03/03/2007
The last working week in Antarctica and it had a bit of everything. A day trip back to the Larsemann Hills, a few days of wild weather preventing activity outside, helicopter flights throughout the nearby Vestfold Hills and some spectacular sunsets.
One day was spent retrieving the GPS equipment left in the Larsemann Hills the week before. We flew along the edge of the plateau, flying low to admire the crevasse fields and different patterns in the ice. It was a pleasant day to be out and about. After the survey gear was packed away we went for another wander through the area. I don’t think I could ever get tired of exploring in those hills.
We had flown to the Larsemanns by helicopter. On arrival, the Russians, who have a base nearby, came up to greet us in their tank. The tank was an ex-military medical vehicle which had been modified to suit the more friendly Antarctic atmosphere. There is little use for gun mounts and cannons in Antarctica as the wildlife is protected and wouldn’t put up much resistance anyway.
After our little trip the weather turned grim and just about everybody was stranded on station for a few days, until the strong winds died down. The wind was consistently over 40 knots, gusting to over 60 knots. This was a good reminder that you really are at the mercy of the environment down here. When the wind picks up and the temperature drops the only thing to do is get comfortable and wait for it to blow over. I spent those few days reading, finalising reports, watching movies and exercising in the gym. It was great to compare the grey sky and sea to the sight we had seen in the same harbour only days earlier when the sunset created the effect of a solar pillar and lit up the sky and icebergs in the most amazing colours.
Once the wind settled we spent the next couple of days flying in amongst the Vestfold hills from lake to lake, surveying the water levels of the lakes. Some of the lakes are well below sea level and are as much as ten times more saline than sea water. A taste test proved this. It was a nice final project to finish off our work in Antarctica. Hopping from lake to lake, performing short surveys, appreciating the views and simply enjoying being outside and soaking up the last of our time on the continent.
The summer season is finally coming to a close and the ship will arrive in a few days to collect about 50 people from station and leave 20 others to manage the station throughout the winter. There is an extremely positive and friendly atmosphere around station as we approach the end. It is funny how people seem to get on really well when they are just about to part. I have noticed this quite a bit as I have been continually on the move for the last few years. For some reason people seem more relaxed and perhaps let their guard down a bit more when they know they won’t see each other for a long time. It has been impressive to watch a group of people who were once strangers band together during the season and create a strong community. I have had a wonderful time in Antarctica and enjoyed every moment down here. I have seen some spectacular places and had some extraordinary experiences which I am sure will only cause me to smile when I reflect upon them in the future. I am going to lay my pen down now and set aside the book which has covered my adventure On Antarctica.
