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I try and describe Antarctica,
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00:00:15,683 --> 00:00:18,293
but it's really difficult.
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00:00:20,621 --> 00:00:22,891
You have to feel the cold,
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00:00:22,923 --> 00:00:27,033
you have to feel the wind
and how brutal it is.
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00:00:27,061 --> 00:00:28,901
*
6
00:00:31,532 --> 00:00:36,502
It's really the most wild and
natural place I've ever been.
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00:00:36,537 --> 00:00:39,137
But down here,
you recognize very quickly
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00:00:39,173 --> 00:00:45,553
that this is an environment
where people shouldn't be.
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00:00:45,579 --> 00:00:55,619
*
10
00:00:55,623 --> 00:01:05,573
*
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00:01:18,011 --> 00:01:20,711
I have a lot
of stuff outside here.
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All of sudden when the wind
picks up, everything blows away.
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So you've got to
quickly run around
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00:01:28,822 --> 00:01:31,462
and strap everything down.
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00:01:31,492 --> 00:01:33,362
Alright, now we're good.
16
00:01:43,471 --> 00:01:46,071
This is Scott Base,
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00:01:46,106 --> 00:01:50,206
New Zealand's permanent research
outpost in Antarctica.
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00:01:54,114 --> 00:01:55,954
What's the
forecast up there for the next,
19
00:01:55,983 --> 00:01:57,923
have you looked at
the next couple of days?
20
00:01:57,951 --> 00:02:03,921
What we've got here at the
moment is a long range forecast.
21
00:02:03,957 --> 00:02:06,457
The extreme weather conditions
are gonna increase.
22
00:02:06,494 --> 00:02:08,034
Over the last 24 hours,
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00:02:08,061 --> 00:02:10,061
Comms has been watching
a storm system
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00:02:10,097 --> 00:02:12,497
move up from the South Pole.
25
00:02:12,533 --> 00:02:14,973
There's a southerly
blowing at the moment,
26
00:02:15,002 --> 00:02:17,712
but the visibility is still
up to a good 500 meters.
27
00:02:17,738 --> 00:02:19,468
Once it gets below
the 300-meter mark,
28
00:02:19,507 --> 00:02:21,977
we look at putting on
Condition 2,
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00:02:22,009 --> 00:02:24,909
which will restrict travel
away from the base.
30
00:02:24,945 --> 00:02:27,105
Wind speeds can be
pretty severe at times,
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00:02:27,147 --> 00:02:30,717
getting up to, you know,
50, 60, 70 knots.
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00:02:30,751 --> 00:02:34,491
Exceedingly low temperatures,
as low as minus 35 degrees.
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00:02:34,522 --> 00:02:35,822
Something like this
is over and above
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00:02:35,856 --> 00:02:37,356
what we've already planned.
35
00:02:37,391 --> 00:02:39,161
Additional pressures
on the office here,
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00:02:39,193 --> 00:02:41,503
and to support those guys
in the field.
37
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Bad weather jeopardizes
38
00:02:54,174 --> 00:02:57,584
a critical piece of Scott Base's
mission support...
39
00:02:57,611 --> 00:03:00,181
helicopter flight time.
40
00:03:00,214 --> 00:03:01,824
What do you think, Graham?
41
00:03:01,849 --> 00:03:04,649
Consensus is
the weather is not real good.
42
00:03:04,685 --> 00:03:09,085
But the pilot says the light
is changing quickly.
43
00:03:09,122 --> 00:03:10,992
So, we'll just see if
we can have enough definition
44
00:03:11,024 --> 00:03:13,564
to land on the glacier sites.
45
00:03:13,594 --> 00:03:17,874
And I hope you've got
your overnight gear with you,
46
00:03:17,898 --> 00:03:19,928
'cause that might happen.
47
00:03:19,967 --> 00:03:21,767
Graham Hill is a lead scientist
48
00:03:21,802 --> 00:03:23,572
for the Mount Erebus team.
49
00:03:23,604 --> 00:03:24,644
They're working on the slopes
50
00:03:24,672 --> 00:03:27,242
of Antarctica's
most active volcano
51
00:03:27,275 --> 00:03:30,235
to get an image of
its internal magma flow.
52
00:03:30,278 --> 00:03:32,378
Our goal for this
project is to make measurements
53
00:03:32,413 --> 00:03:35,853
at 132 different locations
around Mount Erebus,
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00:03:35,883 --> 00:03:39,053
creating a map of
the insides of the volcano.
55
00:03:39,086 --> 00:03:42,216
Pretty much all of our locations
are accessed by helicopter.
56
00:03:42,256 --> 00:03:43,486
So we've got to really try
57
00:03:43,524 --> 00:03:45,234
and get all the work
we need to done,
58
00:03:45,259 --> 00:03:49,259
because simply understanding
where the magma reservoir is,
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00:03:49,297 --> 00:03:52,627
is really helpful for those
monitoring volcanoes.
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00:03:55,569 --> 00:03:56,899
Yeah.
61
00:03:56,937 --> 00:03:59,537
Danny Uhlmann is
a world class mountaineer
62
00:03:59,573 --> 00:04:02,143
in charge of keeping
the rest of the team safe,
63
00:04:02,175 --> 00:04:05,505
in one of the most unpredictable
environments on Earth.
64
00:04:05,546 --> 00:04:07,146
Weather is a huge factor here,
65
00:04:07,180 --> 00:04:09,380
because there's no trees in this
environment, there's no rocks.
66
00:04:09,417 --> 00:04:11,287
There's nothing that
will help your eye
67
00:04:11,319 --> 00:04:13,489
define distance and depth.
68
00:04:13,521 --> 00:04:15,221
If you have gray skies,
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00:04:15,255 --> 00:04:18,985
you just kind of see, like,
this broad gray in front of you.
70
00:04:19,026 --> 00:04:21,356
The snow surface and
the snow texture and all that
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00:04:21,395 --> 00:04:24,025
become almost invisible.
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00:04:24,064 --> 00:04:26,834
Locked.
73
00:04:26,867 --> 00:04:28,697
So, for the pilot,
it would be very easy
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00:04:28,736 --> 00:04:32,406
to crash the helicopter,
depending on the situation.
75
00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,180
Alright.
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00:04:35,208 --> 00:04:38,908
Their last mission
was cut short by weather,
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00:04:38,946 --> 00:04:42,316
so they're pushing the envelope
to try to make up time.
78
00:05:02,936 --> 00:05:06,336
The light is flat, so we
can't see the bumps in the snow.
79
00:05:06,374 --> 00:05:08,614
You know, am I 10 feet
off the ground,
80
00:05:08,642 --> 00:05:10,682
am I 50 feet, am I 30 feet?
81
00:05:22,089 --> 00:05:23,459
****
82
00:05:29,096 --> 00:05:31,896
Over 2,000 miles
from Mount Erebus,
83
00:05:31,932 --> 00:05:34,972
on the west side of
the Antarctic Peninsula...
84
00:05:39,072 --> 00:05:41,342
...a low pressure system
is moving in,
85
00:05:41,375 --> 00:05:45,875
creating swirling winds
and a higher chance of snow.
86
00:05:45,913 --> 00:05:47,383
We're just about
to get going here.
87
00:05:47,415 --> 00:05:49,415
Just kind of do
a circumnavigation.
88
00:05:49,450 --> 00:05:52,020
Dr. Ari Friedlaender
and his team are here
89
00:05:52,052 --> 00:05:54,352
to take tissue samples
from whales
90
00:05:54,388 --> 00:05:56,918
to see what effect
changing climate is having
91
00:05:56,957 --> 00:05:59,057
on the marine food supply.
92
00:05:59,092 --> 00:06:01,902
These whales are one part
of a very big ecosystem,
93
00:06:01,929 --> 00:06:03,399
but they're an important part,
94
00:06:03,431 --> 00:06:05,301
and there are
very different changes
95
00:06:05,332 --> 00:06:08,302
happening in the environment
for different species,
96
00:06:08,335 --> 00:06:09,935
and seeing how that plays out
97
00:06:09,970 --> 00:06:12,210
and how that affects
other parts of the world
98
00:06:12,239 --> 00:06:14,109
is something we're
really interested in.
99
00:06:14,141 --> 00:06:15,041
He's hunting for whales
100
00:06:15,075 --> 00:06:17,545
in an inflatable Zodiac raft,
101
00:06:17,578 --> 00:06:20,708
leaving the relative safety
of his research vessel,
102
00:06:20,748 --> 00:06:23,978
the Ortelius, behind.
103
00:06:24,017 --> 00:06:25,447
The wind is kind of
out of the east,
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00:06:25,486 --> 00:06:28,216
so my thought maybe
is to hug the coastline,
105
00:06:28,255 --> 00:06:29,485
and just kind of wrap around.
106
00:06:29,523 --> 00:06:31,893
I think most of the animals,
if we see anything,
107
00:06:31,925 --> 00:06:33,285
are gonna be tight,
108
00:06:33,326 --> 00:06:36,626
and best conditions would be
kind of close to shore.
109
00:06:36,664 --> 00:06:39,474
And just cover ground, I guess.
110
00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:40,600
All good?
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00:06:44,738 --> 00:06:47,578
When you leave the ship,
which is basically your refuge,
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00:06:47,608 --> 00:06:51,008
the place where you're going to
survive, you've got to get back.
113
00:06:51,044 --> 00:06:54,154
And anything that takes you away
from that ship is a risk.
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00:06:54,181 --> 00:07:00,991
*
115
00:07:01,021 --> 00:07:03,821
We've got a waypoint
for the position of the ship.
116
00:07:03,857 --> 00:07:05,157
We'll probably go
out of visual range,
117
00:07:05,192 --> 00:07:06,492
but we'll stay in radio contact,
118
00:07:06,527 --> 00:07:08,757
and just kind of check in
wherever we see anything,
119
00:07:08,796 --> 00:07:11,226
or as we pass by landmarks.
120
00:07:11,264 --> 00:07:12,434
Roger.
121
00:07:12,466 --> 00:07:14,766
So, you need to have
a reference point
122
00:07:14,802 --> 00:07:17,202
to be able to say where you are
relative to it.
123
00:07:17,237 --> 00:07:19,367
If you're trying to use
landmarks to navigate,
124
00:07:19,406 --> 00:07:21,106
something like the mountains
or the rocks,
125
00:07:21,141 --> 00:07:24,111
and we're constantly trying to
remember where we are,
126
00:07:24,144 --> 00:07:26,684
because you're literally
in a life raft,
127
00:07:26,714 --> 00:07:31,124
and if anything went wrong,
it would be bad.
128
00:07:31,151 --> 00:07:36,191
His last time out,
Ari managed to place a video tag
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00:07:36,223 --> 00:07:40,963
on a humpback whale,
a 66,000-pound beast.
130
00:07:40,994 --> 00:07:49,374
*
131
00:07:49,402 --> 00:07:51,772
But today,
he's hunting minke whales,
132
00:07:51,805 --> 00:07:55,035
and even in a known feeding
ground, they're harder to spot,
133
00:07:55,075 --> 00:07:58,875
weighing about 45,000 pounds
less than humpbacks.
134
00:07:58,912 --> 00:08:00,252
What's that over there?
135
00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:01,250
It's just ice.
136
00:08:01,281 --> 00:08:03,121
Is it? Okay.
137
00:08:03,150 --> 00:08:04,990
Not much visibility.
138
00:08:05,018 --> 00:08:06,818
It's calm.
139
00:08:06,854 --> 00:08:09,924
But it's pretty hard
to spot a whale
140
00:08:09,957 --> 00:08:12,457
any further away than
a few hundred meters.
141
00:08:14,494 --> 00:08:16,404
The minke whales are
a lot more challenging,
142
00:08:16,429 --> 00:08:18,629
because they're smaller,
they're faster,
143
00:08:18,666 --> 00:08:20,996
and they don't surface
nearly as high.
144
00:08:21,034 --> 00:08:22,004
They're a real pain to work with
145
00:08:22,035 --> 00:08:23,465
because they're
difficult to see,
146
00:08:23,503 --> 00:08:27,113
and generally, you see them once
or twice, and then they're gone.
147
00:08:27,140 --> 00:08:29,410
The horizontal visibility
is pretty low.
148
00:08:29,442 --> 00:08:30,642
Even with a minke whale,
149
00:08:30,678 --> 00:08:32,508
they surface so low,
and they're so small.
150
00:08:32,546 --> 00:08:34,506
You can only see them from
a couple hundred meters,
151
00:08:34,548 --> 00:08:36,348
but you can probably
hear the blow
152
00:08:36,383 --> 00:08:40,223
from, you know, two or three
times farther, so.
153
00:08:40,253 --> 00:08:42,323
What I might do is I might
shut down for a little bit.
154
00:08:42,355 --> 00:08:46,585
You know, five minutes,
and just kind of have a listen.
155
00:08:46,627 --> 00:08:48,657
Shut us down.
156
00:08:48,696 --> 00:08:50,156
So, we'll do that.
157
00:09:16,223 --> 00:09:18,093
My most favorite times
in the Antarctic
158
00:09:18,125 --> 00:09:22,025
is when you can remove
all of the human sounds.
159
00:09:24,331 --> 00:09:28,041
And it's a silence that...
160
00:09:28,068 --> 00:09:31,708
you can kind of feel.
161
00:09:35,843 --> 00:09:38,353
It seems kind of primitive.
162
00:09:42,082 --> 00:09:43,982
You hear ice crackling.
163
00:09:48,989 --> 00:09:51,829
You hear glaciers rumbling.
164
00:09:54,561 --> 00:09:57,031
You'll hear a seal barking.
165
00:10:02,369 --> 00:10:05,409
When you can hear
your heartbeat,
166
00:10:05,438 --> 00:10:07,438
you know that it's quiet.
167
00:10:12,112 --> 00:10:13,852
Keep your eyes and ears open.
168
00:10:13,881 --> 00:10:16,881
If you hear a little blow,
that's a minke whale.
169
00:10:18,686 --> 00:10:20,986
5,000 miles away,
170
00:10:21,021 --> 00:10:25,031
far from the storm
pummeling the mainland,
171
00:10:25,058 --> 00:10:28,798
is the US Coast Guard cutter...
172
00:10:28,829 --> 00:10:30,929
Polar Star.
173
00:10:30,964 --> 00:10:37,874
*
174
00:10:37,905 --> 00:10:40,635
Polar Star, Mac-Ops, roger.
175
00:10:40,674 --> 00:10:43,084
Mac-Ops, this is
Polar Star, 1-6, over.
176
00:10:44,644 --> 00:10:45,584
Her mission
177
00:10:45,612 --> 00:10:46,782
is to smash a path
178
00:10:46,814 --> 00:10:47,724
through the thick ice
179
00:10:47,748 --> 00:10:49,478
surrounding Antarctica,
180
00:10:49,516 --> 00:10:50,916
to open a shipping lane.
181
00:10:52,853 --> 00:10:54,323
Current speed, 10 knots.
182
00:10:54,354 --> 00:10:55,864
Right full rudder, again.
183
00:10:55,889 --> 00:10:57,289
Helmsman, right full rudder.
184
00:10:57,324 --> 00:10:58,964
Right full rudder, aye.
185
00:10:58,992 --> 00:11:01,902
This is her captain,
Matthew Walker.
186
00:11:01,929 --> 00:11:02,999
The Polar Star is one of
187
00:11:03,030 --> 00:11:05,430
the world's most powerful
icebreakers,
188
00:11:05,465 --> 00:11:10,935
and the mission is to cut
a channel that's 18 miles long
189
00:11:10,971 --> 00:11:12,971
through 8 to 12 feet of ice,
190
00:11:13,006 --> 00:11:16,606
so that the supply ships can
resupply the continent.
191
00:11:18,078 --> 00:11:20,648
I can never lose focus
on the mission.
192
00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:24,990
Antarctica cannot survive
without that food or fuel.
193
00:11:25,018 --> 00:11:30,418
*
194
00:11:30,457 --> 00:11:33,827
Aloft-con bridge, let's bring
her down nice and slow,
195
00:11:33,861 --> 00:11:35,431
see how she settles out.
196
00:11:35,462 --> 00:11:36,962
Roger, Captain.
197
00:11:36,997 --> 00:11:39,867
They're still
260 miles from the ice edge,
198
00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:43,100
but they're already up against
the circumpolar current.
199
00:11:43,136 --> 00:11:44,466
It's a band of deep water
200
00:11:44,504 --> 00:11:47,514
that insulates the continent
from the outside,
201
00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:49,340
but is driven by wind,
202
00:11:49,376 --> 00:11:51,946
creating a recipe for rough seas
203
00:11:51,979 --> 00:11:55,779
and strong gusts at the surface.
204
00:11:55,816 --> 00:11:56,916
Around Antarctica,
205
00:11:56,950 --> 00:11:57,850
there's a series
206
00:11:57,885 --> 00:11:59,915
of low-pressure systems
207
00:11:59,953 --> 00:12:01,493
that rotate around
208
00:12:01,521 --> 00:12:03,021
Antarctica constantly.
209
00:12:03,056 --> 00:12:05,256
So, as we get closer
to Antarctica,
210
00:12:05,292 --> 00:12:06,332
it might get rough until
211
00:12:06,359 --> 00:12:08,599
we get to the actual ice edge.
212
00:12:08,628 --> 00:12:11,258
Then the seas will lay down.
213
00:12:11,298 --> 00:12:13,168
As if that wasn't bad enough,
214
00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,600
next comes the ice pack...
215
00:12:15,635 --> 00:12:17,235
a floating mass of icebergs
216
00:12:17,270 --> 00:12:20,510
that gets thicker and thicker.
217
00:12:20,540 --> 00:12:23,880
And there's no clear path
through it.
218
00:12:23,911 --> 00:12:25,181
The Puma guys.
219
00:12:25,212 --> 00:12:26,312
How are we doing this morning?
220
00:12:26,346 --> 00:12:27,306
Alright!
221
00:12:27,347 --> 00:12:28,447
Are we ready for our flight?
222
00:12:28,481 --> 00:12:29,681
We're standing by to fly.
223
00:12:29,716 --> 00:12:31,946
Alright, sounds good.
224
00:12:31,985 --> 00:12:34,545
This year,
Captain Walker has help...
225
00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:38,357
an unmanned aerial vehicle
called the Puma.
226
00:12:38,391 --> 00:12:42,061
The Puma is
a radio-controlled aircraft.
227
00:12:42,095 --> 00:12:45,065
What do you got for home,
Delta Lima Juliet?
228
00:12:45,098 --> 00:12:46,468
Okay.
229
00:12:46,499 --> 00:12:49,399
The plan is for the Puma
to do ice reconnaissance for us,
230
00:12:49,436 --> 00:12:50,766
because we want to take
231
00:12:50,804 --> 00:12:52,344
the path of least resistance.
232
00:12:52,372 --> 00:12:53,642
Clear?
233
00:12:53,673 --> 00:12:55,743
Ice breakers used to
rely on helicopters
234
00:12:55,775 --> 00:12:58,375
to be their eyes in the sky.
235
00:13:00,247 --> 00:13:03,917
But in 2013,
a chopper doing reconnaissance
236
00:13:03,951 --> 00:13:07,721
for the Canadian Coast Guard
crashed into the icy waters.
237
00:13:07,754 --> 00:13:09,564
Canadian helicopter patrol
238
00:13:09,589 --> 00:13:11,219
checking out the ice packs,
239
00:13:11,258 --> 00:13:14,558
something the crew had done
hundreds of times before,
240
00:13:14,594 --> 00:13:17,564
ended this time
in a deadly crash.
241
00:13:17,597 --> 00:13:18,827
Three men were killed
242
00:13:18,866 --> 00:13:21,726
when the coast guard chopper
hit the icy waters.
243
00:13:21,768 --> 00:13:24,768
The men were stationed on
an icebreaker in the far north
244
00:13:24,804 --> 00:13:28,584
as part of a scientific
research study.
245
00:13:28,608 --> 00:13:31,008
The Puma could provide
the same support,
246
00:13:31,044 --> 00:13:35,154
without putting
a single life at risk.
247
00:13:35,182 --> 00:13:36,382
This is experimental
248
00:13:36,416 --> 00:13:37,246
for us in the Coast Guard.
249
00:13:37,284 --> 00:13:38,224
We are not used to
250
00:13:38,251 --> 00:13:39,891
operating drones.
251
00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:41,920
So, we have a company contracted
252
00:13:41,955 --> 00:13:43,285
to fly their drone down
253
00:13:43,323 --> 00:13:44,423
and see how she operates
254
00:13:44,457 --> 00:13:46,227
in these harsh environments.
255
00:13:46,259 --> 00:13:49,229
As long as it goes well,
it should be fairly quick.
256
00:13:49,262 --> 00:13:50,302
We're ready to launch.
257
00:13:53,233 --> 00:13:55,943
Alright, he says go for launch.
258
00:13:55,969 --> 00:13:57,339
Launching!
259
00:13:57,370 --> 00:14:03,580
*
260
00:14:10,650 --> 00:14:12,350
There it goes.
261
00:14:13,786 --> 00:14:16,656
She's flying very well.
262
00:14:16,689 --> 00:14:17,819
With the capabilities
263
00:14:17,857 --> 00:14:18,957
of the drone,
264
00:14:18,992 --> 00:14:20,132
there's potential for it
265
00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,060
to get that ice reconnaissance.
266
00:14:22,095 --> 00:14:23,525
Obviously, cheaper and safer
267
00:14:23,563 --> 00:14:24,463
than sending humans
268
00:14:24,497 --> 00:14:25,697
in helicopters
269
00:14:25,732 --> 00:14:28,502
out over ice and water.
270
00:14:28,535 --> 00:14:29,765
Man, she looks good.
271
00:14:29,802 --> 00:14:31,402
You can see, it's going 60 knots
272
00:14:31,438 --> 00:14:33,138
when it's got a tailwind.
273
00:14:33,173 --> 00:14:34,443
Well, and it's 15 pounds.
274
00:14:34,474 --> 00:14:36,084
Yeah, right.
275
00:14:36,109 --> 00:14:38,009
Just testing the approach
on the landing?
276
00:14:38,045 --> 00:14:38,945
Yeah.
277
00:14:38,979 --> 00:14:40,649
That's pretty exciting.
278
00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:51,190
*
279
00:14:51,224 --> 00:14:52,894
Back on the mainland,
280
00:14:52,926 --> 00:14:54,686
the storm continues
to strengthen
281
00:14:54,727 --> 00:14:56,957
and move north from the pole.
282
00:14:59,066 --> 00:15:01,066
- Yeah.
- Wow.
283
00:15:01,101 --> 00:15:03,301
Which means anyone moving south
284
00:15:03,336 --> 00:15:05,706
is driving right toward it.
285
00:15:05,738 --> 00:15:07,838
Speed, Condition 2.
286
00:15:11,844 --> 00:15:14,454
You guys still alright
hanging in back there?
287
00:15:22,155 --> 00:15:24,355
We, I mean, we can't really
go any faster,
288
00:15:24,391 --> 00:15:27,561
it just makes it easier to see.
289
00:15:27,594 --> 00:15:29,234
Yeah, no worries.
290
00:15:29,262 --> 00:15:32,232
Christian and the team
hit the road hours ago,
291
00:15:32,265 --> 00:15:35,635
when the storm was
still Condition 3.
292
00:15:35,668 --> 00:15:36,998
It's our first morning
on the road,
293
00:15:37,037 --> 00:15:39,267
so people are trying
to get packed up.
294
00:15:39,306 --> 00:15:43,506
Just noticing how long
everything is taking.
295
00:15:43,543 --> 00:15:45,253
That wind is ****.
296
00:15:45,278 --> 00:15:47,408
Not as sharp as I'd like to see,
297
00:15:47,447 --> 00:15:51,377
but things do take longer
in conditions like this.
298
00:15:51,418 --> 00:15:53,148
Long way to go.
299
00:15:54,787 --> 00:15:56,857
And even as the storm builds...
300
00:15:56,889 --> 00:15:59,429
It's 50 knots of wind
and blowing snow
301
00:15:59,459 --> 00:16:02,159
with very reduced visibility.
302
00:16:02,195 --> 00:16:04,695
They're determined
to get to their research site
303
00:16:04,731 --> 00:16:07,031
to study the impact
the Ross Ice Shelf
304
00:16:07,067 --> 00:16:10,337
could have on global
sea level rise.
305
00:16:10,370 --> 00:16:12,840
Antarctica, it's hard
to get your head around,
306
00:16:12,872 --> 00:16:15,382
but it's like a big thermostat
for the world.
307
00:16:15,408 --> 00:16:16,708
And things are changing.
308
00:16:16,743 --> 00:16:18,613
We're talking about
big uncertainties.
309
00:16:18,645 --> 00:16:20,745
The Ross Ice Shelf
floats on water.
310
00:16:20,780 --> 00:16:23,120
When you put an ice cube
in a drink at the bar,
311
00:16:23,150 --> 00:16:24,650
it's going to melt.
312
00:16:24,684 --> 00:16:26,124
Everyone knows that.
313
00:16:26,153 --> 00:16:28,323
If that happens to
the Ross Ice Shelf,
314
00:16:28,355 --> 00:16:29,685
I'm pretty certain that
we're going to lose
315
00:16:29,722 --> 00:16:31,592
parts of the West Antarctic
ice sheet
316
00:16:31,624 --> 00:16:33,434
at some point in the future.
317
00:16:33,460 --> 00:16:35,130
How much of it turns actually
into sea level,
318
00:16:35,162 --> 00:16:36,632
that's the big question.
319
00:16:36,663 --> 00:16:39,003
Based on current models,
320
00:16:39,032 --> 00:16:43,602
worst case scenario may be
20 feet of sea level rise,
321
00:16:43,636 --> 00:16:48,906
which would put dozens of major
coastal cities underwater.
322
00:16:52,112 --> 00:16:53,152
We got this blowing snow,
323
00:16:53,180 --> 00:16:55,180
and it's sticking
to the windscreen,
324
00:16:55,215 --> 00:16:56,545
so we've had to use
the windscreen wipers
325
00:16:56,583 --> 00:16:59,023
and the defroster, but
they're not winning the battle.
326
00:16:59,052 --> 00:17:01,192
Lots of unusual things,
when the weather's terrible,
327
00:17:01,221 --> 00:17:03,561
things break, and things
don't work very well.
328
00:17:17,570 --> 00:17:19,040
****
329
00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,080
Um, PB1, H1.
330
00:17:23,110 --> 00:17:24,710
Probably should pull over.
331
00:17:27,414 --> 00:17:28,824
We just found a piece of rubber.
332
00:17:46,233 --> 00:17:47,233
There's only one place
333
00:17:47,267 --> 00:17:49,137
that we could get rubber
from out here,
334
00:17:49,169 --> 00:17:51,299
and it's from the tracks
of the vehicle.
335
00:17:54,707 --> 00:17:57,537
****.
336
00:17:57,577 --> 00:17:59,577
Sure enough,
we've got a flat tire.
337
00:18:06,686 --> 00:18:08,686
A real pain in the ass.
338
00:18:15,162 --> 00:18:25,204
*
339
00:18:25,205 --> 00:18:32,205
*
340
00:18:37,750 --> 00:18:40,190
Pretty spectacularly
horrible out there.
341
00:18:40,220 --> 00:18:43,220
The Ross Ice Shelf
team is at a dead stop,
342
00:18:43,256 --> 00:18:47,586
in a growing storm,
100 miles from help.
343
00:18:47,627 --> 00:18:50,097
You're out here
in the middle of nowhere.
344
00:18:50,129 --> 00:18:51,929
No one's really
been here before.
345
00:18:51,964 --> 00:18:53,234
Your life is in danger
346
00:18:53,266 --> 00:18:55,766
if you go outside and
hang around there too long.
347
00:18:59,939 --> 00:19:03,109
Rob has to change
a flat tire on the lead vehicle,
348
00:19:03,142 --> 00:19:05,482
in the middle
of whiteout conditions,
349
00:19:05,512 --> 00:19:07,952
before they can
get moving again.
350
00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:09,720
Okay, Tom,
I'm just gonna back it up
351
00:19:09,749 --> 00:19:12,389
onto that block a little bit,
352
00:19:12,419 --> 00:19:15,819
and then I'll come out,
and we'll set this up,
353
00:19:15,855 --> 00:19:17,355
and then as I drive back,
354
00:19:17,390 --> 00:19:20,560
hopefully, it'll just push
those tracks apart,
355
00:19:20,593 --> 00:19:21,963
and we can work that out.
356
00:19:21,994 --> 00:19:24,004
Sounds good.
357
00:19:24,030 --> 00:19:29,800
*
358
00:19:29,836 --> 00:19:31,966
I had no idea that a tire could
go wrong on a PistenBully.
359
00:19:32,004 --> 00:19:34,544
I just assumed that you just
drove on the tracks.
360
00:19:34,574 --> 00:19:38,514
I am not a mechanic,
but Rob's an amazing mechanic.
361
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,450
Woo!
362
00:19:42,482 --> 00:19:44,322
Now we're cooking.
363
00:19:52,525 --> 00:19:54,785
The snow and ice conditions
you get in Antarctica
364
00:19:54,827 --> 00:19:57,497
aren't like really
anywhere else in the world.
365
00:19:57,530 --> 00:20:00,700
You just got to manage it.
366
00:20:00,733 --> 00:20:03,143
We got the spare tire.
367
00:20:03,169 --> 00:20:06,069
There we go.
368
00:20:06,105 --> 00:20:07,735
Working in places like this,
369
00:20:07,774 --> 00:20:11,414
it's not always about
what you want to do,
370
00:20:11,444 --> 00:20:13,884
or how you want to do it.
371
00:20:13,913 --> 00:20:18,793
It's, it's almost entirely
what you have to do it with.
372
00:20:18,818 --> 00:20:20,488
Right-o.
373
00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,560
The team has only been
stopped for 45 minutes,
374
00:20:23,590 --> 00:20:26,190
but conditions have
gotten much worse.
375
00:20:26,225 --> 00:20:29,555
It's windy,
there's blowing snow,
376
00:20:29,596 --> 00:20:31,956
and that affects
your visibility.
377
00:20:31,998 --> 00:20:35,368
It gets quite difficult
to drive.
378
00:20:35,402 --> 00:20:37,272
It's kind of getting
to the point
379
00:20:37,304 --> 00:20:42,174
where really only
a couple of options.
380
00:20:42,208 --> 00:20:43,608
What do you reckon?
381
00:20:43,643 --> 00:20:46,653
We have to make a call to
either make camp for the night,
382
00:20:46,679 --> 00:20:49,419
or push on, try and make up
a bit more time.
383
00:20:49,449 --> 00:20:51,579
Yeah.
384
00:20:51,618 --> 00:20:56,488
The reality is,
we have to stop everything.
385
00:20:56,523 --> 00:21:01,263
Stay where we are, hunker down,
keep everybody warm.
386
00:21:01,294 --> 00:21:03,264
For now, with what
we can see out there,
387
00:21:03,296 --> 00:21:06,726
it's probably just not worth
going anywhere.
388
00:21:06,766 --> 00:21:08,396
So, it's a shame
to lose one day, you know,
389
00:21:08,435 --> 00:21:09,935
one of our weather days,
390
00:21:09,969 --> 00:21:12,309
even when we're not even doing
the science, but you know.
391
00:21:12,339 --> 00:21:13,909
Suggest they just stay inside.
392
00:21:19,111 --> 00:21:21,111
For miles in every direction
393
00:21:21,147 --> 00:21:23,047
the weather is changing quickly,
394
00:21:23,082 --> 00:21:25,122
because at the bottom
of the planet,
395
00:21:25,151 --> 00:21:27,351
most winds are katabatic.
396
00:21:27,387 --> 00:21:30,817
That means they drop down
from 9,000 feet of elevation
397
00:21:30,857 --> 00:21:35,157
at the South Pole,
gathering speed as they fall,
398
00:21:35,194 --> 00:21:39,334
and they can send cold air
rocketing across the continent.
399
00:21:39,366 --> 00:21:44,766
*
400
00:22:05,625 --> 00:22:07,285
****
401
00:22:16,268 --> 00:22:17,468
At the end of the day,
402
00:22:17,504 --> 00:22:19,074
you're not in control
of the environment.
403
00:22:19,105 --> 00:22:20,305
The only thing
you're in control of
404
00:22:20,339 --> 00:22:22,679
is where you put yourself
in the environment.
405
00:22:22,709 --> 00:22:26,609
So, if the forecast is bad,
there's nothing you can do.
406
00:22:32,785 --> 00:22:34,015
That was really
tough light, man.
407
00:22:34,053 --> 00:22:35,863
That was, like, the worst
we've had so far.
408
00:22:35,888 --> 00:22:36,818
Yeah.
409
00:22:36,856 --> 00:22:38,116
I was glad he didn't land,
410
00:22:38,157 --> 00:22:40,687
because I couldn't,
I couldn't see anything.
411
00:22:40,727 --> 00:22:41,587
It's not our fault.
412
00:22:41,628 --> 00:22:43,698
It's not our fault.
413
00:22:43,730 --> 00:22:46,630
But I've seen storms that have
rolled in that have sat here,
414
00:22:46,666 --> 00:22:51,336
and there've been nobody going
anywhere for 10 days.
415
00:22:51,370 --> 00:22:57,740
*
416
00:22:57,777 --> 00:23:01,007
With the weather
approaching Condition 1...
417
00:23:01,047 --> 00:23:04,777
Get in, everybody in!
418
00:23:04,817 --> 00:23:09,357
Scott Base is now on lockdown.
419
00:23:09,388 --> 00:23:11,458
It's just picked up
really quickly.
420
00:23:11,491 --> 00:23:12,731
Yep.
421
00:23:12,759 --> 00:23:15,499
Tight timeframe
of when to do our flights.
422
00:23:15,528 --> 00:23:16,598
I know.
423
00:23:16,629 --> 00:23:17,499
We'll just see what we can do.
424
00:23:18,364 --> 00:23:19,674
That sounds good.
425
00:23:19,699 --> 00:23:20,769
It's not easy.
426
00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:21,930
Something like this
is over and above
427
00:23:21,968 --> 00:23:23,468
what we've already planned.
428
00:23:23,503 --> 00:23:25,273
Additional pressures
on the office here
429
00:23:25,304 --> 00:23:26,714
and pressures on people
in Christchurch
430
00:23:26,739 --> 00:23:27,969
who supply this stuff
431
00:23:28,007 --> 00:23:30,237
and pretty much increased
pressure on everybody.
432
00:23:30,276 --> 00:23:32,136
The weather always wins.
433
00:23:35,314 --> 00:23:36,884
In these conditions,
434
00:23:36,916 --> 00:23:42,346
C-17s, the giant aircraft that
bring in supplies once a week,
435
00:23:42,388 --> 00:23:44,318
are grounded.
436
00:23:44,356 --> 00:23:45,926
That's our lifeline
with New Zealand
437
00:23:45,958 --> 00:23:47,328
and the outside world,
438
00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,159
so it's bringing our passengers,
it's taking out our passengers,
439
00:23:49,195 --> 00:23:50,725
it's bringing in our cargo.
440
00:23:50,763 --> 00:23:52,503
We'll see what happens.
441
00:23:52,532 --> 00:23:55,372
It's been five days
since the last plane,
442
00:23:55,401 --> 00:23:57,841
and head chef Keith
is getting creative
443
00:23:57,870 --> 00:24:00,970
to keep 84 hungry people fed.
444
00:24:01,007 --> 00:24:02,007
On the menu today,
445
00:24:02,041 --> 00:24:05,851
we have a simple
salami mustard pasta.
446
00:24:05,878 --> 00:24:08,048
We have curry from last night,
447
00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:09,550
but unfortunately,
at the moment,
448
00:24:09,582 --> 00:24:11,722
we're overdue for
a plane delivery,
449
00:24:11,751 --> 00:24:13,691
because of the weather.
450
00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,390
That's the last bag
of cheese there.
451
00:24:16,422 --> 00:24:17,422
We're running out of eggs,
452
00:24:17,456 --> 00:24:18,726
we're running out of cheese.
453
00:24:18,758 --> 00:24:20,028
Running out of eggs,
running out of cheese.
454
00:24:20,059 --> 00:24:21,389
We haven't got
any fresh vegetables.
455
00:24:21,427 --> 00:24:23,197
We've only got one box
of butter left,
456
00:24:23,229 --> 00:24:26,029
but that's just part
of life down here.
457
00:24:26,065 --> 00:24:27,695
There's not a lot you can
do about that, though, really.
458
00:24:27,734 --> 00:24:28,844
That's what it is, mate.
459
00:24:28,868 --> 00:24:30,068
We're in the ****.
460
00:24:30,102 --> 00:24:31,702
We're running out of everything.
461
00:24:31,738 --> 00:24:33,308
Jeez, man.
462
00:24:34,741 --> 00:24:37,881
The base freezer
is just outside,
463
00:24:37,910 --> 00:24:41,980
and it takes advantage
of the subzero temperatures.
464
00:24:42,014 --> 00:24:43,884
It's minus 15 degrees outside,
465
00:24:43,916 --> 00:24:47,046
so this is actually
a modified sea container,
466
00:24:47,086 --> 00:24:48,286
and if you look
to your left here,
467
00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,390
just down over here,
we actually have a heater.
468
00:24:51,423 --> 00:24:53,963
So, instead of
a refrigeration system,
469
00:24:53,993 --> 00:24:55,533
we have a heating system.
470
00:24:55,562 --> 00:24:57,632
We also have a ducting system.
471
00:24:57,664 --> 00:25:01,334
So, it takes warm air, once
it's risen from there, through,
472
00:25:01,367 --> 00:25:03,597
and circulates through
the whole heater.
473
00:25:03,636 --> 00:25:05,466
With its short shelf life,
474
00:25:05,504 --> 00:25:08,784
fresh produce is always
the first thing to go.
475
00:25:08,808 --> 00:25:11,278
We're just taking the
last of the, the few vegetables
476
00:25:11,310 --> 00:25:15,380
we have for 75 people on base
at the moment.
477
00:25:15,414 --> 00:25:17,584
So we're pretty empty right now,
478
00:25:17,617 --> 00:25:20,747
and if the weather decides
it doesn't want to play nice,
479
00:25:20,787 --> 00:25:22,957
well, you don't get your plane.
480
00:25:26,826 --> 00:25:29,996
260 miles away
481
00:25:30,029 --> 00:25:31,859
on the Polar Star...
482
00:25:37,770 --> 00:25:40,110
The Puma drone's
maiden Antarctic test flight
483
00:25:40,139 --> 00:25:41,839
has been a success.
484
00:25:45,444 --> 00:25:47,884
Okay, roger that.
485
00:25:47,914 --> 00:25:51,724
Now, they have to get
the $100,000 system
486
00:25:51,751 --> 00:25:53,621
safely back on deck.
487
00:25:59,058 --> 00:26:00,828
Yeah, roger that.
488
00:26:00,860 --> 00:26:02,330
In the green.
489
00:26:02,361 --> 00:26:05,401
Winds are 19 knots from 266.
490
00:26:07,166 --> 00:26:08,526
You got eyes on?
491
00:26:08,567 --> 00:26:09,367
Right there.
492
00:26:09,401 --> 00:26:10,901
Got it.
493
00:26:10,937 --> 00:26:12,267
What's more risky
to lose the Puma,
494
00:26:12,304 --> 00:26:13,674
launch or recovery?
495
00:26:13,706 --> 00:26:15,406
Recovery.
496
00:26:15,441 --> 00:26:16,341
You guys ready?
497
00:26:16,375 --> 00:26:17,175
Yeah.
498
00:26:17,209 --> 00:26:18,709
I'm gonna reroute.
499
00:26:21,213 --> 00:26:23,053
We are at six knots.
500
00:26:23,082 --> 00:26:24,052
So far, so good.
501
00:26:24,083 --> 00:26:25,423
In the green.
502
00:26:25,451 --> 00:26:27,651
Still green.
503
00:26:27,687 --> 00:26:29,357
Still green.
504
00:26:29,388 --> 00:26:30,888
Still green.
505
00:26:32,291 --> 00:26:34,561
****
506
00:26:34,593 --> 00:26:36,333
Puma, Puma's in the water.
507
00:26:36,362 --> 00:26:37,402
Puma's in the water.
508
00:26:44,136 --> 00:26:54,746
*
509
00:26:54,781 --> 00:26:56,451
Puma's down the port side.
510
00:26:56,482 --> 00:26:57,452
Is it in the water?
511
00:26:58,885 --> 00:27:00,085
Port bow!
512
00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:01,889
Shoot!
Okay, give her left full rudder.
513
00:27:01,921 --> 00:27:03,361
Left full rudder!
514
00:27:03,389 --> 00:27:04,419
It's coming down the port side.
515
00:27:06,826 --> 00:27:09,156
We're gonna lose it
on the port side.
516
00:27:09,195 --> 00:27:11,655
Where is it?
517
00:27:11,698 --> 00:27:12,828
****.
518
00:27:12,865 --> 00:27:16,635
Alright, let's yell stop.
519
00:27:16,669 --> 00:27:17,639
Take it all stop.
520
00:27:17,670 --> 00:27:19,010
All stop!
521
00:27:19,038 --> 00:27:22,138
The Puma drone,
Captain Walker's eye in the sky,
522
00:27:22,174 --> 00:27:24,614
just landed in
the Southern Ocean,
523
00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:26,253
instead of on deck.
524
00:27:26,278 --> 00:27:27,708
200 yards.
525
00:27:31,017 --> 00:27:34,217
Here, we have a big
eight-foot orange wing,
526
00:27:34,253 --> 00:27:37,123
floating on top of the water.
527
00:27:37,156 --> 00:27:40,256
That drone, it's too important
to what we're doing down here,
528
00:27:40,292 --> 00:27:43,802
so we have to recover it.
529
00:27:43,830 --> 00:27:45,060
Not only that,
530
00:27:45,097 --> 00:27:49,137
but that drone is worth hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
531
00:27:49,168 --> 00:27:51,698
Don't take your eyes off it
when you give your orders.
532
00:27:51,738 --> 00:27:54,208
Don't look at 'em, just yell,
533
00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,540
and keep your eyes
on the aircraft.
534
00:27:56,575 --> 00:27:58,375
Just as if you were to have
a man in the water,
535
00:27:58,410 --> 00:28:00,110
you'd never take
your eyes off him.
536
00:28:00,146 --> 00:28:01,246
You can have a conversation
537
00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,620
with never taking
your eyes off the guy.
538
00:28:03,649 --> 00:28:05,149
Roger, Captain.
539
00:28:05,184 --> 00:28:06,524
Okay, left full rudder.
540
00:28:06,552 --> 00:28:08,452
Helmsman, left full rudder.
541
00:28:08,487 --> 00:28:09,687
Left full rudder, aye.
542
00:28:11,357 --> 00:28:13,027
Recovery deck,
tell me where you're at.
543
00:28:16,228 --> 00:28:17,628
Okay.
We'll get it there.
544
00:28:25,037 --> 00:28:25,867
You good?
545
00:28:25,905 --> 00:28:27,935
I think so.
546
00:28:27,974 --> 00:28:30,614
The water is 30 degrees.
547
00:28:30,642 --> 00:28:32,012
At that temperature,
548
00:28:32,044 --> 00:28:35,684
hypothermia can set in
in less than five minutes;
549
00:28:35,714 --> 00:28:37,624
which is not much more time
than it takes
550
00:28:37,649 --> 00:28:39,749
to turn the ship around.
551
00:28:46,392 --> 00:28:47,892
Is our harness person
tethered in?
552
00:28:49,929 --> 00:28:51,129
It's coming your way now.
553
00:28:52,932 --> 00:28:54,372
It's alongside the hull.
554
00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:55,570
I see it.
555
00:28:55,601 --> 00:28:57,401
Speed's good, distance good.
556
00:29:01,407 --> 00:29:02,407
All back two.
557
00:29:02,441 --> 00:29:03,441
All back two.
558
00:29:03,475 --> 00:29:04,735
All back two, aye.
559
00:29:07,279 --> 00:29:09,479
Speed's fast.
560
00:29:09,515 --> 00:29:11,645
Puma's alongside
the hull of the CBO.
561
00:29:19,091 --> 00:29:22,491
Looks like they got it,
but I can't see.
562
00:29:22,528 --> 00:29:25,398
Easy, easy on the landing.
563
00:29:25,431 --> 00:29:27,201
Easy on the landing.
564
00:29:37,944 --> 00:29:38,884
Eagle has landed.
565
00:29:38,911 --> 00:29:39,951
I repeat, eagle has landed.
566
00:29:39,979 --> 00:29:43,119
- Just a little wet.
- A little wet.
567
00:29:43,149 --> 00:29:45,079
Good job, everybody.
568
00:29:45,117 --> 00:29:49,957
With the drone down, we just
don't have eyes in the air.
569
00:29:49,989 --> 00:29:53,089
I have no assistance available.
570
00:29:53,125 --> 00:29:56,325
I really have no way to do
ice reconnaissance.
571
00:29:58,097 --> 00:30:00,897
It just makes it all
harder and harder.
572
00:30:00,933 --> 00:30:10,976
*
573
00:30:10,977 --> 00:30:25,057
*
574
00:30:26,358 --> 00:30:28,588
The Ross Ice Shelf
team is stuck in a storm
575
00:30:28,627 --> 00:30:31,157
that's hit Condition 1.
576
00:30:34,766 --> 00:30:39,506
That means visibility
is less than 100 feet,
577
00:30:39,538 --> 00:30:42,638
winds are over
63 miles per hour,
578
00:30:42,674 --> 00:30:46,184
or temperatures
have hit 100 below.
579
00:30:46,212 --> 00:30:52,052
The wind carries with it
blowing snow and extreme cold.
580
00:30:52,084 --> 00:30:54,094
The biting effect
that it has on you
581
00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:57,260
can have a fairly
disastrous effect.
582
00:30:57,289 --> 00:30:58,289
****
583
00:30:58,324 --> 00:30:59,634
When things do get bad,
584
00:30:59,658 --> 00:31:02,758
you need to be able to
manage the situation,
585
00:31:02,794 --> 00:31:04,734
and keep things under control.
586
00:31:05,932 --> 00:31:07,702
We just want
to get everything up,
587
00:31:07,733 --> 00:31:10,973
get inside and get out of the
wind, 'cause it's not pleasant.
588
00:31:11,003 --> 00:31:12,203
It's miserable.
589
00:31:12,238 --> 00:31:13,838
We're almost there.
590
00:31:13,872 --> 00:31:15,772
We're out in the middle
of nowhere.
591
00:31:15,807 --> 00:31:19,747
Condition 1 out there,
and we have to just wait it out.
592
00:31:19,778 --> 00:31:22,548
It's about the best
we can do, really.
593
00:31:22,581 --> 00:31:23,881
For now.
594
00:31:26,818 --> 00:31:29,418
Even though they're
outside chopper range,
595
00:31:29,455 --> 00:31:32,385
Scott Base is the team's
only lifeline.
596
00:31:32,424 --> 00:31:37,304
Yeah, I would like to phone
back to Scott Base to check in.
597
00:31:37,329 --> 00:31:39,069
Good day, Tom. How are you?
598
00:31:39,098 --> 00:31:40,268
Good here, Mac.
599
00:31:40,299 --> 00:31:43,569
Visibility's down
to 15 or 20 meters,
600
00:31:43,602 --> 00:31:46,872
massive amounts of blowing snow
and wind drifts.
601
00:31:48,975 --> 00:31:50,735
Tomorrow, about
mid-morning tomorrow,
602
00:31:50,776 --> 00:31:51,806
the barometric pressure
looks like
603
00:31:51,843 --> 00:31:53,113
it's still gonna be dropping.
604
00:31:53,145 --> 00:31:56,575
So, you might get a bit
of ground fog with that.
605
00:31:56,615 --> 00:31:57,845
With the amount of blowing snow,
606
00:31:57,883 --> 00:32:00,253
so, it's just not worth
pushing it.
607
00:32:04,323 --> 00:32:05,793
That's, yeah, a good move.
608
00:32:05,824 --> 00:32:07,194
We'll touch base tomorrow.
609
00:32:07,226 --> 00:32:08,686
Alright.
610
00:32:08,727 --> 00:32:10,427
We're traveling a long way
from Scott Base,
611
00:32:10,462 --> 00:32:11,732
and once we're out that far,
612
00:32:11,763 --> 00:32:13,433
we'll be out of
helicopter support range.
613
00:32:13,465 --> 00:32:15,395
So, if things go wrong
out there,
614
00:32:15,434 --> 00:32:17,004
it could potentially be days
615
00:32:17,036 --> 00:32:18,866
from anybody being
able to get to us.
616
00:32:18,904 --> 00:32:23,414
So, it's quite a big deal to be
away from that close support.
617
00:32:23,442 --> 00:32:33,484
*
618
00:32:33,485 --> 00:32:46,695
*
619
00:32:46,732 --> 00:32:49,242
When it's nice and calm
like this,
620
00:32:49,268 --> 00:32:51,138
even if you don't
see the whales,
621
00:32:51,170 --> 00:32:53,840
looking for ripples from
where they've surfaced
622
00:32:53,872 --> 00:32:56,242
is one of the sort of telltales.
623
00:32:58,844 --> 00:33:02,584
Ari and his team are
on the hunt for minke whales,
624
00:33:02,614 --> 00:33:05,624
but so far, blowing snow
and low visibility
625
00:33:05,651 --> 00:33:08,791
have stood in their way.
626
00:33:08,820 --> 00:33:11,960
Well, there's
a pretty thick ice here.
627
00:33:11,990 --> 00:33:13,790
I can't see **** anymore.
628
00:33:13,825 --> 00:33:15,825
Slow down.
629
00:33:15,861 --> 00:33:22,501
*
630
00:33:22,534 --> 00:33:24,344
Ari, Ari, Lars here.
631
00:33:28,207 --> 00:33:30,837
Yeah, no worries.
632
00:33:30,876 --> 00:33:33,246
When you're out and there's
low visibility in the Antarctic,
633
00:33:33,279 --> 00:33:37,179
and it's starting to snow,
and the wind is pushing ice,
634
00:33:37,216 --> 00:33:39,916
it actually makes it
incredibly difficult.
635
00:33:39,951 --> 00:33:42,891
It can be really frustrating,
but you have to be patient.
636
00:33:42,921 --> 00:33:48,891
*
637
00:33:48,927 --> 00:33:50,397
Minke whales don't make
a whole lot of a splash
638
00:33:50,429 --> 00:33:52,559
when they surface.
639
00:33:56,034 --> 00:33:57,974
What's that!?
640
00:33:58,003 --> 00:34:01,073
Think we've got a whale here.
641
00:34:01,107 --> 00:34:02,307
Ari, Ari, standby.
642
00:34:02,341 --> 00:34:04,111
I just saw a fin of something.
643
00:34:09,581 --> 00:34:11,181
A fin.
644
00:34:11,217 --> 00:34:13,047
So, I think it might be a minke.
645
00:34:13,085 --> 00:34:14,145
It's right here, guys.
646
00:34:14,186 --> 00:34:15,616
- Yeah.
- It's right under us.
647
00:34:15,654 --> 00:34:17,164
We've got flukes right under us.
648
00:34:17,189 --> 00:34:17,989
There we go, over there.
649
00:34:18,023 --> 00:34:20,393
There we go, yeah.
650
00:34:20,426 --> 00:34:23,596
I think we have
a friendly whale circling us.
651
00:34:23,629 --> 00:34:24,659
Yep, right out here.
652
00:34:24,696 --> 00:34:27,196
See, it came right behind us.
653
00:34:27,233 --> 00:34:29,103
See these three or four
fluke prints?
654
00:34:29,135 --> 00:34:31,495
Right here.
655
00:34:31,537 --> 00:34:34,267
Yep, there's a little
minke whale.
656
00:34:34,306 --> 00:34:37,406
Might be able to get
a biopsy sample.
657
00:34:37,443 --> 00:34:40,153
Ari's crossbow shoots
specially modified darts
658
00:34:40,179 --> 00:34:41,979
that collect skin
and blubber samples
659
00:34:42,013 --> 00:34:44,083
about the size of a pen cap.
660
00:34:44,116 --> 00:34:48,486
The samples reveal the whale's
sex, diet, contamination level,
661
00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:50,660
and whether or not
it's pregnant.
662
00:34:50,689 --> 00:34:53,329
That little sample is
absolutely critical for us.
663
00:34:53,359 --> 00:34:56,529
Because from changes
in pregnancy rates,
664
00:34:56,562 --> 00:34:59,062
we can look across the season
and see how whale populations
665
00:34:59,097 --> 00:35:01,327
are going to change
in the future.
666
00:35:09,675 --> 00:35:11,535
That's a very typical
little view
667
00:35:11,577 --> 00:35:13,347
of an Antarctic minke whale.
668
00:35:13,379 --> 00:35:16,179
They'll come up once or twice.
It's a very shallow breath.
669
00:35:16,215 --> 00:35:17,315
They're really cryptic,
670
00:35:17,349 --> 00:35:20,049
but totally designed for
living in this sea ice.
671
00:35:20,085 --> 00:35:22,915
Humpbacks, we can approach them,
they let us get close to them.
672
00:35:22,954 --> 00:35:25,224
These minke whales,
it's completely up to them
673
00:35:25,257 --> 00:35:26,757
whether or not
we get close to them.
674
00:35:26,792 --> 00:35:32,662
And, yeah, the opportunities are
very limited for these guys.
675
00:35:32,698 --> 00:35:34,068
Might have been it.
676
00:35:34,099 --> 00:35:35,269
I don't see any more.
677
00:35:35,301 --> 00:35:36,541
No.
678
00:35:36,568 --> 00:35:38,468
When you have ice
everywhere around you
679
00:35:38,504 --> 00:35:43,214
and bad visibility,
it's not ideal.
680
00:35:43,242 --> 00:35:48,752
*
681
00:35:48,780 --> 00:35:51,120
Saw it twice, and it's gone.
682
00:35:51,149 --> 00:35:53,649
Like, we won't see
that thing again.
683
00:35:58,023 --> 00:36:00,033
Yep, sounds good, guys.
684
00:36:00,058 --> 00:36:02,958
Well, at least we know
they're here. Over.
685
00:36:02,994 --> 00:36:04,964
Yeah, they're myth no more.
686
00:36:04,996 --> 00:36:07,596
We actually,
actually have seen one.
687
00:36:07,633 --> 00:36:09,373
You see, we're not crazy idiots
688
00:36:09,401 --> 00:36:10,941
to go out in the middle
of icebergs
689
00:36:10,969 --> 00:36:13,939
to look for made-up unicorns.
690
00:36:13,972 --> 00:36:17,142
No, this is the real deal.
691
00:36:17,175 --> 00:36:19,445
Why don't we get back
towards the vessel, Fred?
692
00:36:19,478 --> 00:36:23,048
Let's just dry up, get a drink.
693
00:36:23,081 --> 00:36:24,181
Sure.
694
00:36:24,216 --> 00:36:27,216
Give me your bearings
to the vessel.
695
00:36:27,253 --> 00:36:28,723
Yeah, yeah,
we should be going this way.
696
00:36:28,754 --> 00:36:31,664
No, no. West, this way.
697
00:36:31,690 --> 00:36:35,090
Getting disoriented
can happen really easily.
698
00:36:35,126 --> 00:36:37,796
I recognize a couple of icebergs
that we passed along the way.
699
00:36:37,829 --> 00:36:39,999
But to be honest,
I don't know where we are.
700
00:36:40,031 --> 00:36:43,241
We came out around
this way, right?
701
00:36:43,269 --> 00:36:45,699
You have all this sea ice,
and it's not static;
702
00:36:45,737 --> 00:36:47,137
it's moving around.
703
00:36:47,172 --> 00:36:49,442
And so if you're trying to use
landmarks to navigate
704
00:36:49,475 --> 00:36:52,905
that are mobile, you can get
yourself in trouble.
705
00:36:52,944 --> 00:36:54,784
So it gets a bit confusing
in these conditions.
706
00:36:54,813 --> 00:36:56,483
We've been away for a while,
707
00:36:56,515 --> 00:37:01,285
so, we don't really have
any land bearing.
708
00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:05,520
Ari, Lars here, we should be
heading northeast from here.
709
00:37:11,563 --> 00:37:13,103
Pretty much six o'clock, right?
710
00:37:13,131 --> 00:37:15,071
Six o'clock.
711
00:37:15,100 --> 00:37:18,940
Six o'clock is back
to the northeast, alright.
712
00:37:23,942 --> 00:37:25,442
We're trying to pick up
a bit of speed here,
713
00:37:25,477 --> 00:37:30,377
because of the conditions, but
I can't see much ahead anymore.
714
00:37:30,416 --> 00:37:32,616
This is pretty miserable
right now.
715
00:37:34,886 --> 00:37:35,746
****
716
00:37:35,787 --> 00:37:39,387
I lost sight of my ship.
717
00:37:39,425 --> 00:37:43,295
You get disoriented
very quickly here.
718
00:37:43,329 --> 00:37:44,629
I feel lost completely,
719
00:37:44,663 --> 00:37:47,973
I have no idea if you're driving
into an iceberg or not.
720
00:37:51,770 --> 00:37:53,310
We're lost out here.
721
00:38:00,646 --> 00:38:08,886
*
722
00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:11,120
I see a little bit
of the coast now.
723
00:38:11,156 --> 00:38:13,056
Or is that an iceberg?
724
00:38:14,893 --> 00:38:16,403
Ari and his team have lost sight
725
00:38:16,428 --> 00:38:19,058
of their research vessel,
the Ortelius,
726
00:38:19,097 --> 00:38:21,197
and visibility is deteriorating.
727
00:38:21,232 --> 00:38:22,202
Yeah, just checking in.
728
00:38:22,233 --> 00:38:25,043
How is our heading
at this point?
729
00:38:25,070 --> 00:38:26,300
Maybe you should go
10 degrees more
730
00:38:26,338 --> 00:38:28,538
to the, to the right.
731
00:38:31,076 --> 00:38:33,646
****, this is pretty
miserable right now.
732
00:38:33,679 --> 00:38:34,979
I feel lost completely,
733
00:38:35,013 --> 00:38:39,523
I have no idea if you're driving
into an iceberg or not.
734
00:38:39,551 --> 00:38:42,791
When we leave and we lose
visual sight of the ship,
735
00:38:42,821 --> 00:38:44,161
there's no support.
736
00:38:44,189 --> 00:38:46,929
There's nothing else around you
except wilderness.
737
00:38:52,130 --> 00:38:54,300
I can't see much ahead anymore.
738
00:39:05,944 --> 00:39:07,354
You can see the silhouette
of the ship.
739
00:39:07,379 --> 00:39:08,179
You see it?
740
00:39:08,213 --> 00:39:09,623
Yeah.
741
00:39:09,648 --> 00:39:12,248
The mother ship is in sight.
742
00:39:12,283 --> 00:39:13,693
That's a bit of a relief,
actually.
743
00:39:14,886 --> 00:39:17,416
Thank God for these things.
744
00:39:17,456 --> 00:39:20,186
Having a basic compass
is absolutely critical.
745
00:39:20,225 --> 00:39:23,255
We probably would have gotten
lost without it today.
746
00:39:25,296 --> 00:39:28,626
As soon as you see it,
we can relax a little bit.
747
00:39:28,667 --> 00:39:29,897
The ship is home.
748
00:39:29,935 --> 00:39:31,365
It's our planet, basically,
749
00:39:31,403 --> 00:39:34,413
and that's the place
where we can survive.
750
00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,370
Gangway, gangway, Ari.
751
00:39:36,408 --> 00:39:38,678
We're off the bow of the boat,
the science boats,
752
00:39:38,710 --> 00:39:41,080
and we were gonna
drop people off
753
00:39:41,112 --> 00:39:44,282
and be done for the afternoon,
if that's okay.
754
00:39:46,084 --> 00:39:47,394
Copy that, bridge.
Thank you very much.
755
00:39:47,419 --> 00:39:50,089
We'll come along port side.
756
00:39:50,121 --> 00:39:52,891
Today, even if we didn't get
a whole lot done,
757
00:39:52,924 --> 00:39:54,934
we know there are
these hot spots now,
758
00:39:54,960 --> 00:39:58,130
so, pretty much guaranteed
we're gonna find the animals,
759
00:39:58,163 --> 00:39:59,103
we just need
the right conditions
760
00:39:59,130 --> 00:40:01,270
to be able to work with them.
761
00:40:01,299 --> 00:40:04,199
Waiting for another opportunity
in the weather.
762
00:40:04,235 --> 00:40:14,275
*
763
00:40:14,312 --> 00:40:16,922
A little bit whiteout,
you can't see much.
764
00:40:16,948 --> 00:40:18,878
For the staff at Scott Base,
765
00:40:18,917 --> 00:40:20,047
it's impossible to predict
766
00:40:20,085 --> 00:40:23,145
exactly how long
the storm will last.
767
00:40:23,188 --> 00:40:24,258
There's obviously
been the delays,
768
00:40:24,289 --> 00:40:26,059
if you have a look outside.
769
00:40:26,091 --> 00:40:27,131
So, can't get a plane in,
770
00:40:27,158 --> 00:40:28,058
you can't get a plane in.
771
00:40:28,093 --> 00:40:29,163
So, you make do
772
00:40:29,194 --> 00:40:30,704
with what you have.
773
00:40:34,399 --> 00:40:36,569
Challenging.
774
00:40:36,602 --> 00:40:38,302
But there is a ray of hope.
775
00:40:38,336 --> 00:40:41,636
A C-17 full of supplies
took off from New Zealand
776
00:40:41,673 --> 00:40:43,583
more than five hours ago,
777
00:40:43,609 --> 00:40:48,549
anticipating a short window to
land, and it's due any minute.
778
00:40:48,580 --> 00:40:49,620
The conditions, as you can see,
779
00:40:49,648 --> 00:40:52,748
are not the best out there.
780
00:40:52,784 --> 00:40:55,494
You can see,
it's fairly low visibility,
781
00:40:55,521 --> 00:40:58,491
and the problem for pilots
is definition,
782
00:40:58,524 --> 00:41:01,694
and you can see, there's a white
sky and a white landing strip.
783
00:41:01,727 --> 00:41:03,497
It's very difficult.
784
00:41:03,529 --> 00:41:06,259
There's enough fuel for
the aircraft to fly,
785
00:41:06,297 --> 00:41:07,527
circle around a few times,
786
00:41:07,566 --> 00:41:10,066
and if they, pilots feel
it's unsafe to land,
787
00:41:10,101 --> 00:41:12,841
they'll shoot straight back
to Christchurch again.
788
00:41:12,871 --> 00:41:14,411
I've seen aircraft
get to the point
789
00:41:14,439 --> 00:41:16,509
of getting to the end
of the runway,
790
00:41:16,542 --> 00:41:20,312
and then decide, not traveling,
and they just go back.
791
00:41:23,915 --> 00:41:28,145
When I look at that,
I don't see a kind of visibility
792
00:41:28,186 --> 00:41:29,956
that I would hope as a pilot
would want to,
793
00:41:29,988 --> 00:41:33,358
but hey, they've got skills and
experience far greater than me.
794
00:41:33,391 --> 00:41:37,431
So, you never quite know,
but, yeah, fingers crossed.
795
00:41:37,462 --> 00:41:40,072
A break in the weather
hasn't materialized,
796
00:41:40,098 --> 00:41:42,668
and with cloud cover
blocking the sunlight,
797
00:41:42,701 --> 00:41:46,141
there are no shadows
on the ground for contrast.
798
00:41:46,171 --> 00:41:50,111
This condition is called
flat light.
799
00:41:50,141 --> 00:41:56,111
In 1979, an Air New Zealand
flight carrying 257 people
800
00:41:56,147 --> 00:42:00,017
got caught in flat light
conditions over Mount Erebus.
801
00:42:00,051 --> 00:42:03,251
Sadly, the DC-10 crashed
into the mountain,
802
00:42:03,288 --> 00:42:05,288
killing everyone on board.
803
00:42:05,323 --> 00:42:08,433
It was the biggest tragedy
in the continent's history,
804
00:42:08,459 --> 00:42:10,929
and is still memorialized today.
805
00:42:12,964 --> 00:42:14,574
I hear something.
806
00:42:24,042 --> 00:42:25,382
****
807
00:42:26,712 --> 00:42:28,212
****
808
00:42:39,257 --> 00:42:40,787
Not good.
809
00:42:40,826 --> 00:42:50,866
*
810
00:42:50,869 --> 00:42:58,509
*
811
00:42:58,543 --> 00:43:00,353
Let's slow down to 10 knots.
812
00:43:00,378 --> 00:43:03,748
That way, we have a little bit
slower approach to it.
813
00:43:03,782 --> 00:43:05,052
Mate Drill Con.
814
00:43:05,083 --> 00:43:08,023
Give Pilothouse control
of the throttles.
815
00:43:11,389 --> 00:43:12,989
Out in the Southern Ocean,
816
00:43:13,024 --> 00:43:16,064
the Polar Star isn't being
touched by the storm.
817
00:43:16,094 --> 00:43:18,404
You get within a mile,
and then alter course,
818
00:43:18,429 --> 00:43:19,669
45 degrees to starboard.
819
00:43:19,698 --> 00:43:20,798
Aye.
820
00:43:20,832 --> 00:43:22,772
They're entering the ice pack,
821
00:43:22,801 --> 00:43:25,771
a thick cluster of icebergs.
822
00:43:25,804 --> 00:43:27,714
This is the first one
we've seen this trip, so.
823
00:43:27,739 --> 00:43:31,209
Every time you see the first
one, it gets pretty exciting.
824
00:43:31,242 --> 00:43:32,612
It's so wild,
825
00:43:32,644 --> 00:43:37,024
because this thing's
freaking huge to me, you know.
826
00:43:37,048 --> 00:43:39,218
Absolutely amazing.
827
00:43:39,250 --> 00:43:42,720
It's almost like a fairy tale
to a lot of people.
828
00:43:42,754 --> 00:43:45,424
So, from waterline to the top,
210 feet?
829
00:43:45,456 --> 00:43:46,556
Yeah.
830
00:43:46,591 --> 00:43:49,231
This is a pretty big one.
831
00:43:49,260 --> 00:43:52,100
There is no way we could contend
with this piece of ice.
832
00:43:53,498 --> 00:43:57,398
Only 10% of an iceberg
is visible above water.
833
00:43:57,435 --> 00:44:00,335
Not only can the hidden mass
tear through the hull,
834
00:44:00,371 --> 00:44:02,071
if the base melts,
835
00:44:02,107 --> 00:44:05,777
it can actually become top-heavy
enough to roll over,
836
00:44:05,811 --> 00:44:09,051
sending thousands of tons of ice
crashing down.
837
00:44:12,117 --> 00:44:14,887
We'll give it a wide berth
and stay off of it.
838
00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:18,420
But when it's 200 feet,
it dwarfs you.
839
00:44:18,456 --> 00:44:21,056
You realize how little
power you have
840
00:44:21,092 --> 00:44:24,562
when you're getting
that close to it.
841
00:44:24,595 --> 00:44:26,355
We don't have
the drone right now
842
00:44:26,397 --> 00:44:30,437
to be able to go look for
a path through the ice.
843
00:44:30,468 --> 00:44:32,468
I need eyes in the air
844
00:44:32,503 --> 00:44:34,643
to know where to maneuver
the ship through,
845
00:44:34,672 --> 00:44:36,672
and there's no help.
846
00:44:36,708 --> 00:44:43,208
*
847
00:44:43,248 --> 00:44:46,918
On shore, the storm is raging,
848
00:44:46,952 --> 00:44:49,792
and operations are
at a standstill.
849
00:44:51,389 --> 00:44:56,759
On the Ross Ice Shelf, there's
no shelter but canvas tents.
850
00:44:56,795 --> 00:45:01,625
And the team could be stuck
in them for days.
851
00:45:01,666 --> 00:45:02,696
See, that's all snow
right there.
852
00:45:02,734 --> 00:45:05,644
That's a snow wall
against my head.
853
00:45:09,474 --> 00:45:11,614
Tomorrow morning...
hold on, today.
854
00:45:11,642 --> 00:45:13,612
It's the end of today.
855
00:45:16,614 --> 00:45:18,124
Yeah, I'm confused now
with the time, actually.
856
00:45:18,149 --> 00:45:19,679
I think it's morning.
857
00:45:22,653 --> 00:45:24,623
And the deceptive thing, you
don't know it's after midnight,
858
00:45:24,655 --> 00:45:25,985
because it's always light,
right?
859
00:45:26,024 --> 00:45:29,494
So, it could be midnight now,
but it's an ordeal.
860
00:45:32,230 --> 00:45:33,330
So, this is probably
861
00:45:33,364 --> 00:45:36,004
the furthest I've been
from civilization.
862
00:45:36,034 --> 00:45:40,514
We're heading towards the,
the South Pole on our traverse.
863
00:45:40,538 --> 00:45:42,038
You can't see 30 meters
in front of you,
864
00:45:42,073 --> 00:45:46,983
it's just windy,
it's snowing, it's cold.
865
00:45:47,012 --> 00:45:49,852
I mean, I've never worked in
this kind of environment before,
866
00:45:49,881 --> 00:45:53,651
which I'm sort of stuck inside,
freezing in my sleeping bag.
867
00:45:55,153 --> 00:45:58,123
Because of the
blowing snow and low visibility,
868
00:45:58,156 --> 00:46:00,826
we're gonna just stay put
until it improves.
869
00:46:03,294 --> 00:46:04,834
Spending a day or more
in a tent,
870
00:46:04,863 --> 00:46:07,033
it's kind of a weird concept.
871
00:46:07,065 --> 00:46:08,995
A little bit nerve-wracking.
872
00:46:09,034 --> 00:46:10,774
Why am I doing this?
Why did I come out here?
873
00:46:10,802 --> 00:46:13,542
Surely, the science
isn't that important.
874
00:46:13,571 --> 00:46:15,241
I suppose it is part
of Antarctica,
875
00:46:15,273 --> 00:46:17,643
but at the same time, if
Antarctica is always like this,
876
00:46:17,675 --> 00:46:21,145
like every single day,
then it's miserable.
877
00:46:21,179 --> 00:46:22,949
So, yeah, it's not great.
878
00:46:29,620 --> 00:46:30,920
The weather has deteriorated
879
00:46:30,956 --> 00:46:32,416
significantly enough
880
00:46:32,457 --> 00:46:37,297
that it's not safe for people
to be moving around outside.
881
00:46:39,164 --> 00:46:44,144
But it's really important to try
and check in with the team.
882
00:46:44,169 --> 00:46:45,739
Out here, it would be very easy
883
00:46:45,770 --> 00:46:49,910
to take a few steps
in the wrong direction,
884
00:46:49,941 --> 00:46:51,481
and you look around
885
00:46:51,509 --> 00:46:54,479
and you can't actually see
where your tent is.
886
00:46:56,948 --> 00:46:58,648
And you take a few more steps,
887
00:46:58,683 --> 00:47:02,923
thinking that you're going
the right way back to your tent,
888
00:47:02,954 --> 00:47:06,464
and suddenly you realize that
you're completely out there,
889
00:47:06,491 --> 00:47:07,291
you're lost.65015
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