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The Next Move

Day two in McMurdo (only day 2??) has consisted of an acute mountain sickness session in the morning and nothing else while the veterans were in their snow school refresher course. In the evening, we went to 'the cage,' a cell in one of the buildings which holds gear for the different projects. We busted into our cage and divied up equipment--most importantly, the sleeping bags. Apparently, the sleeping bag situation goes something like this: Feathered Friends good, Everest something-or-other bad. I stood back quietly and didn't complain when I got one of the Feathered Friends. I tend to get cold easily while sleeping. The 'sleeping kits' also contain two sleeping pads, a pillow, and a fleece blanket. And a pee bottle. It's a pee bottle because it's marked "PEE."

Mario, the other newbie, and I have our full-blown snow school starting tomorrow. It's a one-night affair in which we are instructed on basic survival and have to sleep in the snow structures we build. I've heard snow school is a good time to meet people. I guess there's a certain bonding which goes on when you're stuck outside in the Antarctic climate overnight shortly after arriving with a group of folks you've never met before. From the e-mail list, it looks like there are only about 7 other people in the group. Also from the e-mail list, it looks like I'm the only female.

I'll leave you there in suspense until I get back.