Christchurch, New Zealand: The Way South...

Since the beginning of Antarctic history -- which doesn't really go back that far, my own house was built one year after Captain Scott built the Discovery Hut -- New Zealand has been the starting point for expeditions to the white continent. Christchurch and nearby Lyttleton Harbor, in particular, were often the last stop to gather provisions before heading south. Today Christchurch is a cosmopolitan, touristy kind of place, but very pretty and therapeutic: a perfect garden stop-over on the way down to (and especially on the way back from) Antarctica.

But alas, the warm-and-leafy fun doesn't last for long. In typical fashion, the day after arrival we go to pick up our ECW (Extreme Cold Weather Gear) at the CDC (Clothing Distribution Center). If you're getting the impression that the program is full of acronyms, you haven't even seen the tip of the proverbial iceberg yet. As people in McMurdo who have "the crud" will attest, CDC definitely does not mean Center for Disease Control.

Your initial lot of clothes is waiting for you in a couple of bright orange bags. It is imperative to try everything on -- there may not be much of a selection available once you get to Antarctica, and you need to make sure it all fits. The available clothing is mostly good stuff. If you don't like something then you can give it back. Conversely, if you need extra of something you can ask for more.

The picture below is the interior of the CDC warehouse -- an amazing place in itself. They have to have enough ECW gear to outfit about 1600 people at the height of the season.

Continue on to Part 2: Flight to McMurdo Station, Antarctica