New adventures in Antarctica
Peterborough native Laura Conchelos, 32, is in the Antarctic again this year working for the United States Antarctic Program in a carpenter-like capacity - something she has done for the past six winters. The PCVS graduate’s parents Mary and Greg Conchelos still live in Peterborough. Here’s the latest report of Laura’s adventures.
Greetings and salutations from the South Pole once again and a Happy 2012 to all.
It’s been a fun and interesting season (my sixth) down here at the South Pole Station.
Each season has a tendency to be a lot like the last and I find it a little harder each year to write letters and e-mails. However, this season has been a little different. This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott attempting to reach the South Pole. During the week of Dec. 14, the date Amundsen reached the Pole, we were visit- ed by an entourage from Norway (Amundsen was Norwegian) including Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg!
On the day of the anniversary, he made a lovely speach and unveiled an ice bust of Amundsen of all things! The mould for the bust was made by an artist in Norway and the water for the statue was poured into on station.
A lot of visitors were on hand for the anniversary. They were staying out at a tourist camp not far from the station. One of the visitors, who skiied partway here had done so in clothing similar to that which Amundsen had worn on his trek. He and his party dragged sledges with their gear on top. This man and others got picked up by plane when they realized they would not make it to Pole by Dec. 14. However it was still quite a feat.
On Dec. 14, there were about 100 visitors staying out at the tourist camp. Many had skiied in, some had flown and some had even driven in trucks. A visitors’ center and special gift shop were set up for the occasion in order to keep traffic in the station to a minimum. Every year we tourists, just not this many.
The National Science Foundation policy is to give everyone a welcome, a brief tour of the station and a chance to purchase items at our gift shop. The visitors’ center and gift shop were set up in an effort to cut down on the tourist traffic in the station. The NS, not surprisingly, did support Prime Minister Stoltenberg’s visit. He and his party stayed in the station, not out in the tents with the tourists!
Coming up in mid-january will be the 100th anniversary of Robert Scott’s ill-fated arrival at Pole. For those who may not be up on their Antarctic history, Scott and his men perished while returning to the coast from the South Pole. Not only that, but they lost the race to get here first. I don’t know if any ceremony is being put on for that anniversary but there is a rumour that Scott’s great-great grandson, or someone like that, will be here on the day. There are also supposed to be close to a hundred more tourists camped out then!
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Other than that, the season has been good and uneventful.
I just helped install solar panels on the roofs of two of our buildings which was kind of cool. Our crew is great, as usual but we have had to put up with working with two non-new Hampshire folks. It’s been a struggle but the four of us from the Whites have perservered!
Anyway, I hope you are all having a lovely 2012 wherever you might be.
Best wishes for the New Year!