ECW

It's no surprise that going to the South Pole (or anywhere in Antarctica) requires specialized equipment.  For people this means clothing.  Luckily, the Antarctic program has a supply center in Christchurch at which every receives a standard set of Extreme Cold Weather Gear (ECW).   So in addition to my personal clothes, I now have the following:

1 set of long underwear
2 pairs of fleece pants
2 fleece tops
1 pair of carhartt overalls (the quilted warm ones)
1 large red parka
1 windbreaker
1 fleece hat
1 balaclava
1 pair thick gloves
2 pairs of mittens (one light weight wool, and one that goes up to my elbows for snowmobiling)
glove liners
2 pairs of thick socks
1 pair bunny boots (insulated white boots)
1 pair goggles
2 orange duffle bags

 Altogether, the whole kit weighs about 15 lbs.   It took about 2 hours in all to try everything on, exchange out things that didn't fit and re-pack the bags.  On each of the flights we are required to have on the overalls, boots, parka, gloves, hat and goggles.  It sounds like a lot, but considering where we were landing it is better to be warm.