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Cutting snow blocks
So the air temperature has been below zero for several months. Quite a shock for us temperate Brits with our mild wet climate. There is no liquid water anywhere around and the nearest mains pipe is hundreds of miles north. So just how do you take a bath? Nowadays, I believe the answer is that you wait for the desalination plant to do its stuff. Not so long ago, however, you want water, you go and saw it out of the hillside and throw it into the water tank to melt.
The system was that each base member took it in turns to perform "gash" duties. These are the normal housekeeping tasks, washing-up, serving at table, dealing with the rubbish, etc. It was also the opportunity to wash clothes and to bath. In my first year there were 12 of us over-wintering, so gash came round every 11 days (the cook was excused...), not so bad. In my second year there were 15 of us, so gash only came round once a fortnight - phew!...
You may note that one rugged soul has his shirt off. Wind chill holds the clue. On a sunny still day, the air temperature can be many degrees below freezing but it will still be very pleasant. A breath of wind and he'd probably have his anorak on. Remember, photographs seldom look appealing in anything other than bright sunshine. There are many days, and sometimes weeks, when the sun is a scarce commodity.
Cutting snow blocks
So the air temperature has been below zero for several months. Quite a shock for us temperate Brits with our mild wet climate. There is no liquid water anywhere around and the nearest mains pipe is hundreds of miles north. So just how do you take a bath? Nowadays, I believe the answer is that you wait for the desalination plant to do its stuff. Not so long ago, however, you want water, you go and saw it out of the hillside and throw it into the water tank to melt.
The system was that each base member took it in turns to perform "gash" duties. These are the normal housekeeping tasks, washing-up, serving at table, dealing with the rubbish, etc. It was also the opportunity to wash clothes and to bath. In my first year there were 12 of us over-wintering, so gash came round every 11 days (the cook was excused...), not so bad. In my second year there were 15 of us, so gash only came round once a fortnight - phew!...
You may note that one rugged soul has his shirt off. Wind chill holds the clue. On a sunny still day, the air temperature can be many degrees below freezing but it will still be very pleasant. A breath of wind and he'd probably have his anorak on. Remember, photographs seldom look appealing in anything other than bright sunshine. There are many days, and sometimes weeks, when the sun is a scarce commodity.