It's been another busy summer down here and I haven't found the time to write any sort of blog post so this one is going to be a photo heavy round up of what I've been up to.
Mountaineering and Antarctic Travel Training
A large part of my job involves delivering training to BAS staff and visiting scientists. This training ranges from basic personal skills for operating on snowy ground, i.e. the use of crampons and an ice axe, through to more advanced techniques for glacier travel on foot and skidoo, and crevasse rescue systems.
Crevasse rescue
A line of simulated casualties
Linked skidoo travel training on Adelaide Island with Kenrick Turner, the Rothera wintering Doctor.
Operating BAS' deep field base - Sky Blu
Another job that all BAS field assistants will undertake at some point during the summer season is running Sky Blu. Sky Blu is the hub for all deep field work BAS carries out on the continent and comprises of a blue ice run-way and large stocks of aviation fuel. Sky Blu is typically staffed by two vehicle mechanics whose job it is to operate and maintain the vehicles available to keep the blu ice runway free of snow, and one field assistant who manages the site and passes hourly weather observations to aircraft and back to Rothera.
Melon hut accommodation at Sky Blu
Sky Blu - blue ice runway and camp to right
Twin Otter travelling through Sky Blu on the ice runway
Recreation at Rothera
A trip along Reptile Ridge
Ski mountaineering on Christmas day
Mountaineering on Leonie Island (Photo: Cheese Rudkin)
An evening skiing in Stork Bowl
Fresh turns!
Horseshoe Valley, Ellsworth Mountains
This was the second part of a project I led last season involving a study into the blue ice moraines. The project comprised of 4 Scientists, and two field guides - myself and Phil Stevens.
The depot I left in January 2013 - skidoos, sledges, food and fuel
Our camp at 80 degrees South in the Horseshoe Valley
Impressive lenticular clouds over the Horseshoe Valley
Cloud rolling off the Polar Plateau
Weather was very poor in comparison to what I experienced the previous season
Carrying out some Geological sampling in the Marble Hills
Collecting ice samples from debris bands on the blue ice
Returning to camp after a long days work in the Marble range
Mairi came as the co-pilot on the uplift!
Uplift involved 11 thousand lbs of kit
Depot work with the Chilean Navy
We often have visiting ships coming into Rothera during the summer season from various different nations operating down here. One visit this season was from the Chilean Naval vessel the Oscar Viel. While our Chilean friends were at Rothera they offered to help us re-stock some of our more remote emergency depots located on islands around Rothera using their on-board helicopter.
The Chilean Navy ship, Oscar Viel.
Helicopter landing on the Apron at Rothera
On Jenny Island
Helicopter on Pinnero Island
