But it's not all giggles. Last May, a South Pole-dwelling colleague, Australian astrophysicist Rodney Marks died of a heart attack at age 32, bringing the crew closer together, says Holmes. He was a really close friend of mine and it was a terrible loss. This was the second scare in a year. In 1999, Dr. Jerri Nielsen, who discovered she had breast cancer while at the base, had to await hospitalization until rescuers could penetrate the severe Antarctic winter.
Weather conditions can make travel to and from the base impossible.
Advice for those who would follow Unlike a corporate job, where the tenets of professionalism rule, at the South Pole emotional and spiritual challenges arise. It happens here. Holmes says his employer is looking for persistence, a well-rounded skill set, and the ability to solve a variety of technical challenges on the ice. For 10 years, he has written about subjects from telecommunications to political and social happenings.