Camp Antarctica: Surviving the Cold to Savor the Splendor

Thinking of camping it out with friends in Antarctica? It is not as simple as camping in your backyard or in a nearby woods. Campers from all over the world would risk life and limb to witness some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife that can only be seen in this not-so chartered region of the world. No gain, no pain for campers and adventurers: they need to weather the harsh and cold climate of the region.

Antarctica is located at the South Pole. It is literally a land of ice because only 2% of the land is made of rock. It is a vast ice land that approximates the size of the United States of America and Mexico combined. Getting lost in Antarctica is not a joke. Thus, campers need the appropriate camping and survival gear for this extreme adventure.

Here is a checklist of the things that campers will need in order to survive in Antarctica:

1. Personal Stuff and Clothing

The first thing about surviving in Antarctica is dressing up appropriately. Protect the feet by wearing rag wool socks. Keep your body warm with undergarments made of capilene. Wool or pile cloths are the best when it comes to outerwear shirt and pants. Be sure to have a raincoat and rainpants in the bag.

Just because it is cold does not mean it does not get hot, or that a person would not turn dark with exposure to the sun. UV rays can still darken the skin and even cause sunburns. Have the following things in your backpack: water bottle (canteen), hat, sunglasses, sunblock, flashlight, day pack. Personal things such as towel, toothbrush, hairbrush, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, bathroom tissue, as well as personal medicines should be packed as well. A swiss knife can come in handy any time.

2. Food and water provisions

How can a camper survive without food and water? If the camping group brings canned food to cook and eat, make sure that a box of matches/lighter, fuel for fire, and eating utensils are in order. Water in the Antarctic Ocean is salt water and cannot be taken in. Ice on the other hand is freshwater water and can be melted and boiled for hot drinks. Convenient food provisions are ready to eat although the campers may cook food by roasting over the fire, boiling, or frying them.

3. Insulated tent

Each tent should have a ground cloth to insulate the interior of the tent from the literally ice-cold floor. Each person inside the tent should have his/her own air/foam and other insulated mattresses and sleeping bag. Other things that can come in handy inside the tent are candle lanterns/lamps or flashlights (just make sure that the lamp do not burn the tent), water supply (for those who get thirsty in the middle of the night), and an alarm clock to wake people up so that everyone is in schedule for the trek.

4. First-aid kit

Pack the first aid kit with a thermometer, sphygmomanometer, antiseptics, antibiotics, gauze, scissors, band-aids, splints, bandages, petroleum jelly, and warm bottles. Also have medicines for colds, fever, headaches, antihistamines, and other common ailments. Anticipate cold and sun burns, wounds, and possible sprains and fractures since the very cold temperature as well as the slippery icy ground can become very unpredictable. One wrong slip and a bone may break. Long exposure to cold temperature can cause colds and other sicknesses. Allergies from food and cold temperature are also possible thus, the anti-allergy medicines (antihistamines) in the first-aid kit.

5. Flares

Equipping each individual with flares (like the one used in road accidents) is very useful especially when a group or a group member is accidentally separated from the others.

6. Directional materials

A map and a compass are still very useful in camping out in vast empty lands such as Antarctica. Although most camping expeditions would be headed by experienced campers, people getting literally lost along the way should have and know how to use a map and a compass.

7. Radio communications

Communication is important in these areas since a delay of even just a few minutes can spell the difference in rescue operations, as well as in keeping the camping schedule on time.

Here are also some general tips in roughing it out in Antarctica:

1. Always travel with a group.

This is to prevent anyone from getting lost. Travel packages offered by travel companies and universities assure beginning campers of safety and security.

2. Maintain your presence of mind at all times.

Panic has never helped anyone in any situation. Always keep your cool to pacify other people in the group when an emergency situations crops up.

3. Always follow rules.

Since the camping group will need to decide on certain house rules or guidelines while camping out, make sure that everyone including you follows these rules. Designate a leader if there is none so that someone can facilitate things especially in emergency situations.

Now, you are almost ready to go camping in Antarctica. All you need is to file a vacation leave and board the plane that will take you to Cape Horn, the nearest populated point to Antarctica.