Did you ever read the book "The Forgotten Men". It's the story about the guys laying the supply line on the other side of Antartica for Ernest's ill fated journey. They went out of their way (and life) trying to lay out the supplies for a journey that never eventuated.
A friend who is a nurse did the matsuuyker job. She had another person there. There's a fair bit of observations and scientific research included in the role. She enjoyed it immensely but I should point out that she was into meditation and stuff.
