Been a While

Well how long since I wrote on the  blog, it's a rather quite time on the Station at the moment, we have been waiting patiently for the Ice to open for travel which has occurred and the first party went out for 3 days on Thursday. We are looking at a traverse over to the Rauers Islands which is about a 5 day trip there and back, that should make for some interesting writing.

The Rauers are a group of islands located north of the station, access is by travelling to the plateau and traversing across, this trip should take about 10-12 hours weather dependant, as travel on the Plateau can change in 5 minutes. We should spend at least one night camping in a polar pyramid in temperatures around -35, should be interesting.

The cold weather is starting to become more frequent now with the temperatures quite often below -18, we have had discussion around this and generally agree, once the temp goes below -15 quite a few things change, for one: movement outside becomes rather limited and quick. Yesterday I took a glove off to take a picture of the sunset, I had a glove off for no more than 20 seconds and the cold had well and truly grabbed my fingers.

Discussion around training and survival techniques has also taken place, you come to realise the importance of the training now. This would be one of the only environments you could possibly die in without leaving the station. A walk from the LQ to the Green store which takes approx 3 mins, if you were to fall and injure yourself becoming incapacitated could result in hypothermia and worse case death in a very short period of time.

Different environments require different approaches this is no different here, you just have to be aware of the surroundings and possible outcomes.

Ice drilling continues on a weekly basis every Tuesday, its currently being undertaken by riding quads out to the ice points, drilling and recording the data. 2 weeks ago Mark, Dave and myself set out in -22, we in a fortunate position that the gear we use is made specifically for these conditions, from clothing through to the quads which have heated hand grips (thankfully), and covers of lambswool over the bars, any exposed area and you feel it pretty quick burning your skin.

It is a very special place here and I feel privileged to be able to see the sights first hand, this morning i was walking to the gym and saw the most amazing Aurora over the Station and with a full moon you could still distinctly see the green dancing around the sky, they are incredible. I thought I should go back and get my camera but opted to just stay there and enjoy the sight. Hopefully we will be in a position to get some good pics around mid morning when we are more prepared.

Dave on a quad ready to go out for ice drilling 

 An advantage to Ice drilling is you get to see the bergs first

Dave and I infront of a berg 

A pretty spectacular berg, with an arch that looks ready to collapse

Map of Australia in the opening, home sweet home

Out on the Sea Ice depth was around 600mm

Layla and Dave in not so ideal conditions.

Mark and myself drilling in -22.

 Mark and I just posing.

 Quads out on the ice, we use the sled to carry gear it tows better than a trailer

I took this pic from the Ice looking back at the station, living and sleeping quarters, the wind picked up just as we entered the ice.

This is a lead in the ice, at this stage it was only 300mm thick so we couldn't go any further, we had one more point to install, it had to wait until the next week.

Sunrise over the ice with the wind whipping up the snow, about 11.00am

What do you do for fun,

When you are about 5000k's from home, you look for ways to entertain yourself away from work so when Stu suggests that some of us should get together, bring 4 songs you like and we'll play darts, drink beer, eat chips and talk shit of course the answer is i'll be in it. 

That being said with my 4 songs and a bit on each I made my way to the impromptu studio located in the operations building where the band practices. This was week 1 after much deliberation and the fact we didn't really have much room, the studio is relocated to new premises still in the ops building ut a much better room for recording, the old agso's area. 

What would a show be without the appearance of a guest, this week saw Nick the on station chippie join us with his selection of 4 songs, mix this all up and we have a radio show, which can be listened to at the following link it goes for about and hour and a half and has some great tunes mixed with a bit of conversation and of course we play darts throughout the whole experience.

 https://soundcloud.com/stuart-shaw-11/davis-radio-18-04-14

Enjoy and give your feedback, 

Our new premises including a shot of the guest booth.

 Corey in front, Nick and Stu discussing the program.

Stu illustrating a few bars on the window of the booth.

A bit pushed for room, dart board is located in the cupboard, regulation height and distances though.

Blizzard and Ice Drilling

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 SAR HAG ready to take us to the Ice and just in case!

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.

Bharathi (Research Station) Visit

We were privileged to have a visit from our neighbouring Indian Station Bharathi, 19 people visited Davis consisting of Station Leader, scientists, weather personnel and the Station Doctor. All of the visitors spoke very good english, which made things a lot easier. I was asked by our Station Leader to be a guide along with Nick our Station carpenter. Dave also joined us Dave is also a scientist here at Davis. We showed them around the station and introduced them to our local Elephant seal population. 

For this tour they procure a chopper form the Russians and they have their own which is run by Korean Air. 

Josh deciding to take a pic of the Russian chopper, not counting on the snow storm which was created on approach.

Party arriving out of the Russian chopper.

 Introductions to our Station Leader Narelle, and off on the tour.

Our Hydroponics set up was of interest to the Indian's, they don't have the luxury of fresh salad on their Station.

Another attraction was the Elephant Seal colony we currently have on the beach in front of the Station.

A not so happy resident even though we were all more than 10 metres away, these are all juvenile males so a lot of the noise is practicing for adulthood.

 The group I was taking around in front of the infamous Davis sign and location pole.

 Some of the party in front of the Station flag poles, regularly monitored by Craig the Station Flag bearer.

 Dave and I, infront of the Russian Chopper, seating capacity of around 20 people. This chopper can lift around 4 tonnes, it is utilised by the Aussies in certain cases for SAR and the occasional work load.

Farewelling the Indian Doctor

 Korean Air chopper which has the capacity for 5 passengers.

The arrival of Winter

The temperature is dropping, wind is predicated for this week looks like the start of Winter is on the way, we experienced about 100mm of fresh snow over the past 2 days in minimal winds which was pretty stunnning. The temps are now not getting much above zero on a good day and are hovering more around -6. Winter is definitely on the way, we now get about 5 hours of dark a night (I think usually asleep). 

Looking forward to our first Bliz, sounds odd but it's just something you have to experience while here on station. 

 Josh on the way to work on Saturday morning

The polaris left some tracks on the way to the workshop,

 The table outside the LQ, Elephant seals in the background.

This is my attempt to catch a Pic of the snow falling.

Art's and Craft's

One thing about gathering a group of people from different backgrounds is the opportunity to showcase different talents, when I heard that we to have an Art's and Craft's show on the station I thought umm...... this will could be interesting, well out they come some of the talents are extraordinary, we had everything from beanies to aeroplanes and all made and built here on Station.

 Hand crochet'd beanies, one has been made out of copper wire.

This clock was made by Seamus, out of material from the "boneyard" on site timber would be around 30 years old.

This was made by Horse, its a Leopard seal made from a scrap piece of Reinforcing steel

 A pen made by Seamus

 Another clock "Spider web" made by Seamus

These darts have been correctly weighted and made by Chris

Jewellery made by Seamus

 Scented oil burner by Seamus

 Table lamps, built by Seamus from material in the "Graveyard".

 A penguin and a replica sled made by horse.

 A Poncho knitted by Ali

A Davis momento made by Glenn

 Various pipes in different styles made by Josh,Cam and Tom

 Penguins made by Ali

 Copper etching by PJ

This is a picture made by Corey, of all the Winterer's staying on station each with their own characteristics outlined. 

Webby's fuselage the start of his Winter project.

All the artwork created by Seamus was donated to Cancer Care and auctioned off on the ship going back to Hobart, one item that i am aware of was the Spider web clock which went for $1100, all in the name of a good cause.