This week saw our first blizzard, only mild but still a first. Winds 40 to 50 knots gusting 45 to 60 this made getting to work a little difficult but achievable.
We decided that it was time to start drilling the ice in the harbour, it's now been 3 weeks since the Saturday night sitting in the LQ enjoying a quite ale we noticed the greasy ice forming on the surface.
It's pretty amazing to see how fast the ice forms it should now grow at about 100mm a week, depending on how much snow lies on the top as it forms an insulation layer slowing the process down.
Never the less, drilling and science has now begun, so Nick, Dave and myself headed out for the first time in 2014, a little dubious at first, walking on the ocean can do that to you. First drill about 5m from the wharf saw the ice at 360mm more than safe to walk on. We have 7 points to install for the Winter, this exercise would see us place canes at points 1,2 and 7. These will be monitored weekly and recorded, information sent back to the Glaciologists based at Kingston.
Ready to head out from the LQ into the Blizzard and back to work.
Entrance to the SMQ during the bliz
The Loader just after the Bliz, and before it was warmed up for a days work clearing the roads
The JCB
The IT in the background
The front windows of the LQ
Our BBQ table on the verandah
The camel train, Dave and Nick, heading out behind me onto the ice, we are all tied together 15m apart in case the first one goes in.
Share it around, Nick drilling another test hole, these are drilled every 50-100m depending on the depth of ice.
Nick enjoying the day and getting a bite of lunch
Drilling point number 7
Measuring the depth of ice.
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