Station Tour - Part 1

 Almost my entire world from February to November. The start of the runway is the groomed spot on the right. The science buildings are almost all out of the photo, but just followed the groomed lines to get to them.

When I arrived, I never had time to blog a proper intro to station. I was tired, quarantined, and trying to get up to speed on my job. Five months in, I think it is finally time to get to it. The photo above is an aerial view of the entire base. We live and mostly work in the four-pronged E at the bottom of the photo.  That 'E' is the elevated station that was finished in 2010. The buildings just above it our summer camp where a few offices are during the summer. Beyond them is a ton of storage berms that we try to get organized and keep clear of snow, but it is a perpetual battle.

Map of the upper level of the elevated station where I spend most of my time.

 

Map of the lower level of the elevated station.

Map of the arches that are accessed via the vertical tower, commonly called the Beer Can.

This is a high level map of station. My room is half way down on the right of the last prong of the E. I get great view of the pole when it's light out, which won't happen again until August. If you follow the prong back up to the 'back' of the E, that is where the galley is and where I eat. I shower in a bathroom on the walk between the galley and my room. I work just across from the third prong. That means that I spend 90% of my time (sleep, work, shower, and eat) in 25% of the elevated station - the right side upper level. 

On the lower level of the elevated station, I spend time in the Big Gym, greenhouse, and B3 movie lounge.

If you go down the unheated vertical tower for 94 steps, you get to our power station, logistics arch for handling supplies and cargo, the fuel arch, and the Vehicle Maintenance Facility.  Outside of that, you have to spend way too long getting dressed to go to different buildings. Some folks go out every day, some folks only go out once every two weeks. I find myself not spending nearly as much time as I want outside and regretting it, but I'm getting better at it.

The elevated station upper level hallway.

When you first enter South Pole station from the plane, you go up to the upper level. This hallway is the view you get. Whenever you leave any room on station, it drops you into this hallway. The far end of this hallway is where the photos of every winter over crew since 1957 is.

The elevated station lower level hallway.

This is the view of the lower level hallway. That door leads to the all important popcorn machine and coat room.

For the next few days, I'll try to just walk from one end of station to the other taking photos to give an overview.