Antarctic climbing job

[Jim]

..in case anyone is so inclined.

 

 

http://www.stopdodo.com/environment-jobs/field-assistants.1074.htm

 

 

Practical, organised and unflappable, you'll have what it takes to work in the most challenging climate on Earth - enabling us to conduct successful scientific research across Antarctica.

 

Excellent mountaineering skills are essential, as is the ability to effectively lead expeditions. You must also be a natural problem solver and a strong team player who can respond effectively to ever-changing situations.

 

Your core task will be to conduct scientific colleagues safely and efficiently within the polar environment on both the continental ice shelves and glaciated mountains. Of course, you'll also have to attend to many other duties, including assisting in scientific work, organising camp sites, handling radio equipment and ensuring sno-mobiles continue to work.

 

Qualifications: As you would expect, this unique role demands a range of skills.

Excellent mountaineering skills are essential, as is the ability to

effectively lead expeditions. You must also be a natural problem

solver and be a strong team player who can respond effectively

to ever-changing situations.

 

Duration: 9 or 18 months

 

Salary: Salary package will be from £23,700 per annum pro-rata plus a possible performance bonus when your return to the UK.

 

Application forms are also available from the

Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508.

 

We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome.

 

You will need to be physically capable and medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions.

 

Please also send a CV of your climbing experience and other useful related experience e.g. Outdoor pursuit instruction

 

Please quote reference: BAS 03/10 .

 

Closing date 16th May 2010

 

Scheduled Interview Dates: w/c 21/06/10 and w/c 28/06/10

 

 

 

[billcoe]

That's interesting....my little bother is heading down there right now as I type this to run the Antarctica marathon with 95 other crazies.

[gyro]

Antarctica is a fun place to visit, but 9 or 18 months? Wow. And helping with the scientific tasks on top of keeping the expeditions moving safely in that kind of environment and handling logistics of camps, wow, talk about asking a lot. Just thinking about being in the antarctic for that long makes me want to get in a hot tub. Though I guess if you really wanted a way to explore the great frozen south this would be a good way.

[Water]

35k for 9 months aint terrible, esp if you want to experience a rare place and really get to know it (a lifetime experience I'm sure). You'd be an expert for sure by the end. I also imagine you're not too far from a base, ie: not gone for more than a day for about 3 of those months, given it is dark for nearly 4 months a year (at mcmurdo). But I could be grossly wrong.. ..multi-day darkness expeditions during the low of winter seems pretty gruesome.

 

Doesn't someone who works down there post on here sometimes? I've love to hear their take on it.

[jmace]

35k for 9 months aint terrible, esp if you want to experience a rare place and really get to know it (a lifetime experience I'm sure).

 

you have to read the entire sentence

 

Salary package will be from £23,700 per annum pro-rata

 

 

[G-spotter]

Don't plan on taking days off to climb with this job. You won't get any days off.

 

Don't plan on staying down there after the job is over to climb unless you can organize your own trip home, either.

 

If you can handle both of those this is a good way to see Antarctica. Don't forget that there is nothing to spend the salary on down there and that meals and lodging are covered too.

[G-spotter]

Also to call it a climbing job may be dubious. Plenty of these "guide the scientist" gigs are simple glacier travel on flat ice caps with no mountaineering involved

[G-spotter]

. And helping with the scientific tasks on top of keeping the expeditions moving safely in that kind of environment and handling logistics of camps, wow, talk about asking a lot.

 

Shoveling out the penguin shit and holding the other end of the measuring tape are both "helping with scientific tasks" and those are the kinds of helping you will be doing. The scientists will do all the fun stuff (like shooting laser beams, opening dimensional portals, and blowing stuff up) themselves.

[gyro]

. And helping with the scientific tasks on top of keeping the expeditions moving safely in that kind of environment and handling logistics of camps, wow, talk about asking a lot.

 

Shoveling out the penguin shit and holding the other end of the measuring tape are both "helping with scientific tasks" and those are the kinds of helping you will be doing. The scientists will do all the fun stuff (like shooting laser beams, opening dimensional portals, and blowing stuff up) themselves.

 

I didn't figure the assisting would be difficult, it just seems to me that if you hire someone to ensure group logistics run smoothly and to keep people safe, that you would leave them to those vital tasks and not have them cleaning the glassware. It would be like hiring a guide and then asking them to do your math homework while they were supposed to be belaying you.

[G-spotter]

"NO damnit, I'm too busy making sure you don't fall into that crevasse 3 kilometers away to hold the end of your measuring tape!"

[NoahT]

My friend did this for a year and a half, probably the same program. It was through the Brits also. Once in a lifetime experience, for most. Not a great climbing trip--he could probably count the number of pitches climbed on one hand--but an amazing test of self-reliance. From his stories I was struck by how autonomous he was. They really seemed to leave you to your own devices, often on your own with little oversight. You are expected to be the expert, even though it's likely the first and last time you'll ever be down there. Lots of snowmobiling!

[gyro]

"NO damnit, I'm too busy making sure you don't fall into that crevasse 3 kilometers away to hold the end of your measuring tape!"

 

Because prior planning doesn't take any time at all, ever!

[davidk]

. And helping with the scientific tasks on top of keeping the expeditions moving safely in that kind of environment and handling logistics of camps, wow, talk about asking a lot.

 

Shoveling out the penguin shit and holding the other end of the measuring tape are both "helping with scientific tasks" and those are the kinds of helping you will be doing. The scientists will do all the fun stuff (like shooting laser beams, opening dimensional portals, and blowing stuff up) themselves.

 

I didn't figure the assisting would be difficult, it just seems to me that if you hire someone to ensure group logistics run smoothly and to keep people safe, that you would leave them to those vital tasks and not have them cleaning the glassware. It would be like hiring a guide and then asking them to do your math homework while they were supposed to be belaying you.

 

G-Spotter makes some excellent points. Because the "guiding work" involved is not particularly taxing, the guide ends up serving as the camp bitch: lead, organize, pack, fix, and generally "assist". Which sure as hell would involve more digging than you've ever imagined. Only those with strong backs and strong will need apply. And this position would definitely involve extended deployments with remote camps. Time=money in Antarctica, maybe more so than anywhere else.

 

I've done six weeks down there as a science field assistant. Had one day off during that time, and have never worked harder in my life, nor lived so primitively for so long . Coolest thing I've ever done though.

[chris]

The Australian and New Zealand programs require applicants to be citizens - I imagine the BAS does too.