The Dry Valleys

December 10, 2009 2:41 PM

Michael Becker is spending three months in a tent in an Antarctic desert. And he is blogging about the experience. Previously about Antarctica.
posted by jefeweiss (15 comments total)

At first I was like "Another blog by someone who thinks what they're doing is super interesting and important?"

And then I started reading it and I was like, "Hmm....this is interesting."
posted by too bad you're not me at 2:48 PM on December 10, 2009

I hope this does not end up like that one episode of Castle.
posted by lholladay at 2:50 PM on December 10, 2009 [6 favorites]

Who wants to bet this doesn't last three months?
posted by jefficator at 2:52 PM on December 10, 2009

Man that sounds intense.
posted by wemayfreeze at 3:00 PM on December 10, 2009

Those photographs are pretty good. If you look closely at the mummified seals, you can see that it gets cold enough there to freeze tooth pulp and crack teeth. Poor lost little things.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 3:03 PM on December 10, 2009

At first glance I thought it was the saxophone player in the Antarctic.

That would be one cool sax to touch.
posted by ovvl at 4:20 PM on December 10, 2009

Recently at my place: The Last Place on Earth; Antarctica; Happy Feet; all highly recommened.

Today: working outside -7, feels like -17.
posted by ovvl at 4:30 PM on December 10, 2009

Fascinating narrative and photos. Thank you.
posted by prinado at 5:08 PM on December 10, 2009

At first glance I thought it was the saxophone player

He's been less busy lately.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:07 PM on December 10, 2009

"Hero Shot: traditionally a picture of yourself naked at the geographical South Pole in -40F/C weather. Only boots allowed."

Boots!? Pfft. I guess...

Is that the Canada Goose big red he's wearing?
posted by Smedleyman at 6:12 PM on December 10, 2009

Wait until they find the plateau of Leng. Then things will get really interesting.
posted by hammurderer at 8:39 PM on December 10, 2009

That was this camper's beard after a month?

Ah, kids are so cute!
posted by humannaire at 9:21 PM on December 10, 2009

Who wants to bet this doesn't last three months?

Uh, I do. I recall a blog written by a guy trying to walk overland unassisted to the S. pole, who eventually had to resort to strapping the rechargeable batteries to his body in order to keep them warm enough to actually power up a cell phone (IIRC) which he would use each night for, like, 2 minutes before it lost its charge. And that was Summertime... er, Winter rather. Their summer. Anyway, it's a lot harder than it looks.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:25 AM on December 11, 2009

I would place my wager on his going the 3 months. This stuff is planned. He's not some joker trying to set a record and make headlines. I don't think they'd plan 3 months if that was too onerous a time period.
posted by Goofyy at 11:09 AM on December 11, 2009

Also, having spent the last five years on and off working in and around Antarctica, it's highly doubtful that he's spending the whole of the three months in the tent. In fact, I highly doubt he's spending more than six weeks (still a long time) out there. He probably gets to fly back to McMurdo periodically to do laundry, take long showers, drink beer, watch movies, and sleep in a proper bed.
posted by deadbilly at 6:48 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]