South Pole – briefing

Despatch received yesterday from the Unlimited Child team:

‘Hi everyone

Today (Wednesday) we had our briefing about flying into Antarctica and what we should expect at Union Glacier, how we should behave in Antarctica in order to be safe and how to prevent frostbite. This was presented by American Chris Nance who has done six seasons in Antarctica including a winter (poor fellow).

We also learned what to do when we need to go to the loo because everything going into Antarctica must eventually come out. Good news! And how we need to use ‘Wag bags’. Obviously everything freezes so that should help as we haul our business across the ice because it won’t pong. Great!

Frostbite is always an issue and we have learned not to expose any bare skin to the elements so it should be interesting trying to wee. This said we do have pee bottles which we have to use in order we don’t leave a trail of yellow dots that we are told will remain there for decades. This is because there is little precipitation in Antarctica to decompose organic matter. Then when we get to the camp we will make one big yellow dot and that’s fine.

We are so excited but not sure when we will fly. Our bags are being collected this afternoon and we are hoping that if the weather is good we will fly at midnight tonight. There is 24 hours of daylight in Antarctica so no lights will be needed for our landing at Union Glacier. And we will not need to sleep because it never gets dark. This means we will not miss out on anything! Yay!

So excited we could use our Wag bags right now.

Groente

The Unlimited Child team’

Pic courtesy of  The Unlimited  http://southpole.theunlimitedchild.co.za/

From left: Zack Buchan, Dave Pritt, Peter Burning, Barney Buchan, Iain Buchan, Robin Beadle, Nzuzo Mnikathi (sitting)