Mawson's Mid-Winter Swim
Part of our customary Midwinter celebrations at Mawson Station is a plunge into the icy waters of Horseshoe Harbour. To do that, though, we first needed a pool.
I've dug plenty of things while operating machinery—dams, trenches, culverts, footings, driveways, even graves. But never did I imagine I'd be digging a hole through a metre of Antarctic sea ice for the sole purpose of going for a swim. The ice is too thick to sink the excavator's teeth into, so we sliced and diced it into chunks with chainsaws before lifting them out one by one with the machine. No Dial Before You Dig required.
The commotion beneath the ice didn't go unnoticed. A curious Weddell Seal appeared to inspect our handiwork. Lingering for several minutes, catching its breath while studying us with the same curiosity we had for it. Even without the swim, that alone was worth the price of admission.
A crisp -25°C with some additional wind chill. After months of anticipation, it was finally time to strip down and see what we were made of. Cold is an understatement—the shock to the body is immense. Wim Hof, eat your heart out.
It’s over almost as quickly as it began. A frantic scramble back inside to thaw out and restore feeling to fingers and toes. It's not something you'd do every day, but it's one of those experiences few people ever get the chance to have. Brutally cold, completely unforgettable, and another uniquely Antarctic tradition ticked off the list.
Charlie Keough (Plant Operator)
