Out to the Amery and the Land of the Never Ending Sunset

Yesterday was a ripper but had a bit of a slow start as my day was due to start at 17:00 with a helicopter flight out to Zhong Shan the Chinese base to drop off some BBQ gas fittings, Sansom Island where there is an Australian Melon Shelter and fuel depot, on to the Amery where the AMISOR drilling project was running to drop off cheese, newspapers, extra sleeping bags and a bannana cake! Really we were there to go and survey the next drill site with a couple of the team members. After the all clear it was back to the base finising by 02:00 for a late dinner.

Although I did go out on the sea ice monitoring program to have a look at the progress of the deteriorating conditions. Here is one of the guys pulling out the 2 meter long drill bit. You can see some water coming out with it. Funilly enough there are also krill coming out in this spout of salty water. It does stop and settle down but looks good when it first happens.

My Room in Antartica (This is really for George!)

Well it is not much and most likened to a dog box office and bed combo for two! Thank goodness there are not two in there as that would be the pits. Not much but it is my mess. At the moment I have just got back from one trip and about to go on another. The door does not open all the way as that is where my dirty jocks and socks are! I have only just done my first load of washing this evening so it does open a bit more but there are heaps of things hanging on the back of the door to restrict this too! I really use the floor as a low shelf and that seems to work for me but I occassionally regret having multiple ice axes on the floor.

Beached As in the Antarctic

Well it has been a busy few days here in the cold! Started trianing of the expeditioners three days ago and didn't stop until now. It was quad/ survival due to time constraints the first day with a half day quadding trip looking at navigation and travel then half day walk and bivviy out on an Antarctic beach. Yes Beach that is 51 meters below sea level, so the lowest and saltiest in the Southern Hemisphere and maybe the World. Anyway there were some Adele Penguins there on holidays from the ocean. I guess it is like the ocean to them as it is far saltier than the water of the southern ocean and will not freeze until -18 degrees or something ridiculous like that! You can see the petrified seal that really didn't taste very good but softened up after an hour in your mouth! Changeover at lunchtime then another 24hr trip for familiarisation for crew that had come from Mawson and Casey. Plenty of things to see and do and heaps of really cool rocks. That is really all there is to look at other than a few dead things and the ocassional penguin. No I lie there were a few Wilson's Storm Petrels which nest under rocks and make a very odd noise if you are near the nest. No such luck as to spot one on a nest as they are well hidden. They were heard on the way up Mt Lied at 126m above sea level you go from the ice straight up and have panoramic 360 degree views out to the icebergs and to the plateau which extends 4000km to the pole and beyond.

Another Week and More Experiences

Here out at Woop Woop I have spent the last three days in Isolation.
It is up on the Plateau and was reasonably difficult to get to and is the location of the summer skiway. The Groomer is a monster and there are lot of fuel drums and a hut

This is the infamous Sprunky Van named after its maker. It was very cosey when three of us were stuck in it during a blizzard. You can see the Hagglands Blizzed in to the right. It has a radar ontop of it and the skidoo is on its right.

Here I am after the blizzard in the true Antarctica which goes on for 4000 kilometers behind me, all exactly the same on the Plateau. You can also see what happens when blizz gets into your skidoo and what the task of getting it all out before starting work for the day must involve. A lot of hands in cold snow to get the Blizz out of the engine bay to start. We were all picked up after the day of the blizzard via helicopter and returned to the base in time for the Saturday Night Dinner!

It's Hard to Believe That I use a Helicopter to Get to Work!

This was the view over the Plateau from Woop Woop (This is where the two Casa aircraft will be based for the Summer operations. It will be their runway!). It is a long way away and I had to look at all of the terrain to take up the groomer and a Haggland. You'd spend hundreds and thousands doing what I have done in a week in Antarctica. love it!



Aerial views are a great way to suss out which way you are going to go. We just stopped in all the dangerous spots for the vehicles and went and walked it! Giving it a good probing makes everyone feel more confident!



Today was a real struggle as we had to use the Helicopter for the first time. This will be the main form of transport for me over the Summer when the Sea Ice breaks out. Well Choppa out and walk back! Don't worry about the tax payers as I am paying enough tax for a whole workplace to make up for it.

Day 3 Quading and drilling!

Penguin walk foir the Crew out to Gardiner Island. I finished work today at 10:00pm!

Standing outside Bandits Hut. This is one of the more remote locations and took most of the day to get there an back.

Quadding in Antarctica down the Long Fjord.

Helmet Cam! Slick ice in the bckground, even at speeds below 30km the quad can do all sorts of nasty things due to no traction.

This was early in the morning wile testing the sea ice for safety to support up to 20tonne vehicles. 80cm is good and less than 60cm would be questionable for the heavy trucks.

Day 1 & 2 - Antarctica

This was a long day! The flat green thin is the fuel line coming from the ship 3.6kms to the shore! I had to help set it all up in 200m sections then drive a quad up and down for the day to make sure there were no leaks.

Day 2 was being the "sllushy" or dishpig and there are no photos of that as you should know what someone washing lots of dishes looks like. Try doing it for 123 people and see if you want photo's of it!