Antarctica & the cold
Now that I am heading for Antarctica, ON a cold day, I realise that has all been theoretical. It has all been abstract, for us in sunny Perth.
The expedition cruising season there is from November to March, so this time of year, August, is a good time for me to to be advising about clothing and packing.
And, in helping readers to prepare for the November to March season in Antarctica, I always advise people what they may need for 'a cold day'.
Most cruises will gather their guests in Buenos Aires in Argentina or Santiago in Chile, then fly them south to Ushuaia, at the southern tip of the continent. This is the most usual departure point.
And even this day of flying south requires some thought. For a start, guests often have to leave check-in luggage outside rooms before 11pm the evening before they fly south, and will have only carry-on bags with them until they get to the ship.
I advise travellers to have something warm and waterproof with them, as they will often spend the day out and about around Ushuaia before joining their ship.
I check the weather for Ushuaia tomorrow. When we arrive it will be about 6C. In the afternoon it will rise to 7C. And there will be some chill from wind.
I have been in Ushuaia at this time of year in rain. I have been there, at this time of year, in snow that started gently, then turned horizontal and coated everything (including me) within minutes.
Suddenly, faced with preparing some extra clothing to put on tomorrow, the word 'cold' is no longer theoretical.
And so I move on to the Drake Passage — the 1000km of ocean south of Ushuaia, between there and the Antarctic Peninsula. There's good news, with four metres of swell today dropping to less than three metres tomorrow, with fairly light winds. It will be like that for of our voyage south and, on a fast, modern ships, that should be pretty-well unnoticeable.
There is about 12 seconds between swells, which will give a comfortable motion.
Wind of 11 metres per second is about 21 knots — and I'm happy with that (and a bit more), as big seabirds like albatrosses need that sort of wind-speed to fly. They rely on the uplift of wind peeling up off swells to help them glide.
But the temperature on the Antarctic Peninsula tells a different story. It has just come out of a cold snap with temperatures lower than -10C (and then you have to add wind chill to that).
The words 'temperature' and 'cold' are no longer theoretical, and every layer I've been suggesting my companions pack will probably come into use.
Suddenly the imminent cold is real.
On a cold day, I will be wearing two pairs of long johns, a warm pair of technical fabric trousers and a substantial pair of waterproof pants. It is important that these overtrousers have a long zip, so they can close over the thermal boots that Antarctic ships loan. (Never tuck them in, as any water running down you will end up in your boots, obviously.)
Inside, I will have a thin pair of socks and a thick pair of socks.
I'll be wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt, thermal base layer, mid layer of technical fabric, and thin-but-warm polar-style jacket. Over this I'll have the puffer liner and waterproof jacket which most expedition companies give to guests (to bring home).
For me, the trick with the majority of these layers is that they have full zips. If I'm walking in snow and get hot under the Antarctic sun, I can unzip, layer by layer and let heat and perspiration out. I can then close up again, layer by layer, to keep warmth in.
Around my neck, I may have a neck tube (I bring two, so I can pull one up over my nose and ears on the Zodiac rides back to the ship), but I'm more likely to have a longish, silk scarf — once again, so I can let heat out.
I wear a Nordic beanie over a cap, which gives me a peak to keep the sun off, but also creates a spaces for the arms of my spectacles (I don't like beanies clamping my glasses to the side of my face all day).
On my hands, I'll have a pair of woollen fingerless gloves, a pair of thin, technical fabric gloves and then a pair of substantial, industrial-style waterproof gloves. Keeping my inner gloves dry is the key. (I don't use nylon ski gloves because I have found that if they get wet on the inside, they can become difficult to use.)
Until now, all that has been theoretical. If it's really cold, it will be crucial.
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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
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Through the offer of a potential site, the council now has an opportunity to support a nationally significant project that honours the memory of those lost in New Zealand's worst civil disaster," the report said. Cracroft Reserve was the preferred site for a memorial after "robust investigation" involving the council, mana whenua and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, followed by independent site assessment. The reserve on the Port Hills had multiple potential memorial locations, good accessibility and amenity and an excellent outlook, council staff said. "Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere offers a peaceful, elevated setting with expansive views and strong cultural and experiential qualities," the report said. Mana whenua had expressed support for the site, and no cultural sensitivities had been identified that would prevent a memorial being established. Staff recommended the offer remain open for a 12-month period to enable further investigation, visits and engagement with family members. Memorial a matter of urgency Erebus National Memorial advocate and aviation chaplain Richard Waugh said Christchurch was the next logical place for a memorial if a site could not be found in Auckland. "Especially because of it being the Antarctica gateway and the aircraft was due to land back in Christchurch, so in one sense it would be ironic and rather special if the memorial was to land here with the 257 names," he said. "I know the families right back from 2016 when I first instigated the memorial said they wanted a site that was appealing and attractive, that was accessible and not in a cemetery." Waugh said he was happy to be guided by the Christchurch City Council but wanted to see a memorial built as soon as possible. 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"Probably the top criterion for us was a place for quiet contemplation and I think that absolutely ticks the box for that so I'm very happy with that if it ended up there." He said 45 years on, he really just wanted to see a memorial built. "I was relatively young when this disaster happened and I'm in my 70s now, and there'll be a lot of people who have since passed away still waiting for a memorial, including my brother, he died a couple of years ago and never got to see a memorial for our aunt." Christchurch City Council will vote on whether to recommend Cracroft Reserve as an official option for the Erebus Memorial at a meeting next Wednesday.
West Australian
2 days ago
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Antarctica & the cold
Until now, 'temperature' and 'cold' have been theoretical. Now that I am heading for Antarctica, ON a cold day, I realise that has all been theoretical. It has all been abstract, for us in sunny Perth. The expedition cruising season there is from November to March, so this time of year, August, is a good time for me to to be advising about clothing and packing. And, in helping readers to prepare for the November to March season in Antarctica, I always advise people what they may need for 'a cold day'. Most cruises will gather their guests in Buenos Aires in Argentina or Santiago in Chile, then fly them south to Ushuaia, at the southern tip of the continent. This is the most usual departure point. And even this day of flying south requires some thought. For a start, guests often have to leave check-in luggage outside rooms before 11pm the evening before they fly south, and will have only carry-on bags with them until they get to the ship. I advise travellers to have something warm and waterproof with them, as they will often spend the day out and about around Ushuaia before joining their ship. I check the weather for Ushuaia tomorrow. When we arrive it will be about 6C. In the afternoon it will rise to 7C. And there will be some chill from wind. I have been in Ushuaia at this time of year in rain. I have been there, at this time of year, in snow that started gently, then turned horizontal and coated everything (including me) within minutes. Suddenly, faced with preparing some extra clothing to put on tomorrow, the word 'cold' is no longer theoretical. And so I move on to the Drake Passage — the 1000km of ocean south of Ushuaia, between there and the Antarctic Peninsula. There's good news, with four metres of swell today dropping to less than three metres tomorrow, with fairly light winds. It will be like that for of our voyage south and, on a fast, modern ships, that should be pretty-well unnoticeable. There is about 12 seconds between swells, which will give a comfortable motion. Wind of 11 metres per second is about 21 knots — and I'm happy with that (and a bit more), as big seabirds like albatrosses need that sort of wind-speed to fly. They rely on the uplift of wind peeling up off swells to help them glide. But the temperature on the Antarctic Peninsula tells a different story. It has just come out of a cold snap with temperatures lower than -10C (and then you have to add wind chill to that). The words 'temperature' and 'cold' are no longer theoretical, and every layer I've been suggesting my companions pack will probably come into use. Suddenly the imminent cold is real. On a cold day, I will be wearing two pairs of long johns, a warm pair of technical fabric trousers and a substantial pair of waterproof pants. It is important that these overtrousers have a long zip, so they can close over the thermal boots that Antarctic ships loan. (Never tuck them in, as any water running down you will end up in your boots, obviously.) Inside, I will have a thin pair of socks and a thick pair of socks. I'll be wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt, thermal base layer, mid layer of technical fabric, and thin-but-warm polar-style jacket. Over this I'll have the puffer liner and waterproof jacket which most expedition companies give to guests (to bring home). For me, the trick with the majority of these layers is that they have full zips. If I'm walking in snow and get hot under the Antarctic sun, I can unzip, layer by layer and let heat and perspiration out. I can then close up again, layer by layer, to keep warmth in. Around my neck, I may have a neck tube (I bring two, so I can pull one up over my nose and ears on the Zodiac rides back to the ship), but I'm more likely to have a longish, silk scarf — once again, so I can let heat out. I wear a Nordic beanie over a cap, which gives me a peak to keep the sun off, but also creates a spaces for the arms of my spectacles (I don't like beanies clamping my glasses to the side of my face all day). On my hands, I'll have a pair of woollen fingerless gloves, a pair of thin, technical fabric gloves and then a pair of substantial, industrial-style waterproof gloves. Keeping my inner gloves dry is the key. (I don't use nylon ski gloves because I have found that if they get wet on the inside, they can become difficult to use.) Until now, all that has been theoretical. If it's really cold, it will be crucial.
