I am out on my winter trip in the morning, so thought i would quickly tell you about my day preparing for it.
It was a beautiful start to the day with the sun shining and the sky blue with just a scattering of cloud. There had been a little more snowfall with a few drifts in certain areas, i was to have brunch first and then meet Blair in Fuchs in order to get the rest of my gear, we were to talk through a plan of action then head up the ramp, take a skidoo to the caboose where we would reorganise and pack the sledges so they will be ready to go first thing in the morning.
A lovely view from my window this morning, with
a fresh covering of snow
The ramp is looking nice
Coming out of Admirals you can see the snow
starting to build up and icicles forming, It's getting
colder
The sun is lovely when it's out, It will be strange
when there is no sun.
Today felt like a winters day when i was a boy and
my mum gave me permission to go and play outside
and making tracks in fresh snow.
Blair sorting me some warm clothing
P-bags (Personal bags) all ready, time to get them
up the hill
Blair brings a Gator to carry our bags to the bottom
of the ramp
All loaded time to go
We park the Gator at the bottom of the ramp and
unload the sledges and our P-bags
The bottom of the ramp is crawling with Fur Seals
We load the sledges, put on hats, jackets, gloves and crampons and start to make our way up the ramp man hauling the sledges to the skidoos that are parked at the top. This is because the ramp is so icy it would be risky to drive the skidoos up and down. We need more snow before we can do that.
Blair took the heavier load with both P-bags, while i pulled a sledge with just one rucksack and a down jacket in it. Blair was way ahead of me pacing himself, only stopping to look back and make sure i was still following. I was, but i was having to stop at every flag to get my breath and give my legs a rest, it nearly killed me! It was a great cardiovascular workout, once Blair had got to the skidoos he secured his sledge and came back to help me, those field guides are very fit.
I did make it though and in one piece
Once the skidoo had been uncovered we pulled our sledges to a big box sledge that we would use to drag our P-bags behind the skidoo to the caboose at Vals. This is where the sledges are kept with the tents, food and emergency gear that we will be taking on our winter trip
Blair putting P-bag into the box sledge
While i carried on filling the box sledge, Blair went
to fetch the skidoo
Sledge filled attached to the skidoo and ready to go,
now it has to be dug out
When we get to the caboose, we find Rio, our electrician
deciding whether or not to get his kite out?
We start unloading the box sledge and repacking the Nansen
sledges ready for the morning
A Nansen sledge with tent and man food boxes
I open a man food box to see what is in it and top it
up with a few frozen meals that i vacuum packed
earlier in the season. These will stay frozen on the sledge
Everything needed has been packed and Rio decided
to have a go with his kite, although it was short lived
as the wind started picking up
We finished what we needed to do and stopped off
at the caboose for a much needed cup of tea. Rio
joined us and then Bradders and Zoe arrived on their
way back from a climbing trip. We had a hot drink and
a chat before heading the 4 km back to Rothera
Zoe setting off to follow Bradders back to base.
She promised me she was smiling for the photo.
Blair on his way back from organising the sledges.
So the plan for tomorrow is an early start with breakfast first thing, then get kitted up and another walk up the ramp where we will pick up 2 skidoos and head to the caboose. From there we will hook up the sledges and set off to the Stokes mountain range, where we want to set up camp and erect the tents before the weather changes and it starts to get windy. We will be staying at a place called Trident, maybe for a couple of nights, this will give me the opportunity to climb some of the more gentle slopes as opposed to mountain climbing. Eventually I would like to get through mcCallum pass and to set up camp at Myth and Legend on the other side of Adelaide Island to Rothera. This will be a good place to do day trips from as i would like to get to Carvajal, which used to belong to BAS but is now the Chilean camp. This will all be weather dependent as the forecast is showing strong winds and snow, whatever happens it will certainly be an Antarctic experience. I will update the blog as soon as i return, if i don't get buried!
Thoughts of my Sister Lulu on her Birthday
I would just like to finish this blog post with thoughts of my sister, who was taken from us 10 months ago which was much too soon. Today April the 17th would have been her 51st birthday, she is still with me and will be every day. I see her in all my sisters and sense her in everything i do, especially here in Antarctica which is such an amazing place to sit and reflect.
Loved and missed x
The moment that you passed away
my heart was torn in two,
one side filled with heartache
the other went with you.
I often lie awake at night
when all are fast asleep, and
think of all the things we did
with tears upon my cheeks.
Remembering you is easy
I do it everyday,
but missing you is heartache
that never goes away.
It broke my heart to lose you,
but you didn't go alone
part of me went with you
the day that you went home.
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