| Summary: | Antarctica is a continent like no other. It has a cold inhospitable climate and for good reason there is no indigenous population. Man is, in terms of exploration and settlement. a newcomer to this area and our present occupation is therefore of a transitory nature. There are several fundamental requirements for survival of mankind on this continent namely, shelter, transport, adequate clothing, tolerance and wellbeing of the people involved, and suitable nutrition. It is this last aspect Of antarctic survival that I wish to look at in greater depth. It seems that whosever journal one picks up and reads whether it be one of those expeditions of the heroic era (Scott, Shackleton or Amundsen) or those of today, that alongside the descriptions of beautiful vistas;' the land looks like a fairy tale', horrendous blizzards; 'the merciless blast- an incubus Of vengeance-stabs, buffets and freezes; the stinging drift blinds and chokes', Stories of great hardship and isolation lies another area of well documented conversation: the topic Of food. How well an expedition ran, and how successful it was resulted from many varying factors but always Of main Concern was the provisioning of rations and there to the physical, and Often mental wellbeing Of the participants. It is the nutritional problems, and differences between these early expeditions that fascinate, how the new technology, such as the development of the Primus stove allowed for greater efficiency, and how societal attitudes resulted in differing solutions to similar problems. Not to be under estimated is the role that food plays in the emotional and mental well being Of a party. In a country devoid of many of the normal stimuli, food is one of the few remaining luxuries available, and the use Of food to structure endless nights and days plays a key role in maintaining order and discipline. Antarctica is a continent like no other. It has a cold inhospitable climate and for good reason there is no indigenous population. Man is, in terms of exploration and ...
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