How to survive in Antarctica

There is more chance of getting stranded pretty much anywhere else in the world than Antarctica, mostly due to the complete lack of any reason to go there in the first place. Antarctica is a huge continent that’s about 50% bigger than the United States and almost half the size of Africa, but there isn’t a single tree growing on this enormous block of ice, and inland there is literally nothing other than rocks, snow and ice.

(The McMurdo research station, the largest permanently inhabited settlement on the continent)

Because there is no thawed soil inland, and no plants of any kind, there aren’t any insects which means there can’t be birds and other creatures to eat them, making the centre of Antarctica an impossible land to live off. If you’re around the coast, there are plenty of fish and water mammals like seals and penguins, but they won’t do you much good when there’s nothing to make shelter from and no way of cooking them.

Since there are no civilian settlements on the continent, the vast majority of people there are researchers that work in the many stations based on the mainland. They have a strict set of rules when it comes to putting yourself in risky situations and a few tips on how to deal with the cold, here’s a few of the most useful and interesting things you should know about surviving here.

Dress up warm, really warm

The standard cold weather clothing that’s sold to withstand extremely temperatures won’t cut it in Antarctica, as only the best available will protect you from the coldest place on earth. The largest research station on the continent is called the McMurdo station and the official jacket of their field workers is the Canadian goose expedition parka.

These sell for around £1000 each but provide the best protection possible. The lining is stuffed with goose-down feathers and has fur around the hood, along with a number of layers of various advanced thermal fabrics. Clothing like this may seem excessive, but Antarctica is a place like no other and a coat of this quality is only worn over multiple layers of other pieces of thermal clothing.

Check that you’re actually warm enough and don’t just “feel” like you are

If someone is in an extremely cold environment, the first things to freeze will be any exposed areas that have weaker circulation than others, such as your nose and ears. When you first start to feel cold, these areas will cause discomfort but gradually become numb and not feel the cold as much, giving the impression that they are slightly warmer than before.

(This is what frostnip looks like, the early stages of frostbite, after this the red areas become white and then you’re really in trouble)

In climates as cold as Antarctica, it’s much easier than you’d think to freeze your nose to the point of frostbite, and all while you only felt a slight chill. Skin will turn white and look shiny when it’s at a dangerous stage and close to frostbite, so keep an eye on your extremities and act on any colour changes in the skin.

Eat plenty of calories

Field workers at the McMurdo station eat up to 6,000 calories a day depending on their job, because very cold climates burn calories faster than any other type of environment. Not only is it hard work trying to wade through thick snow, but the air also contains zero moisture and your body looses water with every breath, causing your body to work harder just to keep going.

(Regular hiking and bushcraft foods like these freeze-dried meals won’t cut it in Antarctica, you need lots of fat and calories to function properly there)

High fat and calorie foods are always on the menu, with chocolate and sweets being one of the most important foods for anyone going outside. All these extra calories are just to maintain body weight and provide enough energy to keep moving, and without eating double the calories you normally do, surviving here would be very hard work. This heightened calorie intake is another reason it would be close to impossible to survive off the land in a stranded situation.

Always carry a full and extensive survival kit

In the event that you end up in the wilderness, it could take a long time for anyone to find you. There are no signal towers other than the research stations, and it’s not exactly the kind of place people pass through on a regular basis, so it could be several days or worse before someone gets to you.

(This land has nothing to offer to help you survive other than frozen water, everything else needs to be brought along)

If you step foot outside a safe area or shelter into the wild, then always carry a survival kit that contains everything you’ll need to stay alive until help comes. This kit should consist of a tent, emergency food and enough heat providing materials to stay warm, like a thermal blanket and sleeping bag. The land will provide nothing of use other than snow to melt for water, but frozen water without shelter and food won’t be much help.

Never go away from a safe area without telling several people about the trip

Even if you want to walk a single mile away from a safe zone, it could save your life to tell multiple people about your journey. It only takes minutes for a blizzard to form, and then visibility will drop to several feet in a terrain that can look completely different after a few minutes of snow blasting around.

Even with the best clothing and equipment, there is only so much a person can survive in a place like Antarctica. Your survival time here will become minutes in the most extreme conditions, and unless someone comes out to get you, the chances of finding your way back are small at best.

Don’t explore the wilderness

If you want to go to Antarctica, you can buy a ticket on a cruise starting at around £3000 if you live in the UK. Any cruise you book will take you around the small islands that lay around the coast, which contain some interesting wildlife and actually have plants on them, but if you want to step foot onto the mainland then you’re going to have to book a different type of holiday.

(Walking into something like this during low visibility would be the end of you, and places like this cover the landscape of Antarctica)

For several thousand pounds more, you can book a place with one of the few companies that take people to camp on the mainland, or if you have certain skills you may even be lucky enough to get a paid placement on one of the research stations. After these options the only way to get there would be privately, which would include hiring a ship and paying to sail a few thousands miles, only to step foot on the ice with nothing to keep you alive other than what you brought with you. There is no reason to explore the wilderness of Antarctica, simply because there’s nothing there, and attempting to do so will probably kill you.