It wasn't that bad. In winter things are far more disagreeable. About a quarter of the McMurdo population remains at the station through the months of darkness. Mainly they are maintenance people, although a few scientists, such as astronomers, choose to be there because of the extraordinary conditions for long-term observations. There are some peculiarly unpleasant penalties if you do stay on. Your wisdom teeth and appendix have to be removed, even if they are perfectly healthy, because you can't be evacuated and they couldn't be operated on at the station. From March to the end of September McMurdo is completely isolated.