.m4a
After living and working at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during the summer 2012-2013 season, I’ve had the chance to see most parts of the station. Additionally, I also worked as a tour guide for the various tourist groups who visited the station. Here’s a brief narrated video tour of both the elevated station as well as the buried service structures. Shot on the Sony RX100.
For more on my time in Antarctica, be sure to see my Antartica Blog.
I lived at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Austral Summer 2012-13. My move here was a long time coming, but the final decision to make the journey here came suddenly, and without a lot of time for reflection or preparation – both for myself, as well as my friends and family. And so, as I made my way down here, lots of questions about how, where, why, and when have come up. To help answer a lot of the more frequent questions, here’s a list of a few of the more common questions I’ve received over the past few weeks.
Getting a job in Antarctica was HARD. I tried for 4 solid years to get down here, and only got offered the job at the last minute. Here’s my complete saga of job searching.. Getting A Job In Antarctica: My Long Journey 2009-2012
So, it’s difficult, but if you’re dedicated, you can make it happen. I’ve noticed that most people down here are very specialized at what they do, extremely motivated, smart, and outgoing. The guys I’ve been working with on the Askaryan Radio Array (ARA) drill sled are mechanics, scientists, and drillers – and each one of them is highly experienced.
Even people like me – a cook, and dishwashers, and janitors – almost everyone has a higher degree, or has been working in the field for a while. It’s difficult to get in, especially if you’re good at a lot of different things, or have a lot of experience at a career that doesn’t directly apply to the specific job (like me, with digital media).
So, I’d start working on it now, and making contacts. Look for the Lockheed Martin Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) page on Facebook, and that has links to all the job boards – PAE, GHG, GSC, NSF, etc – start getting organized now, and plan on submitting your filled out applications for all jobs you might qualify for on March 1, 2013 for the 2013-2014 summer season.
Arrived at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica. The geographic pole is about 200 meters away from this sign.
How much time did you have to prepare for your trip to the ice?
Are only U.S. citizens allowed to work at Amundsen-Scott Station?
Nope, we have people from all over the world working here!
How long is summer season? Is it different at the different stations?
Summer Season is about three months, from November 15th to February 15th. During the summer, we have about 160 people living here, the temperature is around -18F, and the sun shines 24/7. During the winter, which is Feb 15th to Nov 15th, 50 people live here, the temperature gets down to -100F, and it is dark all the time.
What is your job at the Station? Do you enjoy it?
My official job here is as the breakfast cook – that means that I’m solely responsible for making breakfast for the entire station, 6 days a week. In addition to my “official” job, I also have a number of other positions here. I’m a certified W-EMT, and so I work on the South Pole’s “Team 4”, which is the emergency medical response team. If there’s a mass casualty incident here, I’m on the team that responds to it. In addition to Cook and EMS responder, I’m also a tour guide. When expeditions and tourist groups arrive here at the south pole and want a tour of the station, I’m one of the people who can lead them around the station. Finally, I’m working as the south pole station correspondent for The Antarctic Sun, the NSF’s Antarctica news publication.
What kind of meals are you making?
Since I’m the breakfast cook, I singlehandedly make breakfast for 160+ people, every morning, 6 days a week. My usual breakfast consists of a number of dishes:
Meat – Sausage links, sausage patties, bacon, canadian bacon
2nd Option – Varies, mostly whatever I want. In the past I’ve made huevos rancheros, migas, biscuits n gravy, bread pudding, breakfast bake, baked eggs, quiche, casseroles, etc etc etc – there’s intense pressure from upper management for me to make something new every morning, so I’m always racing to think up something new and tasty.
Sweet – french toast, pancakes, waffles, w/ syrup
Yogurt – made from scratch
Berries
Fruit
Granola
Cereal – oatmeal, 7-grain, grits
Smoothie – fruit smoothie, frappuccino, horchata, chai
And after I’m done making all of this in the 2 hours before breakfast service starts, I stand at the griddle and make eggs to order while breakfast is served. I usually make about 90-100 eggs per morning, usually over easy, over medium, scrambled, sunny, or “in a frame”.
While I’m doing all of this, I also have to be prepping for the next morning’s meal. I get to work at 03:30 and start cooking. Breakfast service is from 06:00-08:00. And then I have to be done with all of my breakfast cleanup, as well as complete prep for the next morning by 09:00. I take my first break from 09:00 – 09:30, and then I come back and work with the lunch lady to make lunch for everybody. I get out of work at 13:30, and then usually try to get to sleep around 20:00, so I can wake up at 03:00 the next morning and do it all over again.
How many doctors are there?
There’s only 1 doctor, and 1 nurse. I’m good friends with both of them, and they are both extremely knowledgeable and competent. Our doctor was the former Flight Surgeon for the International Space Station, and has worked in emergency medicine for many many years – his name is Dr. Sean Roden. Our medical facility is equipped to handle almost anything. We have a trauma/surgery bay, a dental bay, a communications bay, a medical laboratory, and even two ward beds, for sick patients. It’s quite incredible how much capability we have packed in such a small space. We also have every kind of medical device you’d find in a basic modern hospital, including 12-lead EKG, Xray, suction, O2, etc. Finally, there’s a remote video system – so if there’s a situation in which we need an extra doctor’s opinion, we can get somebody “virtually” in the operating room. I’ll have photos of all of this soon.
How much free time do you have? How can you spend it?
Not enough! I work a 9 hour shift 6 days a week – from 3:30 – 13:30. After that, I try to go to the gym, and take time to tour around to various places on the station. I’m also training for the South Pole Marathon, so I try to run outside as much as I can.
Finally, arrived at the South Pole. On the day I arrived, the temperature was -40 degrees – that first breath of air was cold!
How is the food? Do you have enough fresh fruit and vegetables?
The food is actually not so bad. We try to be as creative as possible in the kitchen. All of our food has to be flown here, and it’s all stored at -60F in the supply arches, under the ice. We have a lot of food, but it’s all stored away in deep freeze. So anything we make must be able to use food that has been stored and frozen for a long time. Occasionally we get “freshies” – fresh food flown in from New Zealand. That includes fresh fruit and vegetables. There’s never as much as we want, though!
Is it hard to fall asleep with the sun shining all the time?
Nope, not really. My bedroom has a window on it, with a shade that blocks out some light. I taped cardboard over my window, so when the lights are off in my room, it’s completely dark. I have a small red light that I turn on at night, so I can turn off the bright overhead light and make it feel like night time when I’m in my room at night. It took a while to adjust, but nowadays I sleep just fine. Actually, I’m usually so worn out at the end of each day that I fall asleep immediately.
Do you know most of the people there? I guess everyone knows you because you’re giving out the food!
I’m getting to know just about everybody – there are only 150 people, and we see each other every day, so you get to know each other quickly. Additionally, since we all eat in the same galley, we get to sit with each other. I usually try to sit with as many different groups as I can, so I get around to having conversations with everybody.
The mirrored ball at the Ceremonial South Pole. This pole is only used for ceremonial purposes, and does not mark anything.
Is it worth it to come down there?
It’s definitely amazing being here, and I think if you’re feeling the urge to come check it out, it’s worth it. Even just the trip down here is worth it. I flew from DEN>SFO ,SFO>LAX on normal flights, then got to fly LAX>SYD on Quantas on an AIrbus A380 which is an incredible plane. Then SYD>CHC on Emirates on a Boeing 777-300ER, which is also very very cool. Then got to spend time in Christchurch drinking with a bunch of scientists. Then a military flight on a C17, then bummed around McMurdo for a day, then to pole on a C-130 Hercules. Even just those flights are incredible in their own right, and the fact that I was getting paid pretty damn good money to do it was great. Then living down here at pole – the work is HARD for everybody, but the free time is incredible. Every second I’m outside walking around, i’m awestruck by this place. So, yes, come down here, it’s worth it – both for the external experience of it, and also for the experience of getting to know yourself as you put yourself through this intense experience.
Where do you sleep? Do people share rooms or what?
What time do you have to get up to make breakfast for everyone? What’s your schedule like?
I get up at 02:30 (and yes that is “AM”, although all of our timing here is 24 hour time, so nobody uses “AM” and “PM”), but that also means that I go to bed around 7, right after dinner. So I have a somewhat normal length day, it’s just shifted forward a bit. It’s a pain in the ass to get up so early, but it also means that I get off of my shift at 13:30 – while all of the scientists are still working. That allows me to go visit them, see what they’re up to. The down side is since I go to bed so early, I basically have no social life here – and believe it or not, there is a huge social scene.
I hear there are tourists at the south pole too – what’s the deal?
Regarding tourists – actually, we’re just starting to pick up on tourist season. I’m one of the 3 tour guides here on station, and I get to give one or two tours of the station per week, during high tourism season, which is now. The other day I gave a station tour to a “last degree” skiier with ANI. This is the trip they were on: https://www.adventure-network.com/experiences/ski-last-degree. These 4 people + guide on the tour are on a guided expedition with ANI, and each paid a decent amount to get flown to 89 degrees south, and then ski the last 60 nautical miles (1 degree). When they get here, they aren’t actually allowed within a certain radius of the station, because we are a “special use area” as per the antarctic treaty – they camp just outside the ring. Their camp is called the “NGO” camp – Non Governmental Organization – and it’s actually quite nice. Kinda interesting to chat with a bunch of crazy tourists for a few hours. Their DC-3 just landed a few minutes ago, and they’re taking off today. Pics of the NGO camp will be posted as soon as I can.
Did I miss anything? Have any more questions or want to discuss? Contact me!
Update 20130313 – Some more questions sent in by reader Almos Wattay:
Which is the best job search website for the Amundsen-Scott
I’d suggest you look directly at the LMC ASC Site, as well as PAE, GHG, and GSC’s sites. Also find LMC’s Facebook Page
Are there positions for Logistics and/or Supply Chain manager regularly? These two positions fall very close to my profession.
Probably – look on PAE’s job site.
Is there normally an overflow of candidates for any given position?
Yes, almost always – LOTS of people apply for each position. Very strong competition.
Are normal contracts for employment only for summer time or winter-over as well?
Normal contracts are for summer, since there are more staff. However, there are full year contracts available for certain positions, and once you’ve done a summer, you can start thinking about doing a winter.
What are the normal everyday shifts Monday through Saturday (six day work weeks, I know), 12-16 hours?
My shift was 9 hours per day, 6 days per week. Shifts vary amongst job positions.
Is appendectomy required prior to polar employment?
I don’t now, that’s a good question for UTMB. It will all be addressed during your physical qualification process.
Who finances the trip to Amundsen-Scott upon being hired?
The United States Antarctic Program, which receives funding from the National Science Foundation.
What quantity of personal effects can be taken to the station?
Two 50 lb bags per person, plus a small personal bag, i think. It’s all explained in your deployment packet once you get the job.
Does the employee pay for subsistence (dorm, food, polar attire)?
No
I know showers can only be used 2 times per week for 2 minutes each. What about washing hands, brushing teeth, using the toilet regularly?
That is unregulated, and personal hygiene is taken seriously – regular handwashing is strongly encouraged at the station. Additionally, there are instant hand sanitizer dispenses all over the place. We keep it clean! :)
Is it possible to physically be outside during the winter-over period when temperatures fall to 80-100F below zero?
Although I don’t yet have personal experience with winter, yes, I believe it is possible.
Are you strictly limited as to what you can do on Sundays during your day off? What kind of recreational activities are allowed? I saw you jogging outside the base on YouTube, is something like that allowed?
Yep, we go jogging, skiing, hiking, and everything else. Lots to do, both inside and outside. There’s even a recreational cross country ski loop, complete with a warming hut at half way.
Is regular internet access provided to communicate with immediate family members?
Is Amundsen-Scott station in New Zealand time zone?
Yes
Are you a winter-over employee?
No
My name tag and program patch on my “Big Red” parka. Note I also added my Explorer’s Club members pin.Since the LC-130 is LOUD when it starts up, safety briefing takes place outside of the airplane. Oxygen masks are a bit different on this aircraft, and consist of a chemical oxygen generator coupled to a full-head hood. Much like an emergency fire escape hood.While we’re in mid-flight, it’s ok to go visit the cockpit – super cool!Passing over the seasonally frozen southern ocean, with cracks forming in mid-summer. The ice cover is absolutely beautiful, and takes on infinite forms.Massive peaks of the Trans-Antarctic Mountains poke out of the polar ice cap. Beautiful.Another one of the many many forms of sea ice.In addition to USAP members, we also flew with a bit of the crew of New Zealand’s Scott Base, which is just over the hill from McMurdo on Ross Island.A delta, and Antarctic airport shuttle, essentially.A map of key field camps and stations, with associated pictures.Going over the basics of setting up both our main tents, as well as the tents contained in deep field survival bags, which are supplied on aircraft and as backups at field camp.Testing snowmobiles – fun!Hiking across the ice shelf to the crash site of the PegasusExiting the main admin building at Scott Base with my nifty Betabrand Space Jacket.Me, walking through the inter-ridge trough.Pressure from the McMurdo Ice Shelf pushing the sea ice against the shore of Ross Island is so intense that it pushes the ridges of ice very high in the air – the formations are constantly changing, and always beautiful.On the outer lap of the ob hill loop, cracks in the Ross Sea give way to lots of seals coming up onto the surface of the ice to warm up and relax.Seals on the Ross Sea iceA lone Emperor Penguin glides across the frozen sea ice.A Bell 212 Twin Huey comes in to drop off a slingload of gear at McMurdo Station.Main stage, with the Antarctic sun circling overheadThe SPIDER Polarimeter during the assembly and testing phase before being flown to 125,000 feet under a NASA Long Duration Balloon.Arrival at the WAIS Divide Field Camp, Antarctica.Me outside of the central Galley tent at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide Field Camp.From front to back of the galley tent. You can see two “Preway” diesel fueled stoves on the left, with large water pots on the top. The stoves heat the tent, and some of the heat goes to keeping water hot, for hot water bottles, etc.Outside of the comms tents, various antennas are setup, including VHF, HF, and Satellite.Smouse posing on one of our snowmobiles.After a successful landing at field camp and quick briefing in the galley, first order of business was to get our tents and gear setup. In this picture, I’m sitting in our gear sled as we snowmobile to “Tent City”, on the edge of camp. Everybody has their own tent, and it’s a blend of 4-season mountaineering tents, pointy “scott tents”, and dome-shaped “Arctic Oven” tents.My tent, with Enerplex solar panel.Tent City is a short walk from the center of camp.Tents arranged on the West Antarctic Ice SheetWalking to work in the drill arch, visibility can vary.Walking back to WAIS DIvide Field Camp after a day working in teh drill arch. On days of low visibility, flags are the only way to tell which way to walk – and where the ground is.Walking down the ramp to our drill arch during stormy ways was a bit like entering a frozen polar base. The ramp leading from the surface down to the arch door frequently got drifted in, requiring digging out by our bulldozer support crew.The inside of the main drill arch. Overhead you can see the blue heavy crane. The yellow safety fences are surrounding the Winch Pit, which housed the main winch, level wind, and related machinery. This winch pit leads into the borehole slot, which is about 40 feet deep, 40 feet long, 5 feet wide. Although the borehole is only a few inches in diameter, the slot must be long and wide to accomodate the swing room for the drill tower – it must pivot from vertical to horizontal in one motion.Mike descending into the borehole slot, tethered by a steel cable.Rigging the levelwind for extraction from the winch pit. Each piece of gear was meticulously secured to be moved carefully.Chansawing the ice floor, to level it out in preparation for loading the winch reel, seen behind me.Merlin Mah tests his ice fabric logging instrument.The crater left by a PETN disposal explosion.The WAIS Divide, Antarctica DISC Drill crew in January, 2015. From left Rick Smouse (ASC), Otto Neumuth (ASC), Jim Koehler (IDDO), Mike Waszkiewics (IDDO), Jeffrey Donenfeld (IDDO), and Don Kirkpatrick (IDDO).The US Coast Guard Cutter “Polar Star”, the world’s most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker, in port at McMurdo Station, Antarctica.Inside Captain RF Scott’s Discovery Hut, Hut Point, AntarcticaInside Captain RF Scott’s Discovery Hut, Hut Point, AntarcticaInside Captain RF Scott’s Discovery Hut, Hut Point, AntarcticaPreparing to leave Antarctica on an LC-130.Flying north, the sea ice gradually melts away to reveal open ocean.Outside the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand. This is the New Zealand office location of the United States Antarctic Program, and serves as the departure point to the main US Stations – McMurdo and Amundsen-Scott.Abord the C17 flying Christchurch>McMurdo. People sit in conventional airplane seats, as well as on webbing seats along the walls. Additionally, my flight was carrying pallets of scientific equiptment and machinery.Finally leaving the ice on an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. Read more about my experiences in Antarctica at https://JeffreyDonenfeld.com/Antarctica and contact me at Jeffrey@JeffreyDonenfeld.com .Upon landing at McMurdo, I’m shuttled to the station by this giant bus. I only stay at McMurdo for one night, before getting back on a flight to the South Pole.Once airborne, free roaming around the airplane’s cargo bay is allowed. The view out the window, passing over the Transantarctic mountains, is beautiful.The mirrored ball at the Ceremonial South Pole. This pole is only used for ceremonial purposes, and does not mark anything.The greenhouse is not used in the summer, however in the winter it’s used to grow fresh food for the station staff to eat.The South Pole Telescope, which is able to look at the Cosmic Microwave Background, a remanant of the Big Bang.Loading a dewar of liquid helium into the Dark Sector Laboratory.Toursts visit the south pole too. Although they are allowed in the elevated station for brief tours, they are restricted to camping out in the “NGO Camp” about a half mile away from the station. Adventure Network International runs the tourist camp.The Golf Ball, which houses the GOES and Skynet satellite uplinks. These links provide voice and data access to the station.
My friend Jeff Couturier is a graphic designer, web developer, cartoonist, and geek. He’s a regular host on the Universal Geek podcast, and recently gave me and my Antarctica blog a great mention. Thanks Jeff for the shoutout!
For the part where I’m mentioned, start listening at 1:07:00
A few weeks ago, I published an article detailing my efforts over the last four years to land my dream job working in Antarctica. At the time I published it, I had just received bad news from what I thought was my last and final hope of getting this job for this year, Austral Summer ’12-’13. However, right after I published that article, something amazing happend – people started reading it, and word got out. Not only did my friends and family read it, but apparently a few people actually on the ice read it.
At the same time I was dealing with the “buzz” surrounding that article, I also heard from one of my HR contacts that there may in fact be a last minute opening at the South Pole, but it was a long shot. Given my recent experiences (all detailed here) with Antarctica hiring orginization, etc, I didn’t think much of this long shot – I’ve been told much more positive sounding news than that, and even those didn’t work out. So I started to transition over to my next steps in job hunting, adventure planning, etc.
However, last night as I ended a great road trip across Colorado and arrived in Telluride with my siblings, something amazing happened – I got an email from the South Pole. It was an offer letter to be a production cook!.
I GOT MY DREAM JOB WORKING IN ANTARCTICA!!! I’m going to be working as a production cook at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, South Pole, Antarctica. I’ll be departing Colorado in early November, flying through Los Angeles, Sydney, Australia, Chrischurch, New Zealand, onward to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and finally across the ice to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Ill be there on this job for the Austral summer, which ends in February, 2013.
During my time “on the ice”, I’ll certainly be taking lots of pictures and videos, and posting them right here on my blog. Also be sure to keep up with my on Twitter, where I’ll also be posting updates. Finally, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for video clips.
I’ll be posting more later, but since my departure is about a week away, I need to get started on gearing up and making all of my preparations.
If you’d like to send a care package to me at the South Pole, I’d love to send you back a post card with a South Pole stamp on it! Be sure to include your return mailing address. The mail takes a long time to reach me, so don’t wait on this.. My mailing address is:
Jeffrey Donenfeld, GSC
South Pole Station
PSC 468 Box 400
APO AP 96598
If you’re interested in Antarctica too, are already on the ice, or just want to discuss, feel free to leave a comment, or drop me a line at Hello@JeffreyDonenfeld.com . Cheers!
This past year Chris and I did the 110 Mile Gran Fondo Bike Race – my full race report is here: Biking the 110 Mile Gran Fondo NY. Recently a reader asked me for some tips in preparing for the event, so hre are a few tips and thoughts on it…
Overall, I didn’t do a ton of specific training for the gran fondo. I joined NYCC and did a 30-50 mile ride with them for the 6 weeks preceeding that ride, and then just did it. Just spending a lot of time on your bike is the key I think – get to know how it all feels, how your gear works, how your body deals, and you’ll be fine.
On eating – start testing out your food routine on warm up rides in the weeks prior, and then stick to that on the ride. I ate a bagel for breakfast with a bunch of coffee, and then did luna bars and other carbs and fruit they had for us at each rest stop. I specifically did not do any of the gummy bears or energy gels – for a 100 mile ride, you want to go for endurance, not the quick burn of a gel.
Gear – definitely get to know your gear, but don’t take a long too much. A basic repair kit is good, and enough water to get you to the next stop, but nothing too extreme. I paired down all of my gear to what I could carry in my jersey – no saddle bag or anything strapped to my bike. Repair kit in left pocket, fits in small freezer ziploc bag – tube, patch, CO2 x2, multitool, levers. Dailys in center pocket, fits in small freezer ziploc bag – iPhone, credit card, ID, cash, health insurance card, metro card, 3 business cards, sunblock stick (doesn’t leak), luna bar or two. Right pocket – Pocket camera, lens cloth bag. That’s it. I got the best padded bike shorts I could find, which was good.
Competiton – Yeah, there are a lot of “bros” on the course, but do it with your friends, stay cool, and have fun! The only person you’re racing is yourself, so if you make sure to have fun no matter what, you’ll be just fine. Enjoy the ride up bear mountain, hang at the top, it will all be great.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been researching fonts to use on a personal business card for myself. I usually carry a few basic cards around in my wallet with just my name and email address on them – and recently I’ve run out of my excellent Moo.com Luxe Cards. Instead of re-ordering, I decided to custom make some new cards, this time on a natural white stock, in engraved text. I felt like this would be a bit more classy and refined, and appropriate for all situations.
The design is fairly simply – name on one side, email address on the other side. So really the only decision I had to make was font. My initial considerations were for a serif font, with a good “smallcaps” look. My two main research sites for fonts was FontShop.com as well as the Google Webfont Directory. In the end, I decided that using an opensource, Google-hosted font from the Google Webfont collection would be more flexible into the future, instead of the restrictions imposed by using a commercial font from FontShop (or similar).
In addition to looking great in print, Brawler is also optimized for the screen, as well as mobile, as well as for small print sizes. It also pairs nicely with a bunch of other web fonts, allowing me to not only use this font for my name and business card, but on my website as well. And since it’s hosted by Google, implementing it on my site is not very resource intensive, and is very fast. So I present you with: Brawler.
My name tag and program patch on my “Big Red” parka. Note I also added my Explorer’s Club members pin.
I want to live and work in Antarctica. It’s been a dream of mine for years, and starting about 4 years ago, I finally decided to make my dream a reality. As you may expect, getting a job – a real job, and not just a tourist ticket down to the South Pole is tricky. And to date, I still don’t have a spot on the polar team yet – but I’m working on it, day by day, getting closer making my dream come true.
I wanted to write this blog post to outline my long and complicated ordeal in researching and implementing my pathway to the ice. Over the past four years of this obsession, I’ve fielded just about every question I can imagine about how to connect and get a job there, and what living and working in Antarctica is like. I’m going to break this post up into two main sections: My job search timeline, and then general questions and resources that get asked a lot.
TL;DR:
I’ve been applying for jobs in Antarctica for 4 years. This past year was my strongest push yet, and unfortunately I did not get the job, despite all resources and effort applied. I plan on continuing the quest to make my dream job happen. (more…)
With Apple’s eminent announcement of iOS 6 today, mobile payments will get yet another major boost. Now my barcode-scan based payment scheme won’t be restricted to only the beloved Starbucks app, but will open up to lots of other applications too. A few thoughts on Barcode Scan Payments vs NFC Payments. Certainly not fully fleshed out, but a few items that were on my mind as I watch the clock tick down to the big announcement.
Tricky tricky. In support of scanning a simple barcode to make a mobile paymentis first and foremost the reduction of need for new hardware. Virtually every retail outlet has a simple barcode scanner hooked up to the cash register, and every smartphone can display a barcode on its screen. Barcodes can be generated securely and dynamically, allowing a unique code to be generated for each transaction. The hardware is already out there, so why not use it?
Sure, NFC is a nifty contact-less radio-based technology, but the big detractor is its need for new hardware. Users must purchase new phones with new chips, and retail POS terminals must be equipped with new NFC sensors and radios. The one big advantage NFC has over Barcodes is device range. NFC chips can be built into not only mobile phones, but also into credit cards, key fobs, and all sorts of other form factors. They’re not reliant on the powerful workings of a smartphone (in RFID flavor), and so they can be rolled out into lots of different forms. With barcode payments, the phone must always be there to generate a dynamic barcode. It could be argued that static barcodes, like what’s used in my current Starbucks card app could be use, however I believe the ability to dynamically generate secure barcodes could be a sticking point.
Another big advantage that barcode-based payments has over NFC based payments is legacy device support. I already use my Starbucks Card app to display a barcode on my iPhone 4 – SO really it’s all about having software to display and manage the codes, and retailers supporting them with their existing (or slightly upgraded) hardware. Apple’s “Mobile Wallet” Passbook will come on the new iPhone5, and can also be a simple upgrade for legacy devices. Instantly, everyone has Passbook, everyone can start making payments – no annoying hardware upgrade necessary for the user.
But, device sales – is such an easy solution, such a flexible scheme, so backwards compatible really right for Apple? Aren’t they in the business of making money, and doesn’t adding a new chip to their phones and forcing users to buy new phones to get the latest functionality help sell more? Yes, absolutely. But I don’t think NFC is the right technology for make users pay for.I think there will be other enticing upgrades to the iPhone 5 that will still get users to upgrade.
At the end of my EMT-B training class through Unitek Education in Freemont, California, we went over various resources for obtaining free continuing education credits. Here are some of the resources we discussed:
Lots of CE courses are run through state emergency offices
Continuing on my series How To Blog From Anywhere, add Gmail via SMS to the repertoire. Google Africa has just launched Gmail via SMS, allowing mobile phone users without access to a data network to still send and receive emails. Yet another way to get your message out, no matter what your connectivity situation. Still no word on how to activate it outside of Africa, though.
From Google:
To help solve these issues, we’ve created Gmail SMS. We’re excited to be making this new service available in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. You can now send and receive emails as SMS messages using your mobile phone, regardless of whether or not your phone has an internet connection, like Wifi or 3G. Gmail SMS works on any phone, even the most basic ones which only support voice and SMS.
Gmail SMS automatically forwards your emails as SMS text messages to your phone and you can respond by replying directly to the SMS. You can control the emails received by replying with commands such as MORE, PAUSE and RESUME. Additionally, compose a new email as an SMS and send to any email address recipient – who will find your message in the right email conversation thread!
The Directors of Toughness will answer the call of the wild with Columbia Sportswear in the most epic six-month position for anyone who lives and breathes adventure! These two die-hard adventurers will have the unparalleled opportunity to test Columbia’s gear in wildly iconic locations around North America, and the world. With over 75 years of experience in the industry, Columbia knows a thing or two about building tough gear, and is ready to take its mission of testing to the next level. The Directors will put their gear and personal “toughness” to the test through exhilarating expeditions supported by Columbia’s range of innovative apparel, outerwear, footwear and equipment, demonstrating an ability to withstand unpredictable weather conditions and harsh terrains. The journey will be documented by the Director of Toughness and publically broadcasted everywhere from national television shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live to social media to allow the greater Columbia community to travel along on this adventure and testing experience of a lifetime!
While 
This summer, transdisciplinary research organisation 
Recently I had the opportunity to meet with 
During the Austral Summer of 2012-2013, I traveled to Antarctica to work as a Cook, EMT, Tour Guide, and Photojournalist at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. While I was living there, I took over 10,000 photos, hours of video footage, and published an article about life in Antarctica on my blog every single day. Here’s a brief wrapup of my time in Antarctica, with links to all of the content I produced.
