In transition

The sun slides ever closer and closer to the horizon here, and the temperatures are going right along with it. Couple the decreased solar input with a wind from the “east” (the higher altitude regions of east Antarctica where it’s already colder), and we’ve got temperatures back down in the -70s °F ballpark, pushing -80°F. The neat thing is that will feel warm once we’ve had a cold snap in the -90s °F for a while.

I have yet to really bundle up much more than I did for summer, yet. I do regularly wear a fleece jacket under my work coat, and with the high winds we had for a while there I started wearing my wind-proof balaclava under my fleece gaiter and stocking cap. I’ve been wearing mitts instead of gloves for quite a while; the only exception(s) being when I have to wear my bunker gear for emergency response purposes outside. Those fireman’s gloves are totally not appropriate wear for these temperatures, even with liners and hand warmers underneath.

I have started reading through the glaciology textbooks I brought down, which are sure interesting. This is all part of considering potentially making a career/profession change when I leave here in November. Even if I don’t make the leap, it’s interesting stuff nonetheless.

“Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought.”
~Thucydides