Week 30 at the Pole

Decorated Christmas tree and cardboard fireplace in the South Pole galley.
Charles Roberts, NSF

Twas the night before Christmas, well, Christmas in July, with cookies out for Santa, and a drift of white pillows piled high. Hey, who doesn’t like an extra reason to celebrate something? At the South Pole, they are experts at this, as they love their traditions and continue to add new ones to the list. Last week also marked the start of the annual Polympics. Teams competed in events such as the Yeti Challenge, where the goal was to be the first to completely bury a teammate in snow using only their hands, and curling, only this year it was couch curling, with a couch in place of the curling stone.

Plate of decorated Christmas cookies.
Alicia Fattorini, IceCube/NSF
Several small teams crouched together outside under headlamp light.
Alicia Fattorini, IceCube/NSF
Person lying down buried in snow, as one might be on a beach, but in the Sout hPole darkness under headlamps.
Alicia Fattorini, IceCube/NSF
A person seen from behind as they push a sofa in place of a curling stone in the middle of the gym.
Alicia Fattorini, IceCube/NSF