Happy Antarctica Day! Allan Hills crew heading to camp
We’re posting our latest News From The Field update a little early, in celebration of Antarctica Day on December 1! On December 1st, the international polar community commemorates the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959.
By Peter Neff
Week of November 28, 2022
All COLDEX teams now are present in McMurdo, with only two team members remaining off continent but joining us soon. I-165 Higgins Allan Hills ice coring team completed deep field shakedown on Nov. 29th, enjoying a nice overnight on the ice shelf beneath Mt. Erebus to practice setting up and securing tents. As of Dec. 1st, three Twin Otter flights activated to put in camp, with Jonathan, E, Sarah, and Jacob on the initial team. Thirty-five knot winds on site prevented Basler fixed-wing support to bring in the rest of the team. The put-in team have 2 Scott tents set up and secured as of mid afternoon Dec. 1st, and are working to erect one or two more structures, a weather station and solar panel before hunkering down.
I-188 COLDEX Allan Hills / Elephant Moraine ground radar team is working to complete trainings, field plans, and all other required activities to prepare to establish their first camp in coming weeks. The I-185 COLDEX airborne geophysics team is also completing required training this week, and has already been to Willy field to begin moving into the RAC tent they will use to unpack and prepare instrumentation for mounting on/in the Basler aircraft (MKB). Discussions of project schedules for the remainder of the season have been fruitful, and we really appreciate the efforts of ASC and NSF personnel that are allowing everyone to get every possible bit of science out of the season.
Update, received the evening of December 1: “Hello from Allan Hills! All are here, happy, and getting camp fully tied down and set up! All cargo is on site. -Peter inreachlink.com/4WW5IEZ (-76.7371, 159.3277) - Dr. Peter Neff”
I-165 team members walking to I-Site on the way to “shake down.” Mount Erebus at left, Mount Terror at right.
I-165 Allan Hills put in crew as they depart for the runway.
