“Con 1”
… continued from Day 1. At 5 am our team leader was informed that we had to pack up as Condition 1, or Con 1 (severe weather incoming) was about to hit Scott Base and our camp site. So we quickly packed up and left for base. In effect we had completed our full training having stayed out over night and experienced/practiced cooking in the cold, sleeping in the cold and creating / using shelter. All was good and in fact it turned out to be a Con 2 day (not quite so extreme but still with restricted movement) with a lunch time Con 1 state and then a Con 3 later in the day (the easiest and free-est level of movement).
As you might expect, everything is dominated by the weather here. White-outs can suddenly appear and as quickly dissipate. Nothing that we do not have in the Canadian Arctic so it is not a surprise.
Today, therefore, after clearing out the gear from the night, today was a down day. So there is not really much to report. However, a map is in order for our region so here are two maps that hopefully give the casual reader an understanding of where we are located. Look for Scott Base which is cheek-by-jowl next to McMurdo.
Finally, a view from the computer lab where I have been working today shows quite a nice perspective of the weather situation: -6C but -17C with the wind so not too bad.
Leave a Reply