VOLUME 09‐10 APRIL NO. 3

PRESIDENT P.O. Box 325, Port Clyde ME 04855 Charles Lagerbom WWW.ANTARCTICAN.ORG 16 Peacedale Dr. Northport, ME 04849 [email protected] CONTENTS BRASH ICE ……………………....… cover WIND FARM OPENED ……....…..……….…. 5 VICE PRESIDENT Dr. Anthony J. Gow MEMBERSHIP ……………...... ….…...… 3 TRAVELERS RESOURCE GUIDE …...….…. 5 117 Poverty Lane LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT …...... 3 TREATY MEETINGS .….………………...…. 8 Lebanon, NH 03766 [email protected] WEBSITE UPDATE …………....……….. 4 NSF POLAR PROGRAMS ………………...... 8

TREASURER BILL SLADEN ………………………..…. 5 NEW STATION ROSS SEA ………….…...… 8 Paul C. Dalrymple DOME AWAY FROM HOME .....….…... 5 NSF POLAR PROGRAMS CONTRACT ...... 8 Box 325 Port Clyde, ME 04855 CLIMATE CHANGE BOOK REVIEW ... 6 ANTARCTIC MARATHONS ………………. 9 Phone: (207) 372-6523 [email protected] BRASH ICE. It has been a long, long time since our last Newsletter. Has global SECRETARY warming or the health care reform bill held us up? We actually look for a top line John F. Splettstoesser 433 Fifth St. Apt. 316 story to highlight our Newsletter, and we have had two on the burner since late fall, Waconia, MN 55387 but were told along the road by Washington to avoid writing about them at this time. [email protected] One was a scheduled announcement on the award of the next Antarctic contractor, which was supposed to have been last fall. We still don’t have the green light on WEBMASTER Thomas Henderson that one, but now we find others are going ahead and putting it onto their web site. 520 Normanskill Place So why not us? It seems that the powers-to-be requested additional information, and Slingerlands, NY 12159 this has all taken time. Now it appears that the selection will not be made until some [email protected] time this coming fall.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS The other item that they were holding off on was the final disposition of the dome at Dr. George A. Doumani South Pole Station. How could this be considered a secret when personnel were on Robert B. Flint, Jr. site dismantling the dome, packing it up, and sending it off to the States? And Dr. Arthur B. Ford recently this news has been shown on various web sites, as well as the Antarctic Guy G. Guthridge Diana Logan Sun. Jerry Marty Tony J. Meunier However, your Society has not been exactly underground for the past few months. Dr. Polly A. Penhale Our web site, under the guidance of our hard-working webmaster, Tom Henderson, Dr. Charles Swithinbank never takes a holiday. You should access our web site on a continuous basis, as Tom is always adding new items. We are so proud of what Tom has done, and he is bringing in all kinds of accolades for what he has and is doing. Meanwhile, our ever- working president, Charles Lagerbom, continues on a non-reimbursable basis the scanning of your polar pictures. What a team, be sure and read their columns in this Newsletter.

Recently there was a most outstanding publication from the International Polar Year, 2007-2008, published by SCAR, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, entitled ANTARCTIC CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. John Splettstoesser offered to review this publication after he received a complimentary copy from the SCAR office, but whereas I was involved in a companion publication on climate change, CLIMATE CHANGE TO THE YEAR 2000, published by the National Defense University in---get this—1978, I preempted John’s offer. Both of these publications had similarities, remiss in the earlier announcement. John although they are highly different. The was involved in both Operation High Jump biggest similarity being that both were the and Operation Windmill back in the 1940s. products of a team of experts, SCAR’s He was born March 23, 1919, in Syracuse publication is the end result of a hundred NY, and died 23 Feb. 2007, short of his 88th scientists, from many disciplines, from all birthday. He was a very well known over the world and pooling their expertise. geographer, and one of his claims to fame The one I was associated with employed was a large publication that does not even only climatologists, twenty in number, bear his name, an extensive bibliography of including the distinguished Hubert H. Lamb, 147 pages on Antarctica that he produced Helmut Landsberg, J. Murray Mitchell, Reid when he worked for the U. S. Navy. It Bryson, Hermann Flohn, Will Kellogg, and seems the Navy had a policy then that Steve Schneider. We even used author’s names could not be shown on the climatologists known to polar people, like cover, so you won’t find John’s name on the Wally Broecker, Willi Dansgaard, Roger cover. But John, being a wise man, beat the Barry, Harry Van Loon, Jerome Namias, Navy at its own game; inside the .and Joseph Smagorinsky. Our study was bibliography he lists the publication and its initiated by the Department of Agriculture, author, John Roscoe! It seems that John who was concerned with northward was a bad pack rat, and his poor widow has movement of crops with global warming. been engulfed with his memorabilia, and she As I look back at our work, done 40 years has come to our Society for help. Our ago, we were looking as far downstream as Society president has a most extensive polar the year 2000! And as we look at the names library of his own, and as we go to press it of our experts, only a few are still alive. could be that he will come to her rescue. Life is precarious, we are mere mortals. Another one of the good old boys, American Climate is the tale that has wagged the dog toponymist Fred G. Alberts, Secretary, named Antarctica, going back to and Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names, including the Byrd expeditions. Probably 1949-1980, passed away on March 3, 2010, the best known of all Antarctic at the age of 88. Pete Bermel described Fred climatologists, certainly in the States, came as “one of the nicest and gentlest men that I out of Byrd’s First Antarctic Expedition, have ever known”. Pete went on to say “the from Erie, Pennsylvania, Explorer Scout Antarctican community has lost the single- Paul Allman Siple, our Society’s 2nd most knowledgeable person in the field of president. From that same expedition, Henry Antarctic toponymy. Guy Guthridge wrote Harrison, meteorologist, became the very that Fred “continued to provide first certified Consulting Meteorologist of indispensible scholarly service to the US- the American Meteorological Society. One ACAN. The U.S. Board on Geographic could argue that Mort Rubin, Harry Names and worldwide users of the Antarctic Wexler’s right hand during the IGY, was as Gazetteer owe him a large debt for the much climatologist as meteorologist. Joe integrity and wisdom of his guidance and for Fletcher of Fletcher’s Ice Island, T-3, was an the unassailable administrative record he Antarctic climatologist of note. J. Murray created during his tenure as secretary. He Mitchell may have been the first pure was central to the development of climatologist that was ever sent by NSF to international practices for resolving names the South Pole. Bill Spriggs of the National decisions, earning admiration for the United Climate Program Office followed Murray to States throughout the Antarctic Treaty the Pole, going there several years later. System.”

John Roscoe, one of our Ancients and The New Zealand Geographic Board named Honorables, has died, although we were Mount Alberts at 73°02’S, 167°52’E after

2 him, and the UK-APC named Alberts Garry McKenzie, Ken Moulton, Sy Roman, Glacier, 66°52’S, 64°53’W after Fred. He Bob Rutford, Kirk Spelman, Don Wiesnet, made summer visits in 1962-63 to Byrd and Rich Wilson) have added contributions Station, the South Pole, Hallett Station, and onto their checks for the Ruth J. Siple McMurdo Station. He compiled and edited Memorial Library Fund. The Fund is doing GEOGRAPHIC NAMES OF THE quite well, and we hope/anticipate that we ANTARCTIC, United States Board on will be able to continue to make annual book Geographic Names, 2nd Edition, 1995. selections and shipments to the South Pole Station. Fred had an abdominal aortic aneurysm that he had known about for a year or more. It Valmar Kurol, our Antarctic musical seems that Fred’s brother had the same specialist from Montreal, has come up with issue a few years ago, had an operation, but ten additional Antarctic CDs which will be lived for only nine more months. Fred shipped off to the Ruth J. Siple Memorial decided that he would not go through with Library. the operation, although it evidently weighed SINFONIA heavily on his mind. When he did not feel ANTARTICA/SHACKLETON/KIRBY/CA well on March 2nd, he committed himself to RR the hospital the following morning. It was SONIC ANTARCTICA by Andrea Poli determined that the aneurysm was bleeding SHACKLETON VOYAGE by Eureka and emergency surgery was performed. ANTARCTIC BALLADS by Cliff When they tried to restart Fred’s heart, it Wedgbury was too weak to handle the blood and ANTARCTICA by KevOz restart. He had a talk with his wife, Marilyn, T & T REAL TRAVELS IN before going into surgery and “he gave her ANTARCTICA by Thomas Downie that little look.” ANTARCTIC SYMPHONY (Compilation) ANTARCTICA by Mr. I If any of you folks are vacationing along ICELIGHT by Michelle Ende coastal Maine this summer, let us know, and WHITEOUT (Motion Picture Soundtrack) we will try to meet you and share a lobster roll. OUR PRESIDENT SPEAKS (Charles Lagerbom) The Antarctican Society is MEMBERSHIP -- GOOD NEWS, BAD working diligently to preserve the history of NEWS. Eighty-seven per cent of our our involvement with the Antarctic members have paid up for this year, but Continent. Everyone needs to check out the there are still forty-one delinquent members. new and interesting material being posted on However, there is a welcome number of our society’s web page. We have added multi-year renewals this year, seventy per photos, documents, audio and digital footage cent, which we dearly appreciate as it cuts of a lot of our members and their Antarctic down on our paper work. We had to drop experiences. This will only increase in time. ten members last year who went delinquent The scanning service is also helping on us, and another ten passed away. We preserve thousands of images by putting only picked up nine new members, so we them into a modern digital format. We hope show a negative gain for the year, leaving us to see more people take advantage of this with only 339 total members (when the service. If you have any questions or would current delinquents renew!). like to participate, please contact us.

We are also most pleased to announce that a There are also some interesting goodly number of you (Joe Dukert, Art developments in efforts to try and save the Ford, Al Fowler, Ann Gallager, Guy South Pole Station Dome, which was taken Guthridge, Jennie Harter, Austin Hogan, down this past austral summer. Plans for its

3 eventual destination, whether it be by popup will show the description of the shredder for a landfill or safely re-erected in station under the “Station” tab. The other part or totally and preserved, are still up in tabs may then be clicked to reveal what else the air. See our Society webmaster Tom in the database may be of interest related to Henderson’s report to learn more. McMurdo. “Links” contain links to any documents, video, audio, websites or other The Society is also working to preserve the supplementary information that is pertinent. collections of materials, memorabilia and The new structure provides a more other artifacts from members who would organized way of cataloging and making like to see them taken care of, appreciated accessible the wealth of historical and/or stored in some suitable arrangement. information that is gradually accumulating Other polar organizations are in the same in Time Trek. We hope you will find it boat with older members who might not helpful. want to see their materials wind up in the dumpster after they are gone or to have their There will be new photos from our slide- kids put their things up for auction on Ebay. scanning project posted in Time Trek on a People have asked me what should they do regular basis. The backlog continues to with their loved one’s slides or momentos or grow. If you want to know what has been other materials (including one who asked me added, click on “Time Trek Content about his grandfather’s waffle-weave long Changes” on the “Time Trek” page. underwear!) It is a difficult conundrum and one in which an increasing number of Other new material that will be posted soon members seem to find themselves thinking includes an extensive video interview with about. As Antarctican Society president, I Jules Madey and a fine video production by would like to offer the Society’s help to Society members Dr. Ed Robinson and Ed anyone in this situation. We can offer to Williams, M.D. The former was perhaps the have materials cataloged, archived, digitized most well-known amateur (ham) radio and/or possibly stored. The connection and operator during the IGY and for a number of appreciation of our polar past is what makes years following. Jules was only 16 when he this society a venerable institution. It is only first began phone patching for the IGY fitting that we stay active in trying to Antarcticans, but soon developed a preserve the legacy and heritage of the reputation as a very reliable and mature members who came before us. If there is operator. He made over 10,000 patches to some way we can help, please let us know. the Ice. The latter is a documentary of My new work email address traverses that were undertaken between is: [email protected] or I can be always 1959 and 1961 using the huge Tucker Sno- reached at [email protected]. Cats, including one from McMurdo to the South Pole. Ed Robinson was a scientist on WEBSITE UPDATE (by Tom Henderson). these traverses, but fortunately also acted as The restructuring of the database behind filmmaker when time permitted. These are Time Trek is nearing completion. The most excellent glimpses into traverse life and obvious way the user will see this change is conditions in those days. on the popup windows that appear when an event, station, or feature is selected. There A longer-term project now underway is the will now be tabs at the top of the popup audio narration of the extensive photo window that, when clicked, will show the collection of Dr. Charles Swithinbank by user what related information is available. Charles himself, a long-time Society The tabs are for Stations, Events, Images, member. He has graciously consented to Features and Links. By default, the category non-exclusive use of his photos on our of the original popup is shown first. For website. His collection covers all seven example, if I select “McMurdo Station” the decades of his long experience in Antarctica.

4 A number of the photos have appeared in his much in promoting Antarctic wildlife various books, but others will be publicly conservation. seen for the first time on our website. His personal audio narration adds a different Peter Scott was co-founder of the World dimension to the historical aspects of the Wildlife Fund (WWF) and created its photos as opposed to just a written original Panda Logo. However, the description. These will be worth waiting for! Europeans later changed the title to “World Wildlife Fund for Nature” and redrew the BILL SLADEN, 7-DECADE Panda Logo. However, under Russ Train’s ANTARCTICAN. William J.L Sladen and leadership the American branch of WWF Charles Swithinbank had planned to insisted in keeping the original title and celebrate their 7th decade as Antarcticans on Scott’s Panda Logo. By the way, the a cruise in November to Antarctica to American branch is still the largest and most include South Georgia, Antarctic Peninsula, successful branch of WWF worldwide and and South Orkney Islands. However, Bill Peter always stayed with the Trains when in has recently fallen upon some tough days. USA and working with Sladen’s swans. He was recently hospitalized for a minor stroke, but is now home. Because he is in DOME AWAY FROM HOME (from NSF his 90th year and Swithinbank getting along, press release of March 9, 2010 with they have both put this off, at least for 2010. additional information provided by John They still might make it! We will keep you Perry, Lee Mattis, and Jerry Marty) After posted on the web site. Right now Bill more than three decades of service to reports a miserable lumbar vertebral researchers and staff stationed at the bottom collapse, with pain. Incidentally, Bill of the world, the dome at the Amundsen- founded NSF’s USARP Bio-Medical Scott South Pole Station was deconstructed Program in 1957, was one of our Society’s this austral summer. Pieces of the structure earliest presidents, and is the only scientist are now headed back to the United States for to have presented three of our Memorial a new duty – a museum exhibit at the new Lectures. Please note, this is NOT an U.S. Navy Seabees museum in Port obituary, not even a “Swan SONG”, just an Hueneme, California. announcement of the slowing down of one of our most respected and beloved Bio- Designed by TEMCOR of Torrance, CA and Medicos (OR maybe better termed constructed by the Seabees in the early Penguinologists!). 1970s, the dome’s geodesic design provided a unique solution to the challenges posed to It should be mentioned that Bill Sladen engineers trying to build structures at the introduced Sir Peter Scott and Roger Tory South Pole. The dome was sufficiently Peterson to their first Antarctic penguins at strong enough to withstand the weight of Cape Crozier in the 1960s. Sir Peter was snow that would blow onto it, and its round only two years old when his father, Captain shape helped deflect the fierce winds that Robert Scott, died on his return from the blow almost constantly at the site. Because South Pole in 1912. Later, Scott and the dome needed no internal columns, it Peterson were, with Lars-Eric Lindblad, provided a wide and flexible space inside, responsible for bringing women (their own where it protected buildings housing wives) to Antarctica, and thus providing researchers and support staff, as well as encouragement later for national organizers laboratories, supplies, and other necessities for the first time to encourage women from the harsh polar environment outside. scientists there. Scott and Peterson each gave one of our Memorial Lectures at the The dome provided a platform for countless National Academy of Sciences, and helped scientific discoveries in astronomy, physics, climatology, and other fields, and it also

5 provided a home away from home for the Holmes and Narver Assistant Construction station’s ‘winter over’ crew during 8 months Manager at South Pole Station in 1975 and at the station during the austral winter, much NSF Construction and Operations & of the time in darkness. The dome could no Maintenance Manager for the new South longer accommodate the demands of Pole Station that has replaced the dome. research activities taking place there, however, and each year the structure sank ANTARCTIC CLIMATE CHANGE deeper into the ice it was built on. The AND THE ENVIRONMENT, A blowing snow that collected on top of the Contribution to the International Polar Year, dome and around it had to be removed and 2007-2008. Scientific Committee on hauled away each year, burning up precious Antarctic Research. A review. This fuel and crew time during the short austral telephone-directory-sized book had a limited summer. The international treaty that publication in hard copy form, only 500, so governs human activities in Antarctica you won’t find it at your favorite corner requires that obsolete buildings and bookstore. But you can access it equipment be removed and the site electronically at remediated whenever possible, necessitating http://www.scar.org/publications/occasional the dome’s deconstruction and removal. s/acce.html, complete with original figures in color. The dome was also designed to be flown to However, I don’t think it is a book that the South Pole with relative ease in small many of you will want, as basically it is a pieces and then assembled using a system of high reference type tome. I doubt if anyone struts, bolts and gusset plates. While will ever read every word in this book, construction at the South Pole is never easy, certainly not this reviewer. Even one of the this simplicity in design helped the Seabees prime nine editors admitted to me that he tremendously while they built the dome and had not read the whole book. So take it aided in the disassembly of the dome over from there. It is not that the book could be the past few months. Another factor aiding injurious to your health, or conversely be a in the deconstruction is the fact that some health stimulant, it is, well, just too much. individuals involved in the dome’s disassembly team, had years of polar Besides the nine editors -- three from the experience working on the new station that U.K., two from the U.S., two from replaced the dome. An estimated 90% of the Germany, one from Italy, one from SCAR -- dome’s components were successfully there are a hundred scientists who deconstructed and can possibly be contributed to the book. There are 1829, reassembled in the future. yes, 1829, references at the end. There are seven major headings. If your time were After so many years of service to science in valuable, I would recommend that you just the harshest place on Earth, part of the dome read the Executive Summary and the will enjoy retirement in southern California. Recommendations. Even these can get to be The top sections of the dome are headed to a bit overbearing, as there are 80 highlights the new U.S. Navy Seabees museum in Port shown in the Executive Summary and 32 Hueneme, where they will be reassembled Recommendations. Wow! and suspended above a larger exhibit on the Seabees work in Antarctica. We like the way the chapters are organized, starting out with The Antarctic Environment John Perry, USN CDR (retired) was the and the Global System. It’s not too long, Officer in Charge (OIC) during construction being only 32 pages, but it is a good of the dome. Lee Mattis was the TEMCOR introduction. Chapter two is on engineer of record and was on site during Observations, Data Accuracy, and Tools. A construction of the dome. Jerry Marty was total of authors fill up 82 pages. Ozone

6 observations only rate a single page. The McMurdo Station on January 16, 2010. The third chapter is on Antarctic Climate and turbines will cut the need for diesel to run Environment History in the Pre-Instrumental both bases by 11 per cent. A stage two with Period, some 68 pages. The fourth chapter a dozen more turbines is being considered, was the most interesting one to me. It was and could eventually supply more than half The Instrumental Period, a team high of 64 of the energy needs at the two stations. The authors filled over a hundred pages (116). wind farm is part of a longer-term However, it is the only chapter in the whole commitment to reduce carbon footprints at book where the figures are not numbered. the two stations, and is part of New The fifth chapter was on The Next Hundred Zealand's contribution to the joint logistics Years. pool. Other recent changes at Scott Base include quadruple-glazed windows, I was as much surprised as to who/what was "waterless" urinals, and a new helicopter excluded as to who were selected. Of all that uses 40 per cent less fuel. those 1829 references, Susan Solomon only shows up once, as a co-author. And this is a book on climate change? There is only a ANTARCTICA—FIRST JOURNEY: single reference to Wally Broecker. And The Traveller’s Resource Guide. how about Bob Rutford, Gunter Weller, Geoffrey Carpentier, Hidden Brook Press, Uwe Radok, Harry Wexler, Mort Rubin, 2009, 359 p. ISBN-978-1-897475-36-2. Bert Crary, Joe Fletcher, and Heinz Lettau? $33.50. They must have done something that would The author is a Canadian who has worked put them in the everlasting list of references in Antarctica on expedition tour ships as staff, and his experience shows in the Isn’t ozone a big player in the Antarctic content of this book. The sub-title of the climate, but it appears to be well book implies another version of a Lonely camouflaged in this large volume? Planet edition of Antarctica, but the content Although the next century (Chapter 5) will is different in many ways, and so is the no doubt include studies of subglacial lakes author’s style of presentation in the text. in Antarctica, only one reference refers to One way to review the content is to the subject. summarize briefly some of the 9 chapters, which include considerable details on On the plus side there are heavy preparation for departure (do’s and don’ts), contributions from Paul Mayewski, Robert how to conduct oneself while in Antarctica, Bindschadler, Richard Alley, David summaries of wildlife, with an index at the Bromwich, Jay Zwally, George Denton, and end of scientific names for wildlife, my old South Pole roommate, Mario numerous locations that tour ships visit, and Giovinetto. There is another American a timeline of expeditions with brief shown in the references, a man who worked annotations. Another way to review it is to for me, but his name is misspelled!. paraphrase the statement on the cover of the book. “There are many books about Oh, go ahead and look at it electronically. Antarctic wildlife and how to identify You might even like it if you are scholarly. virtually everything that lives there, visits by cruise vessels, preparations and planning SOUTHERNMOST WIND FARM before the big event occurs, but this book OPENED (Margaret Lanyon from concentrates on many things others do not, Christchurch Press). Three turbines mainly for first-time visitors. ……, the installed at Scott Base by Meridian Energy author anticipates the issues that might at started supplying electricity to a new shared first seem perplexing to anyone planning to power grid that connects the New Zealand visit Antarctica, and covers them in detail. research station to its U.S. neighbor at It is a worthwhile purchase in order to

7 prepare for a visit, as well as to have on an increase for Arctic Sciences of $106.31 in hand while there. Recommended for all 2010 to $111.36 in 2011. Antarctic Science first-time travelers, as well as veterans to budget was $71.08 (2010) to $75.18 (2011), read what you have been missing.” and Antarctic Infrastructure & Logistics Regrettably, the book does not have an from $266.76 (2010) to $280.18 (2011). index included, a factor of publisher’s U.S. Coast Guard is in the listings, with $54 budget, so the author has provided one at his for 2011. The good news is that the figures website www.avocetnatureservices.com. are on the upward side, but whether (JFS) inflationary factors are in effect might have a different meaning to the 2011 requests. A ANTARCTIC TREATY MEETINGS. later Newsletter might have final figures, Polly Penhale, Environmental Officer at the along with priorities and targets for budget NSF Office of Polar Programs, has passed detail. along interesting information on upcoming meetings. The Antarctic Treaty Meeting of SOUTH KOREA – NEW STATION IN Experts (ATME) at the Antarctic Treaty ROSS SEA. (modified, from Margaret Consultative Meeting XXXII in Baltimore Lanyon) South Korea has expanded its (2009) agreed to convene a Meeting of sphere of activities in Antarctica by locating Experts with the aim of discussing relevant a place for a new station in the western Ross matters related to implications of climate Sea in the Terra Nova Bay region (approx. change for management and governance of 74ºS, 164ºE), on the basis of a survey from the Antarctic region. The ATME was held its first icebreaker, Araon. South Korea’s in Svolvær, Norway, 6-9 April 2010. The first station, Sejong, is located in Maxwell following topics were discussed relevant to Bay, King George Island, and was built in climate change in Antarctica: 1988. The Ross Sea area will provide • Key scientific aspects of climate additional opportunities to conduct new change and consequences of such types of research in the interior of change to the Antarctic terrestrial Antarctica, and will be aided in that location and marine environment, by the proximity of other bases for • Implications of climate change to cooperative efforts. Currently, McMurdo management of Antarctic activities, (U.S.), Scott Base (New Zealand), Zucchelli • The need for monitoring, scenario (Italy) and Gondwana (Germany) operate in planning and risk assessments, the Ross Sea region. South Korea’s new • Outcomes of the Copenhagen station is estimated to cost about $88 negotiations relevant for the million, will be completed by 2014, and will Antarctic, consist of five buildings and accommodate • The need for further consideration 60 scientists. The plan for the station will of any of the above issues and be submitted to the next Antarctic Treaty manners in which this can be Consultative Meeting (ATCM XXXIII) in achieved. Punta del Este, Uruguay, 3-14 May 2010.

Results of the ATME will be reported to the NSF POLAR PROGRAMS Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting ANTARCTIC LOGISTICS XXXIII in Punta del Este, Uruguay, 3-14 CONTRACTOR UPDATE. In the 1960s May 2010. and later, the contractor support was simply called ‘Logistics,’ but modern terminology NSF POLAR PROGRAMS 2010-2011 has included ‘Infrastructure,’ a sign of the BUDGET. The initial announcement of the times and the growing needs of supporting 2011 budget request (all figures in millions U.S. science in Antarctica. Another sign of of dollars) for NSF/OPP stated $528 the times regarding the contractor support is (rounded), with a few subheadings that show when Arctic Institute of North America

8 contracted with NSF to provide clothing and Antarctica. This is a keystone program for field items such as tents and other things for the company. field parties. An issued parka in 1960 thus paid no attention to what had been learned ANTARCTIC MARATHONS (from over the years by Eskimos and others about Margaret Lanyon, expanded from how to design clothing to keep warm. Christchurch Press, 18 January 2010) Times have changed, so have the parkas, McMurdo Marathon. This event attracted and so have the contractors. The NSF about 50 runners from McMurdo and Scott Chalet building at McMurdo was Base, plus a few cross-country skiers, who constructed by Holmes and Narver (H & N) raced across the Ross Ice Shelf this month. in 1969-70, completed in that one season The route formerly (1970s) included a run with the help of the Seabees. Since then, the between Scott Base and Scott’s 1901 hut at most visible and current name in the McMurdo, but this one was a loop contractor scene for OPP has been connecting two airfields, Williams Field and Raytheon, although there have been others, Pegasus. Footwear for some included but since a solicitation for bidding was plastic clip-on running-shoe crampons issued by NSF for the future, more names because of the terrain. The winner was and acronyms have entered the picture. In technician Curtis Moore from South Pole August 2009, NSF advised the seven major station, in a time of three hours and seven bidding teams that everything was off, and a minutes. The Kiwis might have finished revised schedule and solicitation was after the fact, but continued their unbroken forthcoming. Final turnover to the new win record in the inter-base rugby match contractor is estimated to be 1 April 2011, held two weeks previously. The Ice Blacks and the new names in the forefront include trounced McMurdo’s Mount Terror Rugby the major company TransPolar, with Club 23-0. No one ever said that rugby corporate partners AECOM (successor to H was an American super-sport. & N) and Raytheon, with key subcontractors SAIC, NCSA, Chenega Corporation, and Antarctic Marathon on King George Shaw. Space limitations prevent the Island. For those who are interested in meaning of all that alphabet soup, but it you commercially-operated marathons in click on Bill Spindler’s website at Antarctica, the 12th Antarctic Marathon is http://www.southpolestation.com/trivia/ncs/ scheduled for February 2011, with the usual ncs.html, you will be enlightened. There route at Maxwell Bay, King George Island, appears to be no relation of one of those passing amongst roads and paths between corporate institutions to the name of a the so-called ‘United Nations’ stations former Vice-President. located there – Great Wall (China), Marsh/Frei (Chile), Bellingshausen (Russia), CONTRACT UPDATE ON ABOVE – A and Artigas (Uruguay). press release issued in early April informed Runners have a choice of a full marathon or us that Raytheon Company’s “Raytheon a half-marathon, depending on stamina or Polar Services” has been awarded a one-year other factors. Because of its longevity and extension to its contract to March 31, 2011. popularity over the years it has attracted the Raytheon Company’s headquarters in attention of those who oversee tourism in Waltham, Mass. employs 75,000 people Antarctica, the Antarctic Treaty Parties and worldwide. Raytheon Polar Services the International Association of Antarctica employs about 350 full-time staff and 1,400 Tour Operators (IAATO), to the extent that contract employees from its offices in IAATO has issued “Draft Guidelines for Centennial, Colorado. Its Program Director, Organising Marathons or Running Events.” Sam Feola, said the company appreciates the Consistent with IAATO Bylaws, no more opportunity to continue support for the than 100 people are allowed ashore at any valuable scientific research underway in one time, the event requires a permit applied

9 for by the operator, an observer must be on hand to oversee the event, and whatever is brought ashore must be returned to the offshore tour vessel that brought the runners there. The event is sponsored and managed by a IAATO-member ship-borne operator, with staff ashore to ensure a problem-free event. The popularity of the event is apparent when looking at the waiting list for the following years. It is sold out for 2011, 2012, and 2013, with a waiting list for others.

Antarctic Ice Marathon. If you are interested in something a bit more ‘polar’, sign up for this marathon, operating out of the Patriot Hills camp, Ellsworth Mountains, at 80ºS latitude. Don’t expect to see wildlife, because penguins don’t appear that far south, but choices include a 26.2-mile run or the 100-k ultra race. The camp is operated by another IAATO member, Adventure Network International/Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, but a commercial company advertises the event for its own clients. Its popularity is shown by some who are members of a Seven Continents Club (marathons on each continent), and nearby mountains add an additional challenge to climb Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica, for those who belong to the Seven Summits group (climbing the highest mountain on each continent). For a little extra cash, ANI/ALE will also take you to the South Pole for those who are bi-polar (and many are). So what will the Ice Marathon itself set you back? How about 9,900 euros (about $13,000 USD)? However, the adventure of the location might be the attraction, and odds are that none of your neighbors has ever done it, or is interested. Check the website for these marathons for further details.

10 BEFORE

Deconstruction of the Amundsen‐Scott South Pole Station Dome (December, 2009 – March, 2010)

AFTER