N o matter what hardships the weather brings, perhaps there is no greater hardship than sustained separation from the rest of civilization. Candidates for Antarctic programs are evaluated for their ability to accept long periods of confinement as well as for their general health and capacity to be separated from home and family. A station becomes like a family household and the minimal privacy and crowding can annoy just about everyone-eventually. As a result, the screening of candidates is taken very seriously. The endless white and glaring ice can cause daunting conditions for the mind and body in Antarctica.
Safety is of great concern.
At some stations, including Amundsen-Scott, emergencies can involve evacuation. Each person must follow strict guidelines concerning access to the station and exposure to the elements. Y et people arrive from a score of nations. A handful are tourists, but most are scientists. Astronomers at Amundsen point telescopes to the sky during the dark winter, hoping to catch the clearest visions of the universe.