Allan Hills groups back in McMurdo, airborne radar team continues flights to Dome A region from South Pole Station

Week of January 9, 2023

By Peter Neff

Late last week at I-165 Allan Hills ice core camp, the team completed the deeper Foro borehole near camp, dutifully working their way to the bottom at 205.75 m despite some tedious drilling. The team also collected several shallow PICO cores from a site called the Cul de Sac. On Jan. 9, the I-165 camp fully pulled out and everyone returned safely to McMurdo! After some rest, equipment cleaning and return is mostly complete. They are anticipating a day trip to collect shallow cores from another potential old ice site, Elephant Moraine, next week.

Over at the Allan Hills accumulation area, the I-188 team also completed their work and broke down camp on Jan. 11 and 12, and are now enjoying rest and cleanup time in McMurdo.

Finally, the I-185 COLDEX airborne survey team at South Pole Station continue to fly out to the Dome A region. They have up to seven surveys completed, of a planned ~15. The first COLDEX-ers are now beginning to travel home!

Scientists, engineers, and pilot from COLDEX teams standing in front of flags at McMurdo station

Photo: Most of the I-165 and I-188 Allan Hills teams, including pilot Lauren Brown of Kenn Borek Air, one of two pilots who provided support to both teams. Photo Peter Neff.