Jacks and the Sun

The photo above I included in a blog entry some weeks ago, and just as a reminder, this was the old machinery cab that a man (Jack) lived in to get away from the station, since then we have been looking into some of the history of the old Wilkes station.

The below picture shows the same type of machine that the cab was taken from.

Travel to some of the field huts, and other areas off station has been limited at times over the past couple of weeks. This has been due to the amount of melt in the area. We are after all in the height of summer, with daily temps being between about 0c and +4c, and as high as +5c.

This has caused plenty of melt around the station, which is normal, but does restrict what type of vehicles can travel, as some of the melt streams are quite large, and many areas of snow are easily broken through, causing vehicles to get bogged.

One of the easier places to access is the old Wilkes station, although at the moment access is via boat.

With the warmer weather and melt, many areas of the buildings and station have been exposed at Wilkes. When walking around you can see old pieces of machinery partly exposed, and below is a picture of a 'Weasel'. These machines were used around Wilkes station, and a partly exposed one was found in the snow near Wilkes, the serial number could be read on the body work, and the picture below has been matched with the serial number, and found to be the actual machine.

Last week I travelled back from Wilkins runway. Wilkins is an ice runway that the Airbus lands on during the summer. It is about a 4 hour flight from Hobart to Wilkins, and then takes another 4 hours to drive the 70 kilometres from Wilkins to Casey station.

The picture below shows me in the typical tourist pic at the Antarctic Circle sign, and also shows the great beard that I have been growing.

I had arrived at Wilkins runway in one of the smaller aircraft (CASA-212). Early last week, I travelled with the station Doctor by CASA-212 from Casey to Davis, then transferred into a S76 helicopter for a flight over to the Russian station 'Progress', to evacuate an injured expeditioner. We set off from Casey about lunch time on Monday, finished the retrieval, and returned to Casey at 3 PM on Tuesday.

There had been a heavy machinery accident, and a Chinese expeditioner had been seriously injured. He was initially taken to the Russian station for medical treatment, but required further treatment that was not available in Antarctica.

The fastest way for him to receive this treatment, was to be evacuated to Wilkins runway, and loaded onto the Airbus for transport back to Australia. So that's what happened.

There was a small amount of information released to the public, and a couple of news articles about the incident.

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/chinese-worker-evacuated-from-antarctica-20100115-mcix.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/15/2793570.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/16/2793793.htm

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/1000302/chinese-worker-evacuated-from-antarctica

CASA-212

Sikorsky S76

Airbus on Wilkins ice runway

The rest of the pictures below show various sunsets, and shades of light across the water and icebergs.

There has been plenty of sunlight, in fact I have not seen the darkness of night since leaving Hobart in October. We have had sunsets, but the sun only just gets below the horizon, and for the past few weeks there has been a period of no sunsets at all. But over the past week, it has began to get darker (about twilight) for a short period around 3 AM.

New Years, Friday night drinks and this and that!

Being Sunday today, most probably had a bit of a sleep in, got up and then went down to the mess for the usual Sunday morning brunch.

It started out a little cloudy, but then turned into a great blue sky day, with very little wind, and the temperature was about +2c.

After brunch I went out for a couple of hours in the boats. We had to travel along the coast to Robbo's hut, and pick up a group that had been staying out there. The task of getting ready for the boat trip is worth it.....putting on the thermals, with a layer of fleece over the top, and then a mustang suit over that, thick socks and boots, balaclava, neck warmer, beanie and glasses, all to keep the wind chill out.

Once out on the water it was a constant change of direction to miss icebergs, and smaller pieces of ice in the water. Many of these icebergs would have penguins perched on top, and there was also many penguins jumping out of the water as they swam along.

In the picture above it shows a typical view around Casey station, with icebergs in the background, us in the IRB's in the middle and if you enlarge the picture, you will see penguins and a seal on the ice in the foreground.

NEW YEARS EVE.

Preparations for New Years Eve, saw the 'Wallow" in the red shed get made over with balloons and lighting.

Again food was laid on in mountains, with a spit roast, and more seafood.

Those who dressed for the occasion.

The photo above was taken from the front veranda of the 'Red Shed' at just after midnight on New Years Eve.

The Xue Long.

Picture from Wilkes with the Chinese ship the 'Xue Long' in the background.

Just over a week ago the Chinese ship the Xue Long arrived near Casey station. It would stay for the next few days, as they had some passengers arriving on the Airbus, and then transfer to the ship.

The ship would then depart Casey station, and make its way to the Chinese station (located near another Australian station, Davis).

While the ship was here, many of the passengers came over to the station for a look around, and many from Casey also took the opportunity to go out to the Xue Long for a meal and a tour of the ship.

Transport to and from the ship was by helicopter, which gave a great view of the station and surrounds.

Lunch on the Xue Long

Aerial view of Casey station

Friday night drinks.

Friday nights/afternoons, will often see drinks held in various areas of the station. Last Friday this event took place down at the workshop.

The weather was great, the sun was out, there was no wind, and the temperature somewhere around 0c, or above. You could comfortably stand around in a T-shirt.

The BBQ was set up, and the next few hours spent outside the workshop, eating and drinking.

The pictures below show how to keep your drinks cold, and what happens when you ask someone to go and fill the 'bucket' with ice.