Walk to the South Pole

[liketheuniverse11]

I'd love to watch "The thing" if I was over there, too! And "The shining"! It must be really fascinating! LOl! I wish you scientists could post more daily stories about the things you have to do on daily basis! :D It's really very interesting! Congrats for all your hard work! :D

[clonmultcity]

Is that you at the south pole?

[ksbeattie]

none other.

[desiabercrombie]

i think somebody's tricking us man..i don't think that's the real south pole..

[ksbeattie]

and what would "the real" south pole look like?

[Feedmadcat]

*Takes the South poles* :D

[ksbeattie]

If you have to ask here, don't go.

[gibiskinder]

I;m planning South Pole trip in 2009 , what tent I need to buy ?

[neil73]

I read on a blog a while ago that the people that winter over in Antarctica, on the mid-winter day, get out John Carpenters film, 'The Thing' to watch. Is this true?!

If i won the lottery, i would definately go there. I've always loved the heroic stories of the South and would love to work there, but i dont have a science degree/Phd

[ksbeattie]

I'd heard the same rumor, also that they watch "The Shining" after the last plane of the summer leaves. And rather than wait for the lottery, you could try applying for a job down there. There's lots of non-science work, in support of the science done there.

[neil73]

LOL! Thanks for the reply. I have looked into working there,applied to the BAS(im a UK citizen), but im sure there are other companies that take on people, regardless of country of origin. I would fit right in in the band room. Im pretty good on the keyboards!

[crepesoftime]

"Great God! This is an awful place." wrote Scott after he and his group arrived at the Pole. That must have been horrible, to realize that you were the second one there after such a journey.

Still a remarkable feat to be proud of.

[ericlee321]

Now i knew how the south pole looks like. I am from Malaysia.

[ericlee321]

Thanks for the vid.

[athenspoor]

I believe the UV index, and so the blue side of the visible spectrum, is high at the poles, because the ionosphere there is thinest. I think this camera wouldn't show such phenomenon back in the States.

[hrroundtree]

Now that's cold, lol

[meigsguy]

Why didnt you comment on the unique smell in the beer can it was never bad going down it but coming up from the powerplant was a different story lol good video nice memories

[ksbeattie]

I was being polite.  The bottom was indeed worse but even at the top it stunk pretty bad.

[Sselena1973]

Why did it stink in the beer can?

[ksbeattie]

A sewer line had busted and although they cleaned it all up, the stench remained...

[Sselena1973]

ok..Thanks for the reply.

[madmoses59]

That was you making the video?

[ksbeattie]

yes

[madmoses59]

Thanx for the reply. I assume if the public were just to visit, most people would get bored in a couple days. I think it depend on the time of year and how much some one wants to study whats there. Can anyone just chose to go there?

[ksbeattie]

Yup, but I believe only through one of those 'adventure' travel outfits, which I think will cost you about $40-50K

[fliparmy]

How cool! Are you a scientist? I would love to go there some day!

[salvaje50]

That is so cool! The bottom of the world (or the top, depending on your perspectice) I wish i could go

[10timesonetwothree]

yeah maybe it's the camera that makes the purple tinge, but I've seen other places in the world where the tinge is like this without a camera or glasses. Usually some dust or humidity in the air, sudden warm humid front snap during cooler weather. I've seen storm clouds red and orange in the distance the ocean. but antarctica is dry.

[pitcalco]

Truly fascinating.

[FionaTheFox]

I am also curious. There is NO OZONE AT THE SOUTH POLE! 10000 feet elevation + 24-hour sunlight in summer + the sun being closest to earth at that time + no ozone layer + snow everywhere to reflect = one hell of a sunburn?

[ksbeattie]

Well, I'm no expert but I believe there is *some* Ozone down there... Still, you cover everything up if outside for more than a few minutes, so no sunburn for me. Though I'd not bother with hood, mask & the 'big red' parka if just running to the bathroom at 'night' - you can handle -30F for a few secs. The dry air is much worse, no moisture in the air there - you need to drink water constantly to stay hydrated.

My profile here points to a blog I kept when down there for lots more details...

[Heimdall01]

I am no expert eighter, bur I think you are right: There are of course som ozone also above the south pole. So there is not really an ozone "hole".

Earth has an average ozone level of 400 DU (Dobson units?) but over Antarctica it can go down to about 85 DU.

[FionaTheFox]

*western and eastern

[ksbeattie]

Lots of times! I tried walking around the pole (and hence the world) eastwards a few times to see if I might get younger. I don't think it worked.

[FionaTheFox]

Wow!! How many times did you go between the westernand eastern hemisphere in this video?

[andrew692100]

I think it is a travesty that people are allowed to build bases on or near the pole. Infact the whole of Antarctica is an area of outstanding natural beauty and should be left alone. Pompus flag waving and base building must be a giant slap in the face to people like Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton. Antarctica must be respected for what it is... beautiful and ferocious.

[ksbeattie]

Everyone there has the utmost respect for that natural beauty and its preservation. The Antarctic treaty (the law there) is an agreement that all nations share the continent and that it is used for research only. This science is very valuable - including learning how best to preserve Antarctica and the world. While there I never saw anything pompous or contrary that goal.

BTW, Amundsen being the first person to get to the South Pole, was also the first to plant a (Norwegian) flag there.

[Mountexplorer]

You are so lucky to be there! A unique experience...

[refmuf60545]

Why the whole clip is is kind of purple color? Is it camera or the pole?

[ksbeattie]

It's the camera. It's just a little Olympus digital photo thing that takes movies. It's not purple at the pole!