Food Patterns in Antarctica - Count Down Day 3

No where in the world is food more important than during Polar expeditions. 

Even though my father was part of the mess or kitchen crew on the USS Bear, I never thought this type of position had much to offer history. Probably because of my less than enthusiastic relationship with cooking.  See my guest blog post in The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning.  This book is a fantastic account of two women, Wendy Trusler and Carol Devine, who were a part of an environmental cleanup project on Bellinghausen station, King George Island.  
I happened to be in the same location in 2012, and had no idea of their expedition six years prior.

The blog, Green with Renvy, published beautiful book review of Trusler and Devine's book.  It inspired me to pull a menu from Byrd's III expedition that my father, George W. Gibbs, JR., had a hand in making aboard their 68 year old wooden barkentine sailing vessel-USS Bear.


From Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University Archives:

Planned on August 1, 1939 for the first week at sea ( 11/22/1939)

Breakfast: stewed prunes, hominy grits, condensed milk, chipped beef on toast, fig perserves, buttered toast, coffee

Lunch: local fish stew, local fried fish fillets, french fried potato shreds, cucumber pickles, bread and butter, vitaminized cherry gelatine, and cocoa

Dinner: Rice, rye bread and butter, stuffed olives, bohemian tea, crab apple jelly


You know that chocolate, cocoa, chocolate malt- any way you can make and eat cacao is present in ALL of the polar expeditions.  High fat, high calories and good for your intuition. (according to Yogi J. Oliver Black as reported to me by Dr. Aaron Flickstein)


Finally, the photo is from my 2012 Antarctic trip. We visited an abandoned hut and found what... chocolate! Still edible from years past.  ( I don't have a date)

Near King George Island, Antarctica 2012 -© Leilani Henry

EMBEDDED LINKS

http://www.theantarcticbookofcookingandcleaning.com/2014/04

http://greenwithrenvy.com/antarctic-book-cooking-cleaning/

http://www.theantarcticbookofcookingandcleaning.com/about-the-book

http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/10/16/food_in_antarctica_what_explorers_and_researchers_eat.html

Nature Rules OK? New Antarctica Musical in Hobart Australia

Today,  I'm hyperaware of the line between life and death in Antarctica.  Some have said it's not life and death any more on the Ice.  Not true!

Gordon Hamilton, a prominent climate scientist, died from a snow mobile accident, in late October. He fell into a 100 ft deep crevasse. Crevasses are one of the primary hazards on the continent.  You can be super skillful and still fall prey to the landscape.

and Yes, Nature does Rule.  Antarctic scientist, Dana Bergstrom, an Australian survivor of a fatal sewer gas leak, wrote and produced a New Antarctica Musical.  She vowed, if she survived, to share in a more dramatic way, why Antarctica is the 'canary in the coal mine' on our planet.  If you live near Hobart, it's playing until 11/12/16.

I hope these posts help you be more engaged with our precious bottom of the world. 

I know I need to do more, many people are waiting for me to finish my writing project. Thanks for your support!

Leilani Henry speaking to students at a CO Middle school -(photo ©Leilani Henry)

EMBEDDED LINKS
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-29/antarctica-musical-written-by-scientist-turned-playwright/7977572

https://www.facebook.com/antarcticamusical/

Antarctica 2041- Robert Swan Inspires Hope

It's the year 2000. I'm introduced to Robert Swan, five minutes before he goes onstage to deliver his FAST company keynote address.  Mr. Swan is the first person to walk to both poles, from about 700-900 miles away each trip. With generosity, he listens to my story about my father
on Admiral Byrd's III expedition to Antarctica.

Next thing I hear is an announcement from stage-"Will the daughter of George W. Gibbs, Jr.  please stand." I stand as Robert Swan adds to his already packed speech, "I'm honored by a man who worked humbly to make one of Admiral Byrd's expeditions successful.  The George's of the world, who quietly serve and don't receive much thanks."  It's important to know we are not alone.
Together, we build a better world.

This is the first time I acknowledge, in public, my father's accomplishments.  I don't even know
(at this time) any details of what happened on the expedition- only that he was a part of it.  I feel compelled to connect to this famous explorer and tell him this little known part of Antarctic history.

Robert Swan impressed me that day with his Presence. His willingness and ability to adjust his remarks on the spot is an important model for leadership.  It's not all about us. If we're willing to change in an instant, we can make a lasting impact with one small gesture.

Learn more about keeping Mother Earth's last frontier forever protected.

http://2041.com/robert-swan