Welcome to Antarctica

By Kenny Stocker 20 Oct 2025

Lisa shares what it's like to live and work at the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust outpost the world's southernmost post office.

Every year, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust sends a small team to operate the world's southernmost post office, monitor the local penguin colony, and carry out conservation work on some of the most remote historic buildings on Earth. Now embarking on her third season, Lisa shares what it's like to live and work at this remote outpost.

What's it like leaving the UK at the start of winter to spend the summer in Antarctica?

Oh, it's fantastic. I love going away in the winter, swapping the UK winter for 24-hour daylight. I am an early riser, so to actually have daylight in the early morning is really special. I1l never forget, I was making myself a cup of tea at around five one morning, and I was just looking out of the kitchen window and watching humpbacks breach in the bay.

What are the conditions like?

On the Antartica Peninsular it can be four seasons in one day. Some days are just grey, like a Scottish winter. It can be snowing, and there can be extreme wind and blizzard conditions. You can also get low clouds rolling in. Sometimes there are those real tingle days: blue sky, sunshine, mountains. The scenery glows and glitters- it's just captivating.

What about the other senses?

People often don't expect that Antarctica can be so noisy. There are around a thousand gentoo penguins on our tiny island. With all their mating calls and chicks jabbering away, it can get raucous. On warmer days, you get the carving of the glaciers. At Port Lockroy, we're surrounded by several glaciers, so you can get near-constant cracking and crashing sound as pieces of ice break away into the water below. And then in the evenings, there are the sheathbills on the top of the hut, pattering back and forth. They'll peck at the chimney, and it sounds as though someone is out there with a hammer.

For me, it's most magical when it's silent. You might just hear a pshh, pshh, and it'll be a humpback blowing. Pure peace.

What does a typical day at Port Lockroy look like?

The days at Port Lockroy are extremely busy. Fortunately, you have enough light to fit everything in! I wake up early, often around five, to get a head start. The main tasks involve opening up the historic buildings and ensuring the landing site is clear and safe. When the first expedition ship arrives, usually around nine, the team welcomes visitors to the island and staffs the facilities. This pattern repeats for the afternoon.

Of course, there is always conservation work to do. Some of our historic buildings are over 80 years old and were never designed to endure decades of the brutal winds, sub-zero temperatures and relentless freeze-thaw cycles of the Antarctic climate. We work with skilled heritage carpenters and conservators who use traditional materials and techniques to make repairs and preserve the structures and their authenticity. Their time is limited and they're often working in severe weather, so where possible, the Port Lockroy team pitches in with anything from repainting woodwork to repairing a window frame.

In the evenings, we invariably have admin tasks to complete, but it's also so important to find a few moments to simply enjoy the environment: going out to take photos, soaking up the atmosphere, or just having some quiet time to ourselves. Overall, it's an intense but profoundly rewarding experience.

What have you learned from your time in Antarctica?

For me, it's about getting outdoors and soaking up the atmosphere, whatever the weather. In a time when we are just bombarded with imagery and noise, finding peace and some moments for yourself in nature is essential.

EXPEDiTION GEAR:

Alpkit tried and tested by the UKAHT expedition team. Tough, durable, weather-proof. Protective against penquin poop.