Survivor Antarctica

Survivor Antarctica has come and gone and I proudly did not get voted off the continent.  Survival training is a two day course to give all the expeditioners the skills they need to be able survive the harsh conditions they may encounter while enjoying the wild expanses of Antarctica.  We began the day being kitted out with more gear and given the selection of very tasty dehydrated food to carry for provisions for the next 36 hours.

 

As a group we proceeded to navigate through the the wilderness that surrounds Casey Station using a compass, charts and a GPS arriving in just over an hour at Shirley Island.  Anyone who was watching 60 minutes last month may recall the Adelie penguin colonies being monitored at Shirley Island.  Colin and Louise (penguin gurus), who were featured on the show, are back again this summer to continue their study into the impact the changing environment has on the Adelies.  We then drilled the sea ice between the continent and the island to ensure it was safe to walk across.  

Shirley Island is a pristine environment that we were very fortunate to be able to experience.  The penguins dance, sing and generally do anything just try to get the attention of the opposite sex.  The little man below happily sauntered past us to check out his options in another group of ladies who were positioned behind us.  They have no fear of Australians dressed as big bananas.

Are you looking at me? A curious Adelie penguin at Shirley Island

 

After 30 minutes of enjoying Shirley Survivor Antarctica turned serious.  We continued to develop our navigational skills whilst hiking another couple of hours to our camp for the night.  "Camp" is better described as a windswept snowfield just near a rocky outcrop and we were instructed to make the best out of it.  Out came the ice axes and saws and the scene became an Antarctic version of "The Block".    Some went for the minimalist look, yours truly went a little art deco while others such as Luke the sparkie went big is beautiful.  A great deal of fun was had in the construction phase though all the structures had to do was to protect you from the conditions we may face throughout the night.

 Tradesman of the week Luke the sparkie carving out his palace.

 

In our survival kit we were given a sleeping bag, a thin mattress, a bivvy bag and a pee bottle which are all self explanatory apart from the bivvy bag.  The bivvy is a light thin bag which feels like it is make out of twistees packet and is made to protect you from the wind.  The idea is to roll the bivvy out when the weather closes in on you, climb inside then make camp the best you can.  This sounds quite easy but when you have to climb in backwards to come out forwards and the breeze is starting to blow around 30 knots, easy tasks become more difficult.

 

So after a peaceful nights sleep in my version of the Taj Mahal and a piece of tin foil, we trekked for two more hours in minus 10 degrees back to the serinity of the Red Shed of Casey Station.  I've never seen a better looking coffee machine and danishes in all of my life.

Our party were preparing to drill the sea ice before we crossed it to Shirley Island so these guys cruised over to check us out.

Matty the diesel fitter drilling the sea ice.  At this point it was 1.3 metres thick.  It is still safe to walk on with caution when it is only 300mm.

Have a look at this good looking Rooster.  I don't know if it is a male or female and they are definitely not called roosters.  I'll check with the penguin gurus and get back to you.( I have since checked with the penguin gurus and they can't tell me what a male penguin is called.  All they knew is the non breeders are called losers. Seriously!)

Bob, Vicki, Luke and Andries enjoying a coffee at the Ice Cafe'