Winterover Survival Training

At the beginning of each winter season, we winterovers are required to complete The Push Course (aka Winterover Survival Training). From recognizing frostnip and frostbite to building a wind wall out of snow bricks and learning to set up a tent in a wind storm, we learn how to survive Antarctia. Remember, "Antarctica is always trying to kill you."

Winterover Survival Training (WOST) is held in the
Science Support Center (SSC).

Kelli is our instructor. She's kind of a badass.
And we graduated from BHS together! Way back in '96.

Kelli gives us the low-down on how to tell which is the front and back
of the tent and tricks for setting up in a wicked wind storm.

There are a few different kinds of tents; we got to practice with all of them.

Look! I'm tying a trucker's knot to secure the
tent to the snow using a Dead Man's anchor.

Here we're learning how to cut snow blocks.

And discussing the best way to construct our wind wall.

Brooks was a little sleepy (and he already knows all this -
he's a badass like Kelli) so he decided to snack on some sunshine.

Here I am priming the fuel can.

And connecting the camp stove to the fuel can, which,
as you can see by my tongue, requires a great deal of concentration.

Lighter ready!

Me Chichi! I make fire!
This is probably the only time I will see an actual fire flame
all season. Otherwise, they have a nice crakling virtual fire
playing on channel 4 on the T.V. on occasion.

And that kids, is how you survive in Antarctica.