Same same but different

Its been a couple of years but I finally made it back down south and this time to Casey station. As I find myself back in this isolated and beautiful place with a new bunch of strangers it feels like coming home. While we only get to step foot on Antarctica the 1st time once, seeing others do it for the 1st time this year brought me the same joy.

This little village is mostly the same as Davis was in 2022 with many of the same coloured buildings, a main street, lots of snow, some icebergs, penguins, planes, loads of tonka trucks and a bunch of hi-vis getting around running this place.

I’ve been here for almost 10 weeks now and time has flown. I decided I only wanted to do the summer this time to experience the busyness of Casey station operations but I’m already feeling a little sad to leave it behind for those to enjoy everything I know a winter has to offer.

As I flick through my photos wondering what to share a lot has happened here since early November. There are around 80 people on station for the full summer plus we have another 40 beds that we use for those that come and go so any given day can have up to 120 people around and every week our washing machines are full of linen that needs to be turned around ready for the next set of people.

Its been lovely to have around 30 Scientists this year who are all taking full advantage of time in the field. Many scientists wait years for these opportunities and manage significant frustrations and disappointment when weather, infrastructure or logistics simply can’t support their work. Antarctica certainly lets us know who is in charge and learning to be patient and respecting her is critical to achieving here.

Weather has played havoc with our aviation plans this year, I’m sure if I did the numbers we would have spent more time planning to fly that we did actual flying. But occasionally we have blue skies and no wind and take full advantage. I’ve made it to the skiway for an excursion but haven’t made it on a flight yet…maybe next week.

Resupplying Casey station each year is an epic task. More than a million litres of fuel to keep us warm and more than 750 tonnes of cargo to keep our little town running was delivered through 12 hours shifts across a 2 week period. Team hi-vis ran the wharf and delivered things to the right places for the unpack teams. I spent most of the time talking, doing emails and making decisions on all manner of things but doing resupply I got to spend a couple of hours washing containers before they were returned to Australia – a little bit of fun to mix it. The perfect time to do this delivery at Casey is unfortunately across the Christmas period so we just move the public holidays – that’s a normal thing to do isn’t it?

In amongst all this work there is plenty of fun to be had and during resupply we managed to get everyone a berg cruise, ship tours and station tours. We have Science talks every Tuesday night where we have learnt about weird and wonderful creatures in the ocean, glaciers, ice cores and more. There are plenty of games being played including outdoor cricket and frisbee as well as the usual darts, pool, table tennis and puzzling indoors and plenty of birthdays to be celebrated. We’ve just celebrated Christmas (on 10 January) and currently enjoying a 4 day break before we have New Years next week.

Going away for a night is still one of the most special things to do around here and I’ve been lucky enough to get away a couple of times. Driving in a Hagglunds for a few hours, staying in a hut with a small group, hiking the surrounding area then drinking wine, eating cheese and sleeping in bunks or a tent (yep I’m going to try it this time!) is nothing short of rejuvenating. Everyone comes back feeling refreshed having experienced the true isolation and beauty.

I was a bit anxious that this time wouldn’t feel as it did last time. I mean how could I top it with the group of people I wintered with last time? But here I am wondering whether it is luck, by design or both that I get the privilege of being here with yet another amazing bunch of talented, kind and funny people. There are way too many people to shout out individually and I need to do more today that just write this entry!! Hopefully yoga and a walk in the sun and maybe a little nap.