<strong>Antarctic romance</strong>: Americans Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz met in 2013 while working at McMurdo Station, a US research station facility built on volcanic rock on Ross Island. Here they are on a return visit in 2016, photographed at the Pegasus runway airstrip.
Antarctic romance: Americans Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz met in 2013 while working at McMurdo Station, a US research station facility built on volcanic rock on Ross Island. Here they are on a return visit in 2016, photographed at the Pegasus runway airstrip.
Courtesy Rebekah Osgood
<strong>McMurdo Station:</strong> Many of the people who work at McMurdo are scientists, but the US government also employs dining and janitorial staff. That's what McGrath and Heinz were doing when they crossed paths.
McMurdo Station: Many of the people who work at McMurdo are scientists, but the US government also employs dining and janitorial staff. That's what McGrath and Heinz were doing when they crossed paths.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz
<strong>Discovery Hut: </strong>On their first date, McGrath suggested the two hike to Hut Point to see the abandoned Discovery Hut, pictured, once used by British explorer Robert F. Scott during an Antarctic expedition of 1901-1904, and later by Ernest Shackleton.
Discovery Hut: On their first date, McGrath suggested the two hike to Hut Point to see the abandoned Discovery Hut, pictured, once used by British explorer Robert F. Scott during an Antarctic expedition of 1901-1904, and later by Ernest Shackleton.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz
<strong>Penguin spotting:</strong> On other excursions, they went penguin spotting in the snowy expanse. "It's like this very beautiful, cold, desolate place," says McGrath of Antarctica.
Penguin spotting: On other excursions, they went penguin spotting in the snowy expanse. "It's like this very beautiful, cold, desolate place," says McGrath of Antarctica.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz
<strong>Thinking outside the box</strong>: Dating at McMurdo, where there was little privacy, meant getting "creative" with dates, says Heinz.
Thinking outside the box: Dating at McMurdo, where there was little privacy, meant getting "creative" with dates, says Heinz.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz
<strong>New Zealand adventure: </strong>When their time in Antarctica came to an end, the two organized working holiday visas in New Zealand, bought a converted camper van and toured the country together. Here they are hiking Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park in 2014.
New Zealand adventure: When their time in Antarctica came to an end, the two organized working holiday visas in New Zealand, bought a converted camper van and toured the country together. Here they are hiking Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park in 2014.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz
<strong>Falling in love:</strong> "We had already fallen in love in Antarctica. But that trip is what made me realize, 'Okay, I really do love this guy,'" says McGrath of their time in New Zealand. Here's the couple in Queenstown.<br />
Falling in love: "We had already fallen in love in Antarctica. But that trip is what made me realize, 'Okay, I really do love this guy,'" says McGrath of their time in New Zealand. Here's the couple in Queenstown.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz
<strong>Colorado engagement:</strong> Back home in the US, the couple got engaged while hiking the canyons of the Colorado National Monument together.
Colorado engagement: Back home in the US, the couple got engaged while hiking the canyons of the Colorado National Monument together.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz
<strong>Return to Antarctica: </strong>They decided to do one more stint in Antarctica together, returning to work the summer and winter season of 2016. Here they are marveling at the Southern Lights that winter.
Return to Antarctica: They decided to do one more stint in Antarctica together, returning to work the summer and winter season of 2016. Here they are marveling at the Southern Lights that winter.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz
<strong>Wedding day: </strong>The couple were married back in the US in 2017. McGrath wore a wedding dress once worn by her late Chilean grandmother, and later passed on to her mother.
Wedding day: The couple were married back in the US in 2017. McGrath wore a wedding dress once worn by her late Chilean grandmother, and later passed on to her mother.
Dream Light Visuals
<strong>Antarctic theme: </strong>The wedding decor referenced the continent where the two first met. Heinz made a miniature replica of Scott's Discovery Hut, pictured, into which the guests dropped their wedding cards. Rather than a guest book, loved ones signed a mounted map of Antarctica.
Antarctic theme: The wedding decor referenced the continent where the two first met. Heinz made a miniature replica of Scott's Discovery Hut, pictured, into which the guests dropped their wedding cards. Rather than a guest book, loved ones signed a mounted map of Antarctica.
Dream Light Visuals
<strong>New chapter:</strong> Today, Heinz and McGrath live in upstate New York together with their daughter. "Every day is still just like that first day in Antarctica, everyday is exciting, different and fun," says Heinz.
New chapter: Today, Heinz and McGrath live in upstate New York together with their daughter. "Every day is still just like that first day in Antarctica, everyday is exciting, different and fun," says Heinz.
Nicole McGrath and Cole Heinz