It’s only March, but 2025 has already been a year that I will never forget. This year I am one of three electricians at Davis research station for the 2024/2025 season.
My time in Antarctica all started when I arrived at Davis after spending a little over two weeks aboard the RSV Nuyina, a fun and unforgettable experience in itself. Making our way through the Southern Ocean, I finally laid eyes on my first iceberg (something that was pretty cool to see as someone who normally lives in the desert!) A few days after that and I was at home for the next year, Davis research station.
Once at station, we began the yearly station resupply and conducted handovers with our outgoing wintering personnel. We quickly got up to speed with the systems and workings of the station and before long, were out and about walking through the Vestfold Hills on recreational trips, making use of the frozen sea ice while it was still open to reach our destination. The landscape and environment of Antarctica are unforgiving and demanding but provide some unreal scenes.
Seeing the Sorsdal Glacier is something I will never forget and I look forward to returning once the sea ice comes back in and we can take a Hagglund up and around the frozen fjords.
As I write this, I can see the sea ice in front of the station changing in appearance, with grease and pancake ice slowly starting to form, signifying the start of change for the weather here at Davis and the beginning of winter, something I am looking forward to experiencing.
This season I am also the flag officer, a community duty which involves raising and lowering the flags daily. The job comes with perks though - amazing sunsets and a few minutes to take in the scenery before starting your day!
Cameron Colombet - Electrician
