South Pole Station Tour - Part 3 - The buried sections

[@toddcunningham3213]

"Held up by these, uh, arch, metal, girder, structure things." Spoken like a true medical professional. Lol!

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

Lol very technical obviously 🤓

[@andrewjuby6339]

Damn it Jim, he's a doctor not an engineer.

[@padadge]

and i understood completely

[@RevMikeBlack]

My childhood next door neighbor and surfing buddy went to medical school on a United States Navy scholarship. After becoming a doctor, the Navy sent him to Amundsen Scott base for a year. He liked it so much that he volunteered for a second year, which is unusual. He was an avid outdoorsman and considered it to be an opportunity of a lifetime. After finishing his tour at the south pole, the Navy rewarded him with a post in Hawaii where he finished his commitment and went into private practice. From what he told me, Antarctica is a special place that sets its hooks into you quickly.

[@erics.1275]

I worked and lived there the summer of 2012-13. It's so nice to walk down memory lane, thank you.

[@chillnspace777]

How did you apply? 😂

[@SunShine-kd6td]

Did you see the 24 hour sun?

[@erics.1275]

Yes, the sun moves around like a halo in the sky 2am and 2pm look the same. Except the sun in positioned different

[@erics.1275]

I applied through PAE (Pacific Architects and Engineering)

[@DrForester54]

So just to do the math: if the generator uses 45 gallons per hour consistently (I'm sure it fluctuates though), that equals 394,200 gallons of fuel per year (12 months) or 2,660,850 lbs (assuming the average 6.75 lbs/gallon for jet fuel) or 1,330 tons. I'm sure that many folks would be appalled at those numbers, but when compared to the massive quantities of diesel used to power and heat the arctic oil operations each year, it's a drop in the bucket (pun intended).

[@oaw117]

​@@YourDadsBoyfriend yes that does make it okay. It's supporting research that can't be done elsewhere.

[@RumoredAtmos]

Is there no wind there or something?

[@DrForester54]

@Atmos at the End of the World Tons of wind for sure. But also extremely harsh conditions that would be very damaging on wind turbines, which would necessitate frequent maintenance by skilled personnel out in those elements. That is probably one of the biggest logistical problems with using wind power.

[@putnamehereholdmadoodle]

​@@DrForester54need robot vacuums

[@badlaamaurukehu]

​@@RumoredAtmos lol

[@kailashbtw9103]

This is literally UNBELIEVABLY cool to see all this behind the scenes for A-S Station! never knew the underground part even existed, but that is clearly where the magic happens for surviving in the antarctic.

[@brentbraniff]

I think one of the most interesting thing about these videos is that they show how much like home the living conditions are. Of course, I live in North Dakota so snow and cold are pretty normal to me. The vehicle maintenance area is almost like every farm implement service garage I've been in....complete with a radio blasting classic rock. Pretty cool!!

[@questioner1596]

It's rare to hear it on a KZbin video for fears of demonetization.

[@marcudemus]

Yeah, I laughed as soon as I heard the radio. #1 indicator of a mechanic's shop 😂

[@wilsonle61]

It reminds me of being on a Destroyer in the Navy. Totally self-contained in the same fashion that your station is.

[@jameskirk5778]

My first work out of school was nuclear engineering for Navy submarines. Had clearances so we could have access to many parts and I thought how self contained it was. Subs were all in dry and not sure I could go in deep water and not be able to go out. I would love to be at this station. It is stunning to see the outside

[@Pkripper-67]

What I’m noticing is the entire structure itself. Like, the underground sections have smooth concrete floors. How did all of this construction happen in such a frigid environment? It’s fascinating.

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

You know that's a good question, I'm not sure how they cured the concrete floors. Must've been a special mix and used heaters.

[@teodelfuego]

It could be preformed slabs trucked in via overland express

[@Realryordie]

And the Award for no critical thinking skills goes tooooo

[@Lionheart1188]

@@Realryordie you

[@zapfanzapfan]

From what I have seen it is the heated parts that have concrete floors. Maybe the buildings were built and heated before pouring the floor? There must be proper insulation under the floor to keep the ice from melting when the room above is heated. The cold parts like the arch with food have plywood floor I think. Someone else doing a station tour mentioned it.

[@tayzonday]

This is so amazing. It's like I'm there, even though I'm never going to be ;-)

[@jet6619]

South Pole neighborhood Insurance rates went up....because of this comment

[@bigsid1984]

Amazing they don’t use nuclear reactor to power the station

[@enja001]

​@@bigsid1984it's been tried in the arctic

[@lunchbox1553]

​@@bigsid1984 It's also amazing that they have 3 generators instead of a single coal powered one.

[@td5046]

Yo Tay how have you been man? It's been years since I've heard anything about you. I'll try to google up some info but feel free to reply

[@Backbeardjack99]

As an engineer this whole station is just amazing to see in operation! If you can, please do an interview/tour of all the important engineering parts of the station, if any engineer is willing. I‘d be really interested in seeing how this massive feat of survival and even comfort is achieved!

[@JedRichards]

Heh - loved the vibe in the vehicle maintenance bay, with the Eagles in the background. Real sci-fi off world colony vibes, except without the hard vacuum outside.

[@johnr5252]

That would be a wonderful place to live. No excessive heat, no humidity, no insects. Nice!

[@user-tn1vc1xz5d]

I was at McMurdo 20 years ago, never made it to Pole but new facility was under construction. Amazing to see it here. There is a book called "Blazing Ice" about the creation of the traverse route.

[@mystscot9814]

Thank you Joe for the guided tour of the station in the 3 videos. I'm in absolute shock and awe at what is on the station. Having a basketball court was the last thing I'd ever expected and the music room. I guess many of us would love to work in this type of facility, away from the constraints of busy city life. I've just recently subscribed, so I have many videos to catch up on. Again, many thanks for taking the time to record the videos, appreciated.

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

You're welcome! Hopefully more videos soon

[@mystscot9814]

@@JoeSpinstheGlobe Looking forward to more videos, appreciated.

[@EHProjects]

I am amazed at the scale of this facility considering it was constructed in such a crazy inhospitable place. What an engineering feat!

[@abathens]

Nothing like hearing "One of these Nights" at the South Pole. Nice touch of home.

[@burningchrome70]

The Maintenance/Vehicle Bay restored my faith in humanity. Thank you for this.

[@garyowen9044]

Thank you! You just answered every question I had about fuel, fuel burn, storage, and fuel delivery I had asked form previous video.

[@arstd99]

FARTHER, is a term for physical distance. FURTHER, is a term for a progression of a given situation. (Further along in his/her studies). Great job with the tour. The next time I visit the station, this information will be quite useful. 😎👍

[@heyheyhay]

attending college for geology right now and working at mcmurdo station as a glaciologist is my dream job! seeing updated videos of life down there is really getting me hyped up for it :P

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

Best of luck! McMurdo is a really cool place as well

[@stalin1909]

This is truly incredible. Just to be able to actually watch this in a non-formal setting , is almost surreal. A big thank you for the effort. It feels like a different dimension , or even a different planet…just wow.

[@JackT_Music_on_Vinyl]

The team in the VMF, rockin back there with the music cranked up! Love it. Thanks for these tours!

[@michaelpietrasz3705]

Watched all 3 parts, love them - awesome work John. On a side note, this is basically what one of the first permanent colonies on Mars will look like - keeping in mind that going outside will require an EVA suit and the tour/stay will likely last 3 years (instead of 6 months).

[@LoFiSymphony]

This long form video tour series of the south pole station was so fun to watch. Very glad you made it (and you made it very well). I've always wondered what it's like down there at these kinds of places and there isn't a ton of detailed info about it. This thorough walkthrough I think has scratched a big itch for a lot of people. Well done! Looking forward to more vids from you. (And if you ever go back, we want more of course! A detailed McMurdo tour would be super cool)

[@monkeylordofdoom14]

Joe we want to see more of your adventures!! You got us all hooked on your amazing tours of rhe south pole and now we want more of your amazing educational and fun information! 😄

[@edtomorrow]

Those archways look like the exact design used for harden aircraft shelters in the Airforce.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

amazing how much like a regular industrial site this place looks on the inside, especially when you got to the carpentry shop/machine shop

[@JoseCastillo-qv1hi]

Keep the videos coming! I really enjoy them. I am on the PA path, so it is nice seeing a non-traditional path.

[@TheAlphaZulu]

Love seeing your videos. These are very well done and I love the map/diagram you provide

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

Thanks! Glad it's appreciated

[@humanbeing20118]

Very informative especially for me who has never ever seen snowfall in life😂

[@wendywedum5596]

Thanks for sharing your tours, keep waiting for my son to sort and share his pix from the 2022 winterover in the VMF

[@lennybuttz2162]

I feel like I'm seeing stuff I shouldn't be seeing. I love that!

[@sir.richardarmstrong3rd759]

Toni Traub seams like someone that would be awesome to work with. She seams to have really good energy.

[@joelaugustin6407]

It's fascinating to see how many people in the comments make obvious barely thought out recommendations for how the base could be better powered, ostensibly to the people who built and have run a massive base on the bottom of the world, for decades. As if nobody thought over so many winters with so much time to pass, "huh, it's pretty bright and windy out there!" Thank you for your great videos Joe, do you want to go back? Do people make long careers out of working there or do most only work a couple seasons?

[@bobwhelk2117]

Those steel arch thingies are called Quonset hut buildings. Very strong

[@alanlight7740]

These are much larger than Quonset huts - and also have knee walls that were added in the summer of 2007-08.

[@bobwhelk2117]

@@alanlight7740 Okay - let’s stick with thingamajig’s.

[@alanlight7740]

@@bobwhelk2117 - or just "corrugated steel arches".

[@bobwhelk2117]

@@alanlight7740 Then let’s call it Nissen Hut.

[@alanlight7740]

😁

[@HereticalKitsune]

That warehouse reminds me of the time I worked in a deep freeze storage for pizza. It was only -38°C, but we had hoar frost too, just a bit finer, could be packed easily into snowballs.

[@adventureswithjosie]

"She gave me a dirty look so I'm going to go back outside." Lol!! So excited to see some more of your Antarctica content Joe! It's really interesting to see how everything works at the station! Curious to know, if something were to happen and no flights could come in with supplies, how long could a winter amount of station crew survive? Is there like months, or even years worth of supplies there at a time?

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

If we went through an entire winter and for some reason there was no resupply at beginning of summer, i believe there's about 6-7 additional months (roughly) of supplies to survive. But with rationing food and fuel I'm sure it could go another year.

[@adventureswithjosie]

@@JoeSpinstheGlobe That would be good to know I imagine! I think that would be one of my biggest worries if I worked there during winter, something happening and no resupply for a long time, and also serious medical emergencies.

[@zapfanzapfan]

@@JoeSpinstheGlobe Did covid mess up the 2020 winter season?

[@eaglewings8206]

Thank you for doing these tours. It is very interesting!

[@russellwilliams4317]

How doesn't this have millions of views? I would do literally anything to be apart of the team there!

[@ARBITRAGEandTIME]

Tried to join a Lodge?

[@teeanahera8949]

Know what the word literally means? No, didn’t think so. You aren’t going to do anything too drastic just so you could go if the chance arose.

[@glass4600]

Idk if you’ll see this, Back in 2020 I was doing some research on indeed and found a contract job to maintain the fire suppression on a research station out in the arctic. I was extremely interested and fell in love with the idea of going out and doing that. I never did. I found your videos like last week and this is like living vicariously through you. I have always wanted to go. I don’t know why.

[@Sh9168]

This is a horror movie producers dream. How that woman didn't freak out being alone under 20 feet of ice , then having you show up amazes me.

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

I mean if someone is the type to scare easily, they might not wanna sign up to be trapped in a station at the bottom of the world for 8 months 🤣

[@Rockhunter329]

Check out The Thing movie.

[@tonysuffoletto9093]

I get the THING vibe!!! Super cool

[@bumbaclot813]

Got here from the shorts. Watching this stuff i just cant stop thinking of this as a found footage extra from the movie, The Thing.

[@rachelcody3355]

thanks for the tours. I suppose the most important people down there is the maintenance.

[@fenmuir]

First, you're quite the lovable guy-your personality is great. My experience with medical professionals is that they're generally good people. Second, thanks for the tour-I shared it with the college groups I'm in. I think someone said they're making a variant of the base in Rimworld of Dwarf Fortress now. XD Third, it's nice to see how all of this fits together. I knew about McMurdo station, but not this one. It is nice to see that you guys have most of the amenities out there. Fourth, do keep making videos. My students and the local groups (college-goers, furries, geeks, sci-fi lovers, .etc) love this stuff.

[@bcadventure2015]

Mechanic has good taste in music!

[@HELPINHANDSUK0612]

Love you videos making u realize how they live there its mad but would love to go and experience it

[@pooryaradpoor3156]

Hello thank you so much beautiful.happy new year.

[@zengrath]

amazing. had more statistics that I was curious about, that's an insane amount of fuel usage. I can't wrap my head around how insane it must be to keep a huge facility like this running at those temps, just nutz. It is also insane to think how much material is transported here.

[@dibzzz70]

Wow! Just incredible

[@MicheleLimon]

Great to see you posting again.

[@sankalp3558]

I am a medical student it's my dream to work at south pole,I am looking forward to feel how it's like living on alien 👽 planet while I will still be on earth 🌎 I am working hard may be one day I will work here and meet you and the amazing crew

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

Best of luck!

[@sankalp3558]

@@JoeSpinstheGlobe thanks 🙏 it mean a lot I just hope I will be able know more about this journey

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Fascinating place.The furthest south ⬇️ i have managed to get in my whole life is Picton,New Zealand at about 41 degrees south.Done way better north ⬆️ with Narvik, Norway which is about 200 km north of the Artic Circle.

[@BijanIzadi]

The shop looks like a vibe! Good tunes haha

[@mitchellminer9597]

Fascinating. Thank you!

[@SussedRage]

Remember, if you find something buried in the ice, do NOT dig it up and thaw it out!

[@woofy9977]

Why

[@BrentWalker999]

​@@woofy9977 the thing

[@Rockhunter329]

Be wary of dogs if there is a helicopter shooting at it.

[@woofy9977]

@@BrentWalker999 oh yeah duh. I’ve been reading too many red pills on Antartica lately thanks

[@shanegedekoh121]

Can't imagine what went into building this. Wow.

[@wesssavorn9018]

This was very cool thank you for posting

[@nathanpfirman625]

This literarily my dream job. I’d love to be out in the most remote areas on earth studying the unknown. I mean yeah astronauts and stuff are cool but theirs so much to explore on earth still. And getting their and spending the entire time their sounds like torture at least with this they can still get you back if you have an extreme emergency.

[@Space_and_Polar]

Thanks for the awesome content! I took part in wintering at Vostok in 2019-2020 and have some first hand Antarctic experience. Keep up making great content!) 🤝

[@onepunch9203]

@ 7:44 I already have questions. 1- The "freezer burn crystals" that are fun to break off fall to the floor. Cool. Then what? Does someone have to sweep them up and dump them outdoors? Do they melt in January and flow out through drainage? How do you handle this frozen moisture safely? 2- When you say "one fuel fits all", what do you mean? Are aircraft flying w/tractor fuel? Are tractors powered with jet fuel? Are you storing crude oil and distilling it on site for various uses?

[@teeanahera8949]

I am pretty sure he said the aviation and tractors etc all use the same fuel. Jet fuel I’ve heard some say. Worth googling it.

[@Hyperious_in_the_air]

incredible. this is as close to something like a moon or mars base as we can get with our current tech, and shows how much infrastructure goes into a base like this

[@King_Shroom]

Nice to know theres good music in the South Pole

[@banhbaothit1629]

carti better

[@CaptainBreny]

Driving a Pistenbully on Antarctica looks really cool!

[@foxale08]

I'm surprised those generators are so small. 1MW isn't big by generator standards but I would think fuel consumption is the highest priority.

[@JoeSpinstheGlobe]

Yep and they're even downrated to 700 kw I believe due to the altitude

[@zapfanzapfan]

@@JoeSpinstheGlobe Any battery back-up if a generator goes down and it takes time to fire up the other one?

[@sandy1653]

@@zapfanzapfan They have 3 primary generators to cycle through and a backup power plant in B pod.

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Thanks for sharing, appreciate it a lot 👍 Greets from the Netherlands, T.

[@michaelhoffmann2891]

I remember the first traverse "scouting trip" leaving. Was watching it from "my office" at McM. Need to check if I still have the photos somewhere. 😀

[@jessicamann684]

sublimation stops at -40. the items in cold storage aren't offgassing water vapor. It is all breath or air that comes out from the heated parts of the station.

[@OF_THE_UNIVERSE]

Посмотрел все части. Большое спасибо

[@susanreed8186]

So interesting,you have a cool 😎 job

[@PorkChopSammie]

Your content is fascinating. Keep sending it.

[@sparkequinox]

Its easy to imagine this as "Mars South Pole Station", everything self contained but with rocket deliveries instead of planes. Exciting.

[@danieltaylor4819]

Amazing! Great tour!

[@indimediaworks]

Great series! Fascinating.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

It boggles the mind to see these giant structures underground. Trying to guess how many people and how many years - that it took to construct all of this!

[@jytheiowaguy1897]

Heading down for winfly this summer, I’ll be traversing to The Pole this time

[@RayClosel-hf6cx]

I would so love to work in the SP! My report would say jeez it’s cold, then I would play guitar, read some history and report again how cold it is…hilarious!

[@crusaderknight6928]

The ice tunnels sound intriguing

[@CybershamanX]

(3:49) I love the "Hi, Friend" cardboard cartoon person. Wish I could make out the text better. I just love little details like this. I'd probably be one of the people who make little (hopefully) funny doodles like that... 😉

[@justinzak5025]

REALLY well done! Nice work!

[@protorandom9097]

8:20 What got me was that whoever drew the "Keep Door Closed" sign into the frost on the door could be sure that the frost wouldnt dissappear any time soon.

[@ethanmerritt8109]

Would love to see an update about those ice tunnels! Why you no post in 10 months? Hope you're well!!

[@olgierd2001]

That was a very cool thing to see once like not many people get to see this place othervise

[@lifeafterourloss]

Thanks for the video! If you see JD tell him I say hi. 👍

[@lacygross4280]

Fascinating.

[@raitshots]

Live North Scandinavia artica . Good video. 😎👍

[@lennybuttz2162]

Dum de dum de dum Joe is so casual about how cold it is. I suppose you get used to it. I'm from WI were with wind chills the feel like temperature has hit -50 or -60 a few times during my life but it's like OMG SO FREAKING COLD!!!!! Joe is just bee bopping around like it's no big deal. For me when it's -10 it actually hurts to breathe.

[@JakeAvatar1]

I could get along with whoever works in the vehicle shop, got the Eagles playing.

[@jonj4419]

Cool tours brother. Thank you.

[@_koji]

Very interesting! Thanks for the tour!

[@rogerdudra178]

My 1988 Ford Bronco II would enjoy your mechanics attention.

[@Stan-lq1ep]

You know as crazy as it sounds I'd love to visit and work a season there

[@keendeesjarlais3636]

lol, can't help thinking about that movie out of 1982 with Kurt Russel in it--------'' the THING''

[@AsbestosMuffins]

the arctic where you put things in the freezer to keep it warm

[@teeanahera8949]

This is not the Arctic though.

[@virgilcain8152]

Great video, thanks for the show!

[@jamiesmith4293]

-55F? Some theories say the land of the south pole used to be close to the equator, making it a jungle there. Probably 100 degrees every day.

[@alanlight7740]

You didn't miss much in the fuel arch. The lighting back there is so dim that even if you had turned it on you wouldn't have seen much.

[@MikeWhiskey427]

Back in the 80s I heard these jobs paid really well. I got a ton of experience as a mechanic, plumbing, electric and carpentry, various certs and licensees as I was thinking about it.... but man.. I am a pansy with cold Lol, 40 + and Im done. It was fun thinking about it tho.... Do yall binge watch "The Thing" with Kurt Russell?

[@FrozenHaxor]

Why doesn't the station utilize wind turbines? Would seem like a good addition to conserve fuel and for redundancy.

[@samuelpengelly1641]

Wondering how this will all look when the new scott base is built in the next few years i mean ill watch it get built as its being built where i live, but would be amazing to see it once its installed