Happy Camper School

From 20091102-HappyCamper

First order of business for a grantee deploying to McMurdo is Snowcraft I AKA Happy Camper School. Happy Camper School teaches you how to survive the night (or day since it's never night here) should you unexpectedly find yourself stranded off station on your own with limited supplies. You are required to take this course before you're allowed to leave town in any kind of vehicle (think helicopters). For most people this is a lot of fun.

From 20091102-HappyCamper

There's a brief one hour lecture in town before you're whisked away in the "Delta" transport vehicle. Happy Camper School takes place a few miles out of town just passed Scott base. Despite being out in the cold you're never really that far away from help should you need it.

From 20091102-HappyCamper

You learn a variety of skills throughout the course, but most important is setting up shelter. The more obvious options are mountaineering tents and Scott tents (named for the Antarctic explorer), but some of the more interesting choices are quincy huts and snow trenches. Igloos are also an option, though we only got as far as building wind walls from snow blocks. I slept in one of the Scott tents (tall pointy and yellow).

From 20091102-HappyCamper

We were fortunate. The coldest temperature we saw that night was 7F. A cold night for sure, but nothing compared to what the antarctic can throw at you. Many folks spend Happy Camper School shivering at well below zero. If things become unbearable, you always have the option of sneaking off to the warming hut for safety. This is, of course, highly discouraged. We spent most of the night drinking hot chocolate and laughing. When it came time for bed, the cold was nothing a nalgene full of hot water tucked down in your sleeping bag couldn't take care of. I slept like a baby.

From 20091102-HappyCamper

The next morning we went back into the instruction hut around 8AM to go over things like radio basics and risk management.

Though I was pretty comfortable throughout the experience, I must admit I was pretty happy to see the Delta on it's way back to pick us up. Antarctica is not a place you want to sleep outdoors in the cold if you can help it.