My brother is currently living on the only continent that has no cases of the virus!

[Native]

[sarisataka]

1. So have the borders been closed

To Antarctica?

[Native]

13. He should be returning soon. You don't really want to be there in the winter. It's nuts.

They have storms several times a week that are like CAT-5 hurricane wind speeds. You only stay to experience it once, just to say you’ve done it. He’ll have to fly home through Los Angeles. Ugh.

[Native]

20. Apparently the NSF is working with the New Zealand gov't & the US Embassy

to make sure they can get out.

[sarisataka]

22. I don't know the cutoff date

But I know at some point if you are still in Antarctica, you are there until spring.

If the base is stocked, this might be a time to volunteer to winter over.

[Native]

23. He said they are still on course to leave mid-April. I'm not holding my breath.

[Native]

28. He just said they're prepared if they all have to stay over

but he’ll be furious if he has to. Said he absolutely hates what he’s experienced of the winter so far. And they’ve been assuring them that it will be worked out. Considering they have no cases there, I can’t imagine the NSF and our Embassy won’t be able to pull it off, but i just don’t trust anything these days.

[dewsgirl]

2. Which continent?

[DonaldsRump]

3. Antarctica?

In North America, I am referring to it as the Trump Virus.

[Walleye]

4. Antarctica?

[Native]

5. Yup!

[ret5hd]

9. THAT is how you do social isolation!

[Native]

12. His roommate had a heart attack and had to be flown to New Zealand for surgery, and

I felt like such a horrible person because my first thought was that I hope he doesn’t return carrying the virus. I’m sure he wouldn’t meet the stringent physical requirements, but I still had that thought.

[Beringia]

6. I just noticed today Africa has widespread cases now

Last time I checked, there were almost none, like a few days to a week ago

[Lisa0825]

7. That is awesome!!! My employer provides medical care to researchers there!

I know several employees who have done rotations there!

[Native]

14. Have they stayed during the winter?

[Lisa0825]

15. Yes, we always have some staff there, all year...

and then we also do telemedicine.

Has your brother joined this exclusive club??? LOL

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/01/on-getting-naked-in-antarctica/282883/

[Native]

18. He hasn't spent a winter there, but wants to at some point, and he's the type to try that!

People still do a lot of crazy stuff in the summer, and he spends a lot of time rescuing them.

[Lisa0825]

19. What does he do there?

[Native]

21. Manages Fleet Operations

“We are responsible for maintaining the roads and grounds of the station to include Phoenix airfield, Willy airfield, and NASA’S LDB (long distance balloon) facilities out on the ice shelf. We also work directly with the NSF on traverse operations from Ross Island to the South Pole. We utilize all types of heavy equipment here and are currently working on the AIMS project which is established to reconstruct the entire station here. We operate numerous types of heavy equipment and also we deal with my favorite - vessel operations.“ He’s former Air Force, Florida boy, surfing fanatic. First thing he had to say about the place had to do with the ridges on the ice shelf - how they look like waves and are 10 to 15 ft tall. I’m sure you know about all that stuff. I’m consistently blown away by the pictures he sends. I hope he makes it home in April.

[Native]

24. Just got his response...

I’m definitely not at the South Pole and not no but hell no I won’t be going to streak

[Lisa0825]

25. LOL!

[littlemissmartypants]

27. Really good article. Thanks for sharing it, Lisa0825. ❤ nt

[Lisa0825]

29. You're welcome!

Glad you enjoyed it!

[PoliticAverse]

8. When was the last visit from someone from another continent? n/t

[Native]

11. I'll ask him when I hear back. Their internet is dial up speed!

[Native]

26. His response ...

The last flight to actually drop someone off here was the first week in February, and it dropped off some NSF higher-ups for a tour and they left that week. So most people were delivered here in January.

[PoliticAverse]

30. Sounds good for their isolation. Best wishes to them. n/t

Last edited Wed Mar 18, 2020, 08:02 PM - Edit history (1)

[mcar]

10. Your brother is in Antarctica?

[Native]

16. I forgot to show you the pictures. They're awesome, especially the one of Mt. Erebus,

a volcano near him that has crazy cloud formations when it’s sunny. Oh, and his station’s power system is grounded to a D6 bull dozer at the bottom of the bay under the ice. Very occasionally they get shocked in the dorms when they take showers.

[mcar]

17. Can't wait to see them