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And this was my next submission....
4th October 2008
Ok, I'm back from conference.
Cambridge was tough but fun, the field course in the Derbyshire Peak District was just...F U N !!!
The purpose of the field course is to teach the new numpties (like me!!) how to survive in the barren Antarctic wilderness, and also how to search for, and rescue, a colleague who may be in difficulty in the aforementioned wilderness; i.e. they may have fallen into an ice crevasse or be lost in a blizzard. As you can imagine, either scenario (or, even worse, both at the same time) could have potentially fatal consequences for the poor unfortunate victim.
The course started with the basics: first, how to put up a pyramid tent.
The BAS pyramid tent is based on the design of tent used by Sir Robert Falcon Scott in the early twentieth century, although it has been modified and enhanced with modern technology and materials. However, it can still be a pig to put up, especially in adverse conditions. Collapsible in two sections for (supposedly!) easy deployment, the tent should be quick and easy to assemble. We managed to make this simple task look difficult!! The polar pyramid tent, if properly pitched and well-secured, will withstand winds of up 100 km/hour in full blizzard conditions.Our first attempt didn't inspire confidence...!We got the hang of it pretty quickly, though, and soon had our "home" erected and secure.
Next up, we had to learn how to operate the paraffin-fuelled Tilley lamp and Primus stove .
The original Tilley lamp was invented in the early 1800's and a variant was also used by Scott. The lamp was so well designed and reliable that it is still used today. The stove was equally impressive, despite the ageing design. When we finally nurtured and mastered the "knack" of lighting these old relics we grew to love and respect them. They will be our greatest comfort when we are sitting-out a blizzard, miles from base.
For an excellent first-hand account of using this camping gear in the Antarctic, check out this link
After that we learned about ropework and the multitude of equipment we would have to master over the coming days.
We were also taught the basics of abseiling down a cliff face and jumaring...
...back up again.
All the climbing equipment and hardware are affectionately called "jingly-janglies". It all makes sense when they are all hanging off your climbing harness and you start to walk...
All in all, a very informative and enjoyable first day in the field.For the rest of the week we go up to some rocky (and high) Derbyshire crags to practice what we learned.
Under the expert supervision of our field instructors we get kitted-up and receive last-minute instructions…
“Nice and easy over the edge.”
“Slow, gentle movements”
“Be in control all the way down”
If you have never abseiled before (and I hadn’t), going “over the edge” is a pretty daunting, but memorable experience.
Your mouth goes dry and your body tenses up.
Thoughts of uncontrollable personal bodily functions suddenly flood your mind. Your muscles refuse to co-operate with your brain.
With Paul, my instructor, and the rest of the team offering comforting words of encouragement, I slowly ease my tensed-up body up to the edge….
“Trust your equipment, Tone” says Paul, gently.
I know he’s right, but…
Ok, deep breath…
relax…
step back…
a bit more…
oooohh, shhhhiii……….!!!!!
Hey!!..... It’s not so bad after all!!
I’m a few feet over the edge now.
Paul was right. The equipment works.
The training and instruction become second nature.
Suddenly I’m bursting with confidence.
This is FUN !!!
I get to the bottom all too quickly.
I’m buzzing with adrenaline now, so I rush back up to the top, eager to go again, but I have to wait. Someone else is at the edge, confronting their fear.
I know how she feels right now, so I offer my own words of encouragement.
The team spirit is incredibly high and with everybody’s help, we all beat our initial fears and spend the next few hours abseiling like pros, honing our skills and building our confidence.
Jumaring back up the rope is much easier, now that we have confidence in abundance.
Yet another skill quickly polished and tucked away.
Now, the trouble with confidence is that it can go to your head and you get carried away, right?
Some of us are high on adrenaline and we are starting to push a bit harder.
The “slow, gentle movements” are replaced by big bounds and long drops.
Oh, what fun we are having.
Then someone (Shaun, the chippy) had an idea.
“Let’s try doing it upside-down!”
For some unfathomable reason, this seemed like a great idea!!!
Next time around, five of us went over the edge, then flipped head first!
Then we went hands free whilst upside down!
The instructors were not amused!!!
Hmmmm…..
Chris, the chief instructor, said, slowly and firmly…
“You’re supposed to go nice and easy over the edge, using slow, gentle movements, and be in control all the way down.”
“You are NOT supposed to attack the drop like testosterone-charged commandos!!!”
We argued that their instruction was of such high calibre that we were inspired to push harder, etc, etc.
It fell on deaf ears!!
We had no option but to feast on humble pie. Serves us right….!!
For the rest of the time we did as we were told. Nice and easy, slow, gentle movements, and in control.
It was still great fun, but not as much fun as commando-style!!!
The rest of the week passed without further incident.
We learned search and rescue techniques.
We learnt how to work as a team.
We learned not just how to survive in the Antarctic, but actually how to live comfortably in that hostile environment.
All of the instructors are highly trained and experienced Antarctic field assistants.
They have a vast and invaluable knowledge of the Antarctic continent.
I cannot praise them highly enough.
Some of them I will meet again when I travel South.
I will be wintering at Rothera with Paul. We’re all gonna have such a great time down there!!!
Since coming home from conference I’ve been kept busy with some work-related training courses. They are not as interesting as the field course so I won’t bore you with the details, but it means I’m travelling all over the country, staying in hotels in Birmingham, Newcastle, Derby, and Cambridge. These courses will continue right up until I finally depart from these shores.
Living out of a suitcase is not a glamorous life.
I haven’t had any time to put my feet up or get out and have a drink with my mates, and time is running out very quickly. I really want to have a pint with as many of you guys as I can, but I’m starting to realise that, with such a busy schedule and so many good friends, I will have trouble fitting you all in.
Please forgive me if I don’t get to see you before I go.
The next report will follow when something interesting has happened.
Until then, take care.
Tony.
Please keep in touch. The further away I am, the more important your contact will be to me.
Feel free to forward this onto anyone else who may be interested in this madness.
If you’ve got this far then you really are as mad as me….
November 8th, and counting down…..
