SOUTH POLE, ANTARCTICA: Sara is another new recruit with me and we didn't have our bunker gear yet so we wore our issued ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) gear. The temperature in the tunnel is between -55F where we started and drops down to about -65F at the deepest point. There's no wind chill, so that's nice. The frost on Sara's eyelashes, face cover and hat is the condensation of her own breath freezing when it hits her.
SOUTH POLE, ANTARCTICA: The group pauses for a moment to check in with everyone and to discuss what sort of dangers might be encountered when trying to perform a rescue in these tunnels. The fire brigade is the only group with the use of the SCBA units, so even if there isn't a fire (come on.. these are SNOW tunnels!) there is the possibility that noxious gases could fill the tunnels and only SCBA equipped personnel will be able to get in there to get someone out.
SOUTH POLE, ANTARCTICA: Part of this exercise was to become familiar with the tunnel system and to know what resources are available, like the maps that are posted throughout the tunnels.
