Applications, Applications, Applications!

"Adventure is just bad planning." — Roald Amundsen (1872—1928).

 ANTARCTICA.

Once I made the decision, Antarctica it was, and then Antarctica it was. There wasn’t much stopping me. It had consumed me.

I knew of two possibly “easy” options for getting myself to the far southern end of the world. I also knew of one not so easy option.

Let's not fool ourselves now! When it comes down to it, there’s really no easy way to get to Antarctica. I definitely had my work cut out. As it should. I feel that if you’re going to make the commitment to such a place, you’d better be damn sure that’s where you want to be. And I wanted to be there more than anything.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Adventure Recreation. Some might call it a degree in "B.S.=bull shit" because I get to play all day long and call it work. Well, I'm going into my ninth year of "bull shit" because I was one of those lucky fools to stumble into a degree and fall head over heels in love with it.  After nine years, it still hasn't got old. I still live for the view on the other side of the mountain. This time the view's just at the bottom of the world. I don't really know how to do anything else. As a little kindergartner once said to me on the side of a mountain in upstate New York, "I was born to be outdoors."

So, what could I do with a degree in outdoor education in Antarctica? Teach penguins conflict resolution? Uh-huh.

Antarctica is a continent dedicated solely for scientific research as stated in the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. I wasn’t a scientist, I wasn’t a researcher. So…what qualifications could I bring to Antarctica? 

At first I made the attempt to search for jobs associated with my line of work: Recreation or field based. Believe it or not, there’s quite a bit of a recreational draw to Antarctica. Personal expeditions involving skis, trekking, dog sleds, climbing, and yes, sea kayaking in Antarctica has occurred.

The ultimate dream: SEA KAYAK AT THE END OF THE WORLD!

Internal light bulb just went off!

Sea kayaking in Antarctica will occur in the future, I promise.

However, I had yet to even set eyes on Antarctic land. I have been working as a sea kayak guide for two seasons, but I didn't feel it necessarily made me qualify to paddle in Antarctica. So after a day spent in "Fran dreamland" imagining what it would be like to paddle in some of the harshest conditions possible, I finally moved on to more attainable and realistic prospects.

I made the decision that my journey to Antarctica would not be career based. It was simply an experience. A lot of people asked, why? Why Antarctica? My response: Why not? It was simple as that. My last post explains the real reasoning behind the madness.

It was to be a growth oriented journey of self discovery and healing.

At the same time however, in some ways going to Antarctica would be career based. I'd be living and working in a small community. I'd be working in the department of customer service, something I've been delivering for the past nine years with a smile. And I'd be promoting the mission of science, which often goes hand in hand with the environment. 

In 1959 when the United States and other nations signed the Antarctic Treaty reserving the continent for peaceful and scientific research, the NSF (National Science Foundation) was given the responsibility of all the U.S. operations and research stations already existing on the continent. It was called the U.S. Antarctic Program, and it still exists today. There are three U.S. operations functioning on the continent: the Palmer Station, McMurdo (the largest), and the South Pole station. From my understanding, most first season employees sent to work in Antarctica are based out of the McMurdo station.

About every ten years, a company is up for bid with the National Science Foundation to provide logistics, operations, and staffing for the NSF's operations in Antarctica and the Antarctic waters. That contractor is Raytheon Polar Services, a division of Raytheon.  Another subcontractor that is also a division of Raytheon Polar Services is NANA Services, LLC.

Raytheon Polar Services (RPSC) role in Antarctica is this:

• Supporting science and operating research labs
•  Procuring, arranging for transport, warehousing, and issuing equipment and supplies
• Operating and maintaining stations, research vessels, and numerous field camps
• Arranging medical clearance and travel of parties
• Managing transportation of passengers and cargo
• Arranging annual resupply and fuel of McMurdo by Military Sealift Command contract ships
• Providing marine terminal operations
• Complying with safety, health, and environmental requirements

NANA Services role is this:

• Staffing positions in the Food and Dining
• Housing and Custodial
• Recreation
• Beverage
• Retail Departments

I applied to as many positions as possible. Several friends of mine that had already weathered a season or two on the ice gave these words of advice: "Apply to anything and everything, even if you're not remotely qualified."

My applications looked like this: Field Camp Cook, Housekeeper, Janitor, Dining Attendant, Prep Cook, Recreational Specialist, Field Coordinator, Vehicle Operator, Large Vehicle Operator, and Recycling Specialist.

Applications submitted it was time to play the waiting game.

And wait, I did.