As Western Upper Peninsula residents are getting ready for minus-zero winter temps, Ontonagon County resident Darren Lukkari of Mass City has been working in 100-degree-below-zero temps for the past year.

Lukkari works at the South Pole for Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE), which operates as a subcontractor for the National Science Foundation for Antarctic operations. The U.S. Antarctic program is a civilian research program. Lukkari, a maintenance specialist, is responsible for keeping the heat, water and other elements of the station in working order.

Keeping the heat at the South Pole facility is not an easy task. This past week temperatures hit minus-107 degrees.

“That was the coldest temperature that I went outside,” he said. “The warmest it has been for me was 7 below zero. It didn’t quite break zero.”

With the bitter cold temperatures of the Antarctic, one would think that you would not want to go outside. But while Lukkari’s job requires him to go outside, he actually goes outside for recreation. Lukkari enjoys photography.

To brave the cold temperatures, Lukkari puts on extreme cold-weather gear. In the summer, sunglasses and sunscreen is required.

“We have to keep our face covered as much as possible. I made my goggles into a moto-cross-type mask with the use of cardboard, duct tape, felt and Yooper ingenuity,” Lukkari said.

You might think cold temperatures would be the most difficult adjustment from the winters in Ontonagon County to the winter in the South Pole. Lukkari said he adjusted to the weather quickly – it was the 9,000-foot altitude that was difficult.

Lukkari works with other US citizens, along with residents of Germany, Canada and New Zealand. Everyone stationed at the South Pole research station speaks English. While language is not a barrier, one would think that Lukkari and his fellow South Pole residents don’t have much of a social life.

“We have movie nights,” he said. “I take a lot of pictures. We also have some classes where residents offer to teach arts and crafts. I usually call home once a week to talk to family and friends. Plus the station is very well designed with nice living, eating and recreational facilities.”

As far as eating at the station, when asked what his biggest fear of living at the South Pole is, Lukkari said, “Running out of fresh fruit.”

It would be easy to assume the Ontonagon County winters will be mild after living on the South Pole for a year.

“I think the winters may seem mild at home, although there is a big difference between dry and moist cold. Antarctica is the world’s largest desert,” Lukkari stated.

Lukkari will have the chance to experience the upcoming Ontonagon County winter as he will be making the 18-hour flight home in about six weeks.

“I will probably miss many new friends I have made in the past year,” he said. “I had a great time here in the past year. It was a wonderful experience, and I met some great people.

“The big bucks better look out. I will be home for deer season this year.”