First ice cores of the season drilled

It has been a busy week for COLDEX at Allan Hills! After an initial put-in team arrived at the site last Friday (Nov 17), camp structures were erected in between high winds and low temperatures with wind chills in the -50C range. On Monday (Nov 20), the rest of the science team arrived and set up the remaining needed sleep tents for the full group of 11. As weather allowed, the team then forayed to the Cul de Sac site to set up the tent for Eclipse drilling. The tent was set up Nov 22, and after a windy Thanksgiving holiday the team then began cutting the needed trench for the Eclipse drill and started assembling the drill. High winds and snow drift continue at times to limit activity in the primary camp, with a small team continuing work at the Cul de Sac. We have recovered the first three ice cores with the Eclipse drill as we work out kinks and establish a core production routine! As of Nov 27, the winds have sufficiently died at Allan Hills that the team is working to set up the Blue Ice Drill tent today before high winds return and can cause any delay. Meanwhile, the I-185 airborne geophysics team arrived at McMurdo Station, enjoyed the traditional Thanksgiving feast there, and are otherwise completing trainings and getting eyes on cargo as they await access to the Basler aircraft in early December.

The Allan Hills team works together on a windy day to set up the dome tent for Eclipse ice core drilling in the Cul de Sac. Nov 22, 2023. Peter Neff photo.

Sarah Shackleton, Elizabeth Morton, and Mike Jayred with the Eclipse drill nearly complete at the Cul de Sac. Nov 25, 2023. Peter Neff photo.

Allan Hills Cul de Sac (Eclipse) and BID sites with camp in the background. Photo Peter Neff.

Sarah Shackleton and Austin Carter with one of the first Eclipse cores recovered from the Cul de Sac. Mike Jayred photo.