An update from Jenny Heinzen, MREA Curriculum Director — See her previous updates for background on Jenny’s mission.
My time at the South Pole has come to an end…
Hello again MREA friends,
My time at the South Pole has come to an end, and I’m so grateful I was offered and granted the opportunity to live and work at a place like no other on this earth. It’s bittersweet to be done and on my journey home, back to “normal” life in civilization. I’m eager to see and smell vegetation again, and it’s hard to remember what nighttime feels like because the sun hasn’t set since I got to Antarctica in early December.
“I’m going to miss the challenging work at the IceCube Drill Camp and the friends that I’ve made.”
The final week was brutal. It was obvious the summer season was over and winter was on its way. Not only were we under pressure to finish all the necessary tasks for shut-down and winterization of the equipment on the job site, but Mother Nature also decided to give us a taste of what it feels like to be truly cold. Most of the season was quite tolerable for a Wisconsinite like me, especially dressed in ECW (extreme cold weather) gear. But suddenly the temperature went from about -10 degrees to -40 degrees with windchills ranging from -50 to -60 degrees F.
“Nonetheless, I have zero regrets.”
I’m still in awe that I got to experience life at the bottom of the globe, totally isolated and opposite of the world I’ve known since I was born. What a trip!
I’m writing this third and final update from McMurdo Base, where I’ve been waiting for a flight to Christchurch, New Zealand for about four days. It’s very different than the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. I’ve gotten used to private dorms and a population of about 140 people… and here at McMurdo, there are roughly 1,000 people and I share a room with four others – some who are staying here for the winter, and others like me who are just passing through and waiting for their flight. But the change of scenery is nice (mountains, seals, and open water) and it feels refreshing to be at sea level again. I was also able to visit nearby Scott Base to see how the “Kiwis” live and work on the ice.
I have just a few fun tidbits to share before I finish this last memoir:
- Before leaving the Pole, I got a fascinating tour of the South Pole Telescope (SPT), one of the most powerful telescopes in the world and the main reason we’re able to take pictures of black holes and galaxies far, far away.
- Chilean President Gabriel Boric and his entourage came to the Pole for a short visit. It was cool to watch their Blackhawk helicopters land on and take off from the ski-way.
- I still can’t intelligently explain what a neutrino is. I’ll just hand you a pamphlet or tell you to Google it if you ask me.
Thanks for keeping up with my Antarctic adventures!
I’m taking a vacation in New Zealand for a while once I leave McMurdo, but I’ll be back to work and see you again in early March.
INSTRUCTORS
While Jenny is away on leave, our students are in good hands thanks to our instructor network that’s been filling in while Jenny is away. Our 2025 courses are out now! Register for in-person and online courses today!
