Cold: Three Winters at the South Pole

by Wayne L. White

Overview

Winter owns most of the year at the South Pole, starting in mid-February and ending in early November. Total darkness lasts for months, temperatures can drop below -100 degrees Fahrenheit, and windchill can push temperatures to -140 degrees. At those temperatures a person not protected with specialized clothing and an understanding of how to wear it would be reduced to an icicle within minutes. Few people on the planet can say they know what it feels like to walk in the unworldly, frigid winter darkness at the South Pole, but Wayne L. White can—having walked several thousand miles and never missing a day outside during his stay, regardless of the conditions.

As the winter site manager of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, White was responsible for the selection, training, and health and safety of the forty-two- and forty-six-person crews. Motivated by the determination and bravery of historical pioneers such as Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton, White honed his leadership skills to guide a diverse group of experienced and talented craftsmen, scientists, and artisans through three winters, the longest term of any winter manager. Despite hardships, disasters, and watching helpless as a global pandemic unfolded far beyond their horizon, his crews prevailed.

In Cold White documents his time in these extreme elements and offers a unique perspective on the United States Antarctic Program at the South Pole.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640125650
Publisher:	Potomac Books
Publication date:	09/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Wayne L. White is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and has served as a civilian contractor in assignments around the globe for more than twenty-five years, with nearly three years in the U.S. Antarctic Program at the South Pole. He has conducted solo expeditions to New Guinea, the Amazon, and Africa. He is a member of the Explorers Club of New York City and the Adventurers Club of Los Angeles and received the 2020 Adventurer of the Year award from the Adventurers Club of Los Angeles.
Wayne L. White is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and has served as a civilian contractor in assignments around the globe for more than twenty-five years, with nearly three years in the U.S. Antarctic Program at the South Pole. He has conducted solo expeditions to New Guinea, the Amazon, and Africa. He is a member of the Explorers Club of New York City and the Adventurers Club of Los Angeles and received the 2020 Adventurer of the Year award from the Adventurers Club of Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
The Glorious Ice
Denver
The Crew
The Summers
The Winter Voyage
Food
Winter Traditions
Outside
Activities
Winter Issues
Crisis
The End of Winter
Duty, Honor, and Glory

Editorial Reviews

The ultimate checkbox for the world traveler’s bucket list is the South Pole. Several well-heeled tourists make it for the selfie, but to really experience the South Pole you need to overwinter and become a ‘polie’ to experience truest night and the deepest cold. Texan Wayne White has been there and done that.”—West Hansen, author of The Amazon from Source to Sea: The Farthest Journey down the World’s Longest River
 


“Eschewing normal desires for comfort and security, Wayne White undertakes extraordinary adventures, far off the beaten path, from which we learn much.”—Kevin Lee, member of the Explorers Club and the Adventurers Club


“Wayne White is one of the most interesting and accomplished adventurers I’ve ever met. This book is about an important chapter of his life when he served as the leader of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station for three (yes, three) winters. A must-read for anyone interested in Antarctica and the spirit of adventure.”—Jeff Holmes, past president of the Adventurers Club of Los Angeles

From the Publisher

2022-06-17
An expedition leader recounts his experiences at the South Pole as part of the U.S. Antarctic Program.

“The USAP,” writes White, “is responsible for the upkeep of three Antarctic stations, numerous field camps and ships” and “for coordinating all the science conducted by several agencies and educational institutions.” The author spent three winters as the site manager at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, which “sits atop nearly two miles of moving ice and where temperatures can drop below minus 100 degrees. A former Marine, White shares details of his leadership style and the interview and selection process for the crew. Despite the author’s matter-of-fact tone, it’s clear White took his role seriously, fully understanding the many challenges they would face in such an inhospitable landscape. Describing his first experience with the bitter cold, White admits that it “caught my attention and scared me.” While the South Pole has “magnificent auroras,” the “environment outside the station, especially in winter, is potentially lethal.” Prior to their departure, in order to help crew members prepare for the environment, White engaged them in team-building exercises at USAP headquarters in Denver. He continued these activities during their mission, making sure that his crew members maintained strong bonds. One of the most interesting sections of the book describes the creation and placement of the Geographical South marker. Since the ice moves approximately 33 feet per year, a new location is unveiled on Jan. 1. Throughout, White chronicles the many internal struggles he faced with his crew, including the effects of isolation, boredom, and alcohol consumption. He also writes about the difficulties of navigating issues involving family and friends back home. During the third winter, the Covid-19 pandemic was sweeping across the world. While he and the crew were insulated from the virus itself, they endured fear and helplessness for the safety of their family members.

An enlightening perspective on a remote region of the globe.

Kirkus Reviews