Hey IR and These
Guess what? Your boots aren’t old. They are the boots that we get issued down here. Same ones with the little air valve and all. If you want to buy a pair try searching for Bunny Boots. That is the common name for them. The boots are extremely warm and have multiple layers of insulation. The problem is that because they are sealed, if your feet perspire there is no place for the moisture to go so you have to carry extra socks and change them out every few hours.
Every couple of years they weigh the boots to see if the inside layers have absorbed moisture. Once they get too heavy they are not suitable for Antarctica anymore.
I’m in Christchurch New Zealand now and Lorie and I are due to pick up our gear this afternoon. If all goes well we’ll be on the flight south tomorrow morning.
mike