A Colorado car mechanic decides to leave his job at an American car dealership for an unusual gig — at the South Pole, the coldest place on Earth.
Jeff Capps, 33, traveled 9,000 miles around the world for work in Antarctica — where temperatures often reach minus 60 and half the year is in total darkness, according to SWNS.
He immediately applied for an $80,000-a-year mechanic position at the US government’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole research station when he found out in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since.
“One day an old friend came and said they needed a mechanic to work on a snowmobile in the South Pole – I thought ‘sign me up!’” says Capps.
One of the big draws, he told the publication, was that the job only required a six-month stint in the South Pole — giving him “zero expenses for half a year.”
Jeff Capps travels 9,000 miles across the globe for work in Antarctica — where temperatures often reach minus 60 and half the year is in total darkness. Jeff Capps / SWNS Despite temperatures below freezing, Capps stood outside for a photo shoot that replicated a day at the beach. Jeff Capps / SWNS
The mechanic compared the atypical task to being stationed on a ship because of the isolation from the outside world, with the nearest shop about 2,000 miles away.
“We call it our spaceship, because it’s 700 miles from the next closest research station,” he told SWNS. “We’re completely isolated from everything.”
But just like living on board, the 43 people who live and work at the self-sustaining station have everything they need in the facility, including a cook who cooks their meals.
“If you don’t open the door – it looks like you’re in a nice hotel,” Capps said. “We have a great team of chefs. Room temperature inside and you can walk around in a t-shirt.”
Capps stands for the picture as the southern lights rotate in the background. Jeff Capps / SWNS
The 43 staff and researchers became like a close family during the six months of working and living together without much interaction from outsiders.
“You build a very close-knit community because you see the same people every day, everything is pretty good until you open the door outside – then everything changes,” he says, noting one big downside.
Temperatures near the South Pole station — described as the “coldest, driest, windiest place on Earth” by NOAA — average a bone-chilling negative 60 degrees in winter, and Capps often works outside repairing the trucks and snowmobiles used by the crew. .
Capps took advantage of the cold temperatures and performed water tricks during one of his six-month assignments. Jeff Capps / SWNS A can of root beer and a bowl of ramen are frozen solid after being left outside the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Jeff Capps / SWNS
The mercury dropped to a shockingly negative 76 degrees once when mechanics worked in winter weather.
“You think you’re going to freeze to death right away, but it’s a dry cold, so it’s actually not as bad as it sounds,” he said. “The worst part is if the cold hits any part of your skin that isn’t covered, you get a sharp burning sensation – it feels like your skin is being stabbed with a knife.
Another element of extreme weather in the South Pole is the lack of sunlight. There is no sun for six months of the year and full daylight for the other six months. In winter, the sun never rises and in summer, it never sets.
“In the winter, it’s just crazy — it’s always dark when the sun goes down once a year so it’s six months of daylight then six months of darkness,” Capps said.
The southern lights glow in green when the sun shines dimly while Capps lives near the South Pole. Jeff Capps / SWNS The mechanic compares the atypical work to being stationed on a ship because of the isolation from the outside world, with the nearest shop about 2,000 miles away. Jeff Capps / SWNS
The darkness, however, allowed the Southern Light to shine.
“We also see the aurora borealis almost every day – it’s a good job if you can get it,” the mechanic said.
Despite the darkness and isolation, Capps considers her social life at work to be one of her best aspects. He called the party at the station “legendary” and also met his partner, Michelle, at the station two years ago.
“We’re all like a big family – we have arguments and stuff but you still respect each other,” he said. “We all goof off each other, but then we all have parties and drink whiskey together.”
The mercury dropped to a shockingly negative 76 degrees once when mechanics worked in winter weather. Jeff Capps / SWNS Another element of extreme weather in the South Pole is the lack of sunlight. There is no sun for six months of the year and full daylight for the other six months. Jeff Capps / SWNS
The six-month break has allowed Capps and Michelle — who works in catering at the station — to travel the world together.
They have traveled to New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Dubai, UAE, Yemen and are currently in Oman, according to SWNS. They plan to return to work in Antarctica next year.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
