There is always room for Antarctic related humor! Enjoy...
The following two submissions are from Dave Grisez, DF I and Summer 95-96
Who said anything about camels????
From: A 1955 CB that helped build McMurdo Station
Subj: Antarctic News Flash?
Longtime Polar Engineer
Comes Out of Retirement—Yet Again.
It has come to the attention of the writer that well known
& beloved veteran South Pole construction engineer Jerry Marty has once
again become restless in retirement & decided to establish a new innovative
method for adventurous travelers to make an economical traverse from McMurdo
Station to the South Pole and return.
From recent experience, Jerry has realized that the lowly
camel, considered the best means of travel over desert sands, would obviously
be the wisest choice for use in Antarctica, the driest desert in the world. The
camel is able to go for long periods without water & it's broad hooves will
support it on snow just as well as on sand. It's long legs will also enable the
camel to step over sastrugi or even narrow crevasses, another advantage.
Jerry plans to simply tow a small sled behind his camel to carry the necessities needed for the trip. With 24 hours of daylight, he plans to travel up to 18 hours a day just relaxing in his camel saddle. However, he has advised that to keep himself in his usual top physical condition & ease the load on his steed, he intends to "Walk a Mile for His Camel" each day.
Mr. Marty plans to show that "camel trains" could
be the future eco-friendly way to deliver goods to the Pole. This would
eliminate costly diesel tractor trips the accompanying exhaust pollution &
costly breakdowns. Only a few camel drivers would be needed & the cooler
climate would surely be an attraction (and economical) for camel drivers from
the Hot Sahara Desert. Camel droppings along
the route would simply be used for fuel to warm travelers & their food with
a savings in use of petrochemical fuels.
Jerry intends to make his initial trip in record time by using a single hump, extra-long legged camel. Later trips may use the double hump versions for more "rider convenience". He has practiced with his camel in areas around McMurdo recently (photo attached). A small sketch of the intended sled is also included. It will hold several bales of special dehydrated hay for the camel & for Jerry, a tent, small charcoal grill, a donated bag of charcoal & other items. For food rations on future trips, Jerry recommends military type MRE food. However, the ever-innovative old Jerry was fortunate to find a whole pallet of old WW2 "C Rations" that were up on "the hill" at McMurdo; left over from those used by the US Navy CB's when they built the first base in 1955/56. Let’s just hope they are a complete variety of tins & not all the old "accessory" tins that just contained toilet paper & "Green Label" Camel cigarettes. Those things were so dried out they nearly exploded when we lit them in 1955.
Anyway, good luck to Jerry on his venture. We hear that, wisely, his wife has decided to stay home. We look forward to further news & expect to see USAP ads for more camel drivers soon. Keep in touch. If you know Jerry you know he's never going to really retire. By the way, Jerry viewed this message first & ok’d its distribution.
Anyway, good luck to Jerry on his venture. We hear that, wisely, his wife has decided to stay home. We look forward to further news & expect to see USAP ads for more camel drivers soon. Keep in touch. If you know Jerry you know he's never going to really retire. By the way, Jerry viewed this message first & ok’d its distribution.
Dave Grisez DF I & summer 95/96
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