POV: Another freezing day at the South Pole

In those final days, the countdown to heading home was real. As I recorded this, my time at the South Pole was almost up, and each day felt both challenging and rewarding. The intensity of the cold, the high altitude, and the unique community dynamic made it a journey like no other.

Looking back, there are so many things I miss: the incredible environment, the silence and darkness of the winter months, working with unique aircraft, and stepping outside into the freezing air to clear my head. But there were also things I don’t miss—altitude headaches, layers upon layers just to go outside, the isolation, and always being on call.

There was a small chance for a flight the next day. With any luck, it might have been the day I finally started the journey back. After months of total darkness, minimal contact, and the coldest temperatures on Earth, just the thought of sea level felt like a breath of fresh air.