Grease, grit and gears: Ethan keeps Davis powered—and touring
DAVIS STATION — Deep in East Antarctica, where katabatic winds sweep across frozen plateaus and darkness lingers for weeks, there’s one man everyone at Davis counts on to keep things humming.
Meet Ethan — diesel mechanic, Can-Am wrangler, and unofficial morale officer of the station.
By day (and sometimes night), Ethan keeps the generators running, the heaters warm, and yes, the lights on. By weekend, he’s behind the wheel of the station’s Can-Am 6x6, offering snow-blasted tours for expeditioners who need a break from the lab.
Keeping the lights on—literally
In Antarctica, nothing works without power. And at Davis, that responsibility sits squarely on Ethan’s frostbitten shoulders. With a workshop that smells of diesel, WD-40, and well-earned sweat, Ethan keeps the station’s aging fleet of generators alive, even when they’d rather freeze up and call it quits.
“People joke that I’m just the mechanic,” Ethan says with a grin, “but when it’s minus 25 and the power flickers, suddenly I get real popular.”
From fixing a stubborn injector in the station’s main generator to crawling under a snow-covered dozer at midnight, Ethan does whatever it takes to keep Davis running — and warm.
“No power means no science, no comms, and no hot coffee,” says Station Leader Nic. “Ethan makes sure that never happens.”
Can-Am Commander
On Saturdays, when the weather allows and the fuel gods are kind, Ethan swaps out his wrench for the wheel. He leads Can-Am 6x6 tours across the surrounding icy terrain, giving station crew a chance to get out, explore, and reset.
“It’s not just about sightseeing,” Ethan says. “It’s about giving people a mental break. A few kilometers out on the sea ice or down to the Sørsdal Glacier— it changes your whole week.”
Passengers rave about the experience. Between panoramic views, wildlife sightings, and Ethan’s running commentary on engine torque and penguin trivia, it’s become a highlight of the Davis social calendar.
“We call it the ‘Diesel Deluxe Tour,’” says Liam, a comms tech. “No one drives like Ethan. And no one recovers the Can-Am if it digs in halfway through the trip like he does, either.”
Built for the cold
Ethan’s hands may be calloused and blackened from engine grease, but his sense of humour runs warm. Whether he’s patching up a generator during a blizzard or hauling a sled behind the Hägg for impromptu resupply missions, he does it all with a shrug and a smile.
“I signed up to turn spanners,” he says. “But somehow I ended up tour guide, electrician, and occasional penguin traffic controller. I wouldn’t trade it.”
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ICY PROFILE: ETHAN, DIESEL MECHANIC
- Years on Ice: 1
- Signature move: diagnosing engine problems by feel and sound
- Known for: keeping the lights on—literally
- Weekend role: Can-Am 6x6 tour guide, storyteller, snow navigator
- Favourite Antarctic wildlife: “The emperor penguin that swam to Western Australia this season.”
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So whether you’re warm in bed with the lights glowing, or rolling over ice ridges on a 6x6 tour with wind in your face, odds are Ethan had something to do with it.
At Davis station, he doesn’t just keep things running — he keeps the station alive.
Ethan 'ChatGPT' Crichton
