If you missed your flight out of the South Pole on Friday, get comfortable. You'll be there until November.
The Atlantic tells us what it's like to winter in Antarctica:
Peter Rejcek, who wintered as a "carpenter helper" in 2004 and is now an editor for The Antarctic Sun, contends that winters are not as lonely as they might seem. "You're living and working in pretty close quarters, so the problem is more about finding personal space than being lonely. You're working long hours, so by the end of the winter, you're pretty exhausted, even if your job isn't that physical."
Most people who stay the winter do it to keep the bases operating. A year-round maintenance staff ensures that drainage, electricity, and other essential operations continue to run smoothly…
Winterers often work six days a week of double-digit hours. But for their downtime, the base has a gym, crafts room, library, and hydroponic greenhouse. "People are always volunteering to teach different classes, like yoga, dance, or even a foreign language," Rejcek says. "There's usually a band or two that will form and play shows during the winter." He denied the existence of a bar, but other reports indicate that the South Pole used to have a drinking spot called Club 90 South.
