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Frequently Answered
Questions
Who are you and what is this
about?
I'm David Smith and this is my
website documenting my travels to the North Pole and McMurdo Station,
Antarctica. You can read my mission statement, of sorts, in
the about section.
How did you end up there and
why did you do it?
I got to the North Pole quite by
accident. The submarine that I served aboard was assigned to the
Arctic for a few months. The mission allowed us to take a quick
jaunt to the Pole and the rest is history...
Antarctica was a different
matter. I had to apply for a job with Raytheon Polar Services. Fortunately I was hired to work in the
power plant at McMurdo Station. Since I had operated a nuclear
reactor and electric plant on my submarine, the thinking was that I was
qualified to operate the electric plant here.
But
like my trip to the North Pole, it was a matter of timing. I
happened to have been caught up in the dotcom downturn and was laid off in
February of 2001. So, after spending a few months waiting for job
leads to turn into nothing, I came across the RPS site and submitted my
resume. Three days later I was called and spoke with my future
manager, Jordan, about working in the power plant. I was essentially
offered the job by the end of the phone call.
The why
is another matter. The simple answer was that since I had been to
one end of the world, it would be a shame to not go to the other.
Other answers would center on the need for money, leaving behind the
mundane, and trying to recapture the sense of adventure that I had when I
was younger.
Where are you?
I am at McMurdo Station on the coast of
the Ross Sea on the continent of Antarctica. 77.8 degrees South, 166
degrees East to be exact.
How
long will you be there?
My
position is contracted for a year, beginning in October 2001 and running
through October of 2002. So I will be here through the upcoming
austral winter.
What does your family think of
you going away for a year?
That's
a good question. My wife and I love each other very much and we stay
in constant contact whether it be phone, web cam, or chatting. She
realized that it was important for me to come and gave her permission,
although with some reservations. But when my year on the Ice is
done, we'll be enjoying a well deserved vacation in New Zealand and
Australia.
My
mother and sister are also very supportive.
How
many people are there with you?
Currently there are about 1,200 people here.
During the winter there will only be about 200 souls here to keep the
lights on, so to speak.
What
do you do?
I work
in the base's power plant to ensure that McMurdo is powered 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. My job requires that I work 12 hours per day as
well as remain on call in the event of a blackout.
This page is continually
being updated. If you have a question that you'd like to see
answered, email
me. | 