We’re all exhausted ...
Posted on the 17.02.2012 by Alain Hubert
There’s a high degree of fatigue among the IPF team in this season’s closing period. Yet more than ever we have to make sure everything is done with maximum security and within satisfactory comfort.
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Dismantling the German camp
Two weeks ago we were leaving in a convoy towards the coast for the umpteenth time. We had to fold up the German AWI research camp. These crossings went on OK; however, dismantling the German camp took longer than planned because of large snowdrifts. It can be quite impressive to see how much snow can accumulate in a single spot over such a short period.
This has put back our departure on the LGGE crossing. It was delayed, but on the other hand we had fine weather on this 3 day circuit. This task, which we were doing (for the fourth consecutive year) on behalf of Grenoble University’s glaciology lab research team, includes recording some 20 density profiles, taking records at 60 beacons set up on a 180 kms transec from the coast to Vethaugen (a nunatuk north of the base), and replacing some of the beacons whenever snowdrifts make it necessary. Gigi and Erik will have to return to the area to take further density records, as both the generators broke down simultaneously before all the data could be collected (re. a report about this task on the station’s website).
Scientists at work
Among the scientists still at our station are Denis Lombardi and Alexandre Mangold. They have many instruments to check, to set up, or to repair - either within the station buildings, on its roof, or in one of the science shelters near the base. Erik, Jacques and Illir spent several days helping them. This kind of help given to scientists is almost daily at our base.
As for our team of mechanics (which is led in a masterly way by Kristof and Boby) : after returning from crossings they set themselves on the task of replacing the sleds for NIPR mobile team (i.e. Tokyo’s national institute of polar research). Next year a large Belgian-Japanese mission is planned (with these mobile teams) to search the plateau for meteorites. In this area the weather conditions are extremely harsh. The two large sleds brought here by the Japanese three years ago are damaged and need replacing. This job has been prepared in Belgium, where the polar secretariat has purchased two further sleds of the same kind as the twelve that are already at our base. They will need to be assembled here. We’ll then need to dismantle the NIPR cabins (each weighing 5 tonnes) before erecting them once more. This will take at least one week.
One of the best chef in Antarctica
We are all extremely tired. Chiefly because we’re a reduced crew. Thankfully David, our cook, is here with us. He’s held, among the small world of polar research, as the continent’s best chef. Our meals are thus among the best in Antarctica. It may not seem obvious, but such daily treats are essential for the crew’s spirits. We have here quite a unique ambiance, a kind of family mood, which has enabled Belgium to intergrate quite well among the microcosm of international research teams. The fact we should be so flexible and professional in our services, the fact our station is in such a good geographical setting, mean that the PEA is attracting an increasing number of scientists from all nations active in antarctic research.
Scientists, technicians, IPF people : we are all exhausted
© IPF
