Vest with attached parka
Philip K Swartz - 1960-61 - South Pole Station - Antarcticans Database Project more

Back to thumbnails   Previous     Next   

Fleece-lined cap with ear flaps, fur parka, woolen mittens, trousers (“many-pockets”) that are water resistant and have a fleece and reflective lining, thermal boots over the heavy gray socks.
The face mask, an experimental mask designed by the Medical Research Labs at the Submarine Base, New London, Conn., proved unsatisfactory for many reasons. The mask had internal channels that were to act as heat exchangers to conserve body heat. The air moved through these and in-and-out through a rubber tube about 4 inches long on my left side of the mask. The goggle areas were lined with a special plastic from Germany that couldn’t be touched or cleaned or it would lose its anti-fog capability. At nearly 10,000 ft elevation the dead-space of the mask was intolerable when working hard. The moisture from my breath would condense inside the mask requiring me to pull the mask away from my face for a moment to allow it to drain out. The mask would then freeze to my face and beard. And, finally, the mask severely restricted peripheral vision and when working behind a noisy plane (with engines running) I couldn’t hear a tractor at my elbow.

Pictures from Philip K Swartz, overwinter, South Pole, 60-61