Warm DRY clothes. Hot SALTY Cup o’ Noodles; Ramen never tasted sooo good. Huddled an hour with Support Staff inside our Prep tent, before joining Lin for her final 2 short laps. Lady ran in SLEET last year, day’s multiple White Continent finisher. STRONG!
3 to a tent (Antarctica on a Budget). Overnight’d with 2 other Americans, Jeff & Dave. Quiet, respectful, neither snored & THIN. Three guys sharin’ a two-man tent; body size is KEY. We could maximize space (they decided): 2 campers positioned north-south, 3rd runner sleeping opposite direction. Yep, middle passenger. Short straw drawn.
Head at the open flap (tent/broken zipper). Wore EVERY piece of dry clothing packed. Those items I couldn’t physically peel on, I tucked over my head.
Grumble, grumble? long rambling rant? Heck no. I’m SNOW CAMPING in ANTARCTICA. Unbelievable. No words BIG ENOUGH for this life-imprint.
PRECIP blew in after midnite. Half-asleep, remember our flap blowing wildly & what I thought was rain. One eye open, wrapped a shoe ‘round the whipping tent appendage (quick MacGyver fix), shook the snow off my head-covers. FULL Antarctica EXPERIENCE! Cold, SUPER TIRED. Why the heck did my tent mate need a light?! Notta flashlight.
3 A.M. ☼ DAYBREAK. Tap tap tap of sleet, Antarctic summer wonderland.
Good a time as any for a ‘white pot’ moment. Urine emptied into the appropriate can (full-on glamping folks/no hand sanitizer either/don’t be jealous). Staggered back to my sleep mat. Zipped in/secure, DRY belongings piled high, cat-napped 2 hours more.
CAMP frosted white, morning in Antarctica.
Generator blaring, strong smell of petrol. Breakfast brewing. Opted for a walk-about (‘nuff Ramen yesterday).
More than I could have ever imagined. And C-O-L-D ❄️🐧❤️
- CAMP overlook
- 3 strangers; two-man tent
- 2 hours nightfall
- SNOW camping ❄️
- DAYBREAK
- 3 A.M. ☼
- White Continent morn
- Antarctica SUMMER
Antarctica CAMP
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