Palmer Station, Antarctica

furiousfart · February 11, 2009

Last year around this time I was jobless, living with my Mother, and had no clue what I was gonna do for work. Watching the economy go down the drain, I was starting to doubt leaving a job I held for 7 years, that for all purposes I could have held until retirement, even if it was stealing my soul from me slowly. I had left to get away and try something new that I have an interest in, motorcycles. Went to school learned a lot, but was unsure if it was something I really wanted to do at least for a living.

As I sat a home trying to figure out what I was gonna do and finding out that getting a job in the motor sports world at least in the middle of winter wasn't gonna happen at least where I'd like to live. I decided to look into joining the IBEW, as I hold a Journeyman's license. I figured if I could get an electrical job any where to improve my skills the IBEW would be a decent group to get with.

Getting info was slow from the IBEW, and thanks to that I was crusing the internet one day, and remembered an articule I read a few years ago about working in Antarctica...

furiousfart · February 11, 2009

After a quick Google search, I found myself on Raytheon's job search page, and sending in an application. Then the wait of about 4 weeks, after almost forgetting about it I get a call, to ask about my resume. Answered a few questions and set up a phone interview, I was nervous as hell but nailed the interview, and had a job offer in the mail a few days later.

To work in Antarctica you have to go through a process to make sure that you are fit enough to do so, nothing to hard just some medical and dental checks after passing that then travel is set for you and you are hired, then the adventure begains...

furiousfart · February 11, 2009

The first step to get to Palmer station for me was to fly to Punta Arenas via Dallas, and Santiago.

From the airport I was shuttled to my hostel which was about 6 blocks from the port and just a few from the various squares and shopping areas of PA. The View from my window wasn't the best but it was better then the last Holiday in I stayed at.

The square near my hostel held this statue, that you need to rub for good luck before crossing the Drake Passage, I think it is of Magellan.

Sadly it was only a limited stay in PA, as I needed to check in and get my gear and get on the boat to leave after a day's stay. The view from my room on ship of PA was the last of any city I would see at night for some time.

I don't remember much of my crossing of the Drake as I spent it first sick and after some drugs asleep, but what I do recall wasn't very pleasant. Thanks to the drugs I slept for a good day and a half and woke up to see an awesome site out of my window. That i just had to get on deck, to see.

It's hard to describe just how awesome a view it is to see after several days at sea, It was one of the most amazing feelings of awe I've ever had.

After following the coast for a day or so we arrived at our destination, Palmer Station.

It felt like a dream when we arrived on station, out of a mist of sorts, to be done with the crossing and to have the realization that THIS is where I get to live and work for the next six months. The only thing I could think of was "wow!"

DJ-S1 · February 11, 2009

This is gonna be good!

Candid Arts · February 11, 2009

Wow. I ALMOST joined the IBEW too. Damnit. Got to the interview process and everything, but moved out of dodge before I got the chance. I want to go to Antarctica! Good luck on your job and I can't wait to see some more pictures.

envy envy envy...

koush · February 12, 2009

this is gonna be good

...and what a great story so far.
to have the courage of your convictions, and at the end of
it all to be able to live in Antartica....wow. Good luck and I look forward to the continuing saga as it were

furiousfart · February 12, 2009

Just to be clear these are pictures from my last trip down, May 1st - Oct 23rd, though I will be returning to Palmer in about a month. Anyways back to business...

After getting off the ship, I was assigned a birthing room, and I must say the view from it's window was much, better then that of the one from my hostel's.

One of the first things that I managed to do was get out on another boat and check out some of the islands that surround Palmer.

With Palmer in the distance, we decided to go looking for some wildlife. What better place to start than a place called Elephant Seal Rocks?

Then we decided to land the zodiac and take a walk on an other island check things out a little, and have our pictures taken with the locals.

Some where a little more friendly then others.

All weekends must end and welcome the new week to come, though the view from the hot tub here on this night was quite splended

The Start of the week brought about the ship having to leave and as it is tradition you jump, so I jumped...

With the water being a nice warm 29*F you may ask youself why would anyone do that, well the truth, it was a good excuse to skip out on some work and hit up the hot tub, that and it was fun. So fun in total I jumped 15 times, a few times even trough a bit of ice.

With the boat being gone for a small fishing trip, our boating coordinator decided to go for a cruise, and explicitly said no parting in the boathouse. Please who is gonna party in the middle of the week?

And a tropical party complete with a sandy beach that resembled a littler box than a pristine beach...

furiousfart · February 12, 2009

After about a week or so I found myself starting to settle into a routine of boating and working as much as I could. the boating so I could check out the area around me, and the working, well so I could get paid.

One place i visited was the location of old Palmer, the original station the Navy used while they built the current station. While no building are there now you can find wildlife and awesome views if you know where to look...

Back on station when wildlife is around so are we, I was kinda in awe of all the cameras on station and getting pointers from every one, I know by the end of my stay my skills improved.

As with most days that are clear the best way to end it is with a trip to the hot tub.

psignosis · February 15, 2009

" With the water being a nice warm 29*F you may ask yourself why would anyone do that "

OMG. That must of been freezing. You would have frozen your nads off. Awesome shots. I find there's something gloomy about Antarctica but luring at the same time. Icebergs are magnificent.

furiousfart · February 16, 2009

Thanks for the Comments, though looking at the pictures now wish I had my pp shots up, but these work good too, anyways...

With just a few weeks on station I found myself back on a ship heading for a little diplomatic relations, with the Ukrainian station. If this was the view I had to see when jumping into the ocean I don't know if I'd still do it, but maybe I would.

On our way to Vernadsky station we passed thourgh a very awesome channel wish I could remember the name, and that there was actually light to have taken pictures, though the sun did come up as we left and it was a sight to see, indeed.

Once on station we are given a tour of the place, and learn that it was once operated by the British, and that it was bought for 1 pound.

After the trip to Vernadsky the rest of the Summer crew left station and we all started to settle into our roles and routines, with not much happening for at least a few days...

furiousfart · February 18, 2009

Well I lied, a few days after the ship left it was my birthday, then was Midwinter day. So at the precise time that it is the solstice we were to jump into the ocean as a group, but the water was way too rough so we had to walk in from the boat ramp, the worst part was climbing over the little ice chunks. Sadly no images from that event, my sweet 1050 sw didn't show up on station for another few weeks.

Life on station was a fairly extroidonary thing, around this time, the sunrises would meld into the sunsets creating days that made it hard to do anything.

With winter becoming more in effect there got to be no boating because of the ice so hiking around and on the glacier behind station became a past time of mine. Thanks to global warming we can't go as far on the glacier as was once an option, as little as 6 years ago, but it is still better then nothing.

Candid Arts · February 18, 2009

Seriously beyond beautiful. So jealous of your journey's. Amazing.

furiousfart · February 18, 2009

It really was a life changing trip which is why I am so glad to be going again this year.

Ice, it's what covers Most of the "land" around the station and the Continent, and is what eventually crept it's way into the waterways around the station.

While ice isn't normally an issue for the ships this time it was as under the ice was a fishing line that could potentially strand the ship if tangled into the prop and it's seals.

So the ship needed to wait it out while the people in charge decided what to do.

Thanks to a rocket and some rope, a line was run from ship to shore, and with a pulley we now had a giant clothes line set up with a zodiac to get people and supplies from the ship to station.

One of the people to come ashore was our new admin assistant, who while on station turned 68, what a way to get on station I just hope at her age I am still able to go on adventures.

With the fishing line still trapped under ice, we needed to get it out so the ship could dock and give us supplies to big for the zodiac.

After about 3 weeks the line was out, thanks to 4ft chainsaws and hard work.

But the ice was still there...

And the ship was back too, what a thing to see.

With the ship finally docked, was time to party well not really more like get some sleep.

furiousfart · February 21, 2009

Up to this point all the wildlife I saw on station consisted of seals(fur, leps, and elephant), various sea birds, and some cormorants. Then one Saturday after a station meeting a few of us went out boating, we had seen a few penguins from afar in the water so we had some hopes of seeing them closer. Well not only did we see them but they popped out of the water right next to our zodiac, it doesn't get much cooler than that!

At that point we all turned into a bunch of 10 year old boys, luckily one of use screamed "Take Pictures!" The rest of us were just kinda struck in amazement by how close they were. After watching them for a little while we decided to circle the nearest island while doing so we saw a few on land and decided to go check them out. We landed the boat and made our way in the direction of the penguins, only problem is this direction included finding and walking through snowdrifts close to 4ft deep. As we closed in on the last spot we saw the penguins we noticed that they wanted to come check us out too.

They ended up about 20ft from us, if we stepped toward them they backed off so this we knew was as close as we could get, without causing them any distress. They were just as interested in us as we were of them so we were able to watch them for quite a bit.

Penguins in the wild are so much cooler than at the zoo. Though I am still unsure if they are cuter than a sleepy elephant seal.

furiousfart · February 21, 2009

Around this time the ship came back, with some new people, two of which were on station thanks to an artist and writers grant from the nsf, Scott and Homero. Scott was anxious to see some wildlife and check out where we liked to take pictures from, so we decided to go looking for penguins but couldn't find any, so we went to cormarant, which has lots of cormarants on it.

The first thing we found on the island happened to be a lone Fur seal.

Though that doesn't give the full picture of what happens when we see wildlife.

We saw a few cormarants on the island too, managed to catch one landing.

My time on station was slowly coming to an end with just a few weeks left on station I spent as much time as I could on the water loking for as much wild life as i could.

In the last month of my stay the penguin population just skyrocketed. The first island were we spoted them was now full.

But soon my time would come to an end...

furiousfart · February 21, 2009

It was finally my last day on station, and time to say good bye.

I really enjoyed my time on station, the animals and landscapes were awesome, though I was really gonna miss all the people I got the chance to meet and work with.

It was my turn to be on the ship this time, and instead of jumping when the ship left got to watch others do it.

I was also fortunate enough to have very clear weather on the way out and was able to enjoy the sights.

And so my adventures in Antarctica have come to an end, it was the trip and job of the lifetime...

Which is why I am looking forward to going again! In about a month I will be heading back down to Palmer, and am looking forward to having another excellent time.

Rolling Stone · February 26, 2009

Excellent, thanks for taking us along.

The Curious Camel · February 27, 2009

Stunning captures

peace, gail

furiousfart · February 28, 2009

Thanks for the comments, Antarctica really is a special place and I was very fortunate to go down there, and am to be going again. Which is nice, considering I only had my k100d super for a month before going down, now I'm a little more familiar with how to use a dslr, and will be going down with a k20d, and more than just one lens.