The second wave of the field team have arrived at the Lake Ellsworth camp. The first wave did a superb job in setting up the camp in pretty adverse conditions. The weather has been cold and windy but is starting to calm down and the last three days have been absolutely dingle.
All the tents are erected and the heater in the main Weatherhaven is working to provide a reasonably comfortable living space. A rudimentary kitchen is set up and a communications area established to make calls and access email.
Some of the team have decided to live in traditional pyramid tents whilst others have opted for the slightly roomier Endurance (Clam) tents. Although these give more space, comfortably sleeping four people, the larger volume takes much longer to warm up with body heat. On the plus side, you can stand up to get dressed in the morning.
So the camp is established and the team are waiting for the traverse to arrive. The traverse is essential as it brings the last of the cargo to site and the larger vehicles are required to move the containers we already have from the depot to the drill site.
The traverse also brings the final member of the advance team – Ed Waugh. Ed has been ‘babysitting’ the sampling probes at Union Glacier. The probes need to be kept close to zero degrees in transit to protect some of the oceanographic sensors on board and so their cases are fitted with heating blankets which need monitoring.
One significant task was to survey the site and to place flag markers at key points which will help to locate all the equipment once we start moving it. A key marker is, of course, the drill hole itself.
The science team are due to arrive at Lake Ellsworth in just over a week’s time.
Still on schedule!
