The full outdoor outfit
Philip K Swartz - 1960-61 - South Pole Station - Antarcticans Database Project more

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The full outdoor outfit

Added over the previous slide is an outer jacket similar to the trousers. Over my woolen gloves are a pair of woolen mittens, and then a pair of even bigger and thicker "crab claw" mittens. Eye glasses are double gradient ray-bans, denser at both top and bottom with a relatively narrow central area of lighter color; stopped glare from bright sun and also from snow reflection. For a mask, I preferred a doubled surgical mask. Everyone developed their own protection - some with scarves, others with a variety of materials. Face masks were the weak area of clothing. Min would freeze solid with breath moisture, and would freeze attached to beard. Also my breath would tend then to exit upwards just below my eyes, and ice would collect on my eyelashes. Then at some point when I blinked, the lashes would freeze together and I wouldn't be able to open my eyes. Off with the mittens, off with the under layer of mittens, off with the gloves, and then I could rub the lashes together breaking off the ice and open up again.



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