You've just crawled out from behind the groceries and fuel. The first thing you notice is that everything is blindingly white. A pair of wrap-around sunglasses are worth their weight in gold. Grab your bags, it's time to move.

This is home for the next few weeks.

Yes, that's the curvature of the Earth, and that bright spot is a full moon. Communications are great, high-speed internet via satellite.

The tents provide all the power, lights, and heat you need.

Snow depths can vary depending on the surrounding landforms and drifting patterns, and how cold it's been. Snowshoes are the prime travel method for short station distances of 25 and 50 meters. Beyond that, it's nice to have a snowmobile. He looks lost but the GPS man always knows where he is.

Further north, on the ice pack, pressure ridges form where icesheets are forced together. It's convenient to have your motorhome with you out here. This Nodwell provides enough space in back to sit it out and wait for help if necessary. It's not bad if you come across a polar bear either.

The Bombardier tracked vehicle is a smaller version. It's not fast but it gets you there.

And the favourite for most crews is the snowmobile.

Sometimes the weather can turn bad real fast. Tie everything down or she'll blow away.

Storms have been known to blow for a week or more, and when things look a little bleek...

...the sun comes out again.

This lucky gravity operator has his own built-in gravity base - for those really cold days.