The Kiwis at Scott Base offered a Polar Plunge this evening. Any and all interested could go jump into the coldest waters on earth. The temperature is about -2C. High salinity keeps the water from freezing at the usual temperature. A hole in the ice serves as your pool. The air temp is just below freezing. After your jump, there is a hot tub to get feeling back in your extremeties. I talked to one person who jumped four times. Most go at least once in their birthday suits, then plunge in more modestly. This has to be a Kiwi outing because the powers that be in McMurdo would never sanction it. Too fun, I think. 
Did I go? No. Sorry to disappoint. Most of my showers in McMurdo qualify as Polar Plunges. There is never hot enough water when I need it.
However, one of my (crazy) colleagues went and sends this photo of the setup. The next photo is of her swimming back to the ladder.
3 comments:
That's insane, even with clothes on. Seriously. Just. Plain. Nuts.
Nice post
Awesome! I want to go there and play Ice hockey.
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