Rothera, Antarctica

Scott on the last run down from Stork bowl.

Rothera, Antarctica

Sunday afternoon, ski touring in Stork bowl. Thanks to Scott for the photo.

Rothera, Antarctica

Sarah and me on board the JCR, just before she set sail back north. Thanks to Tom for the photo.

Rothera, Antarctica

When I got back to Rothera, the JCR complete with food, drink, building and maintenance materials, science equipment, scientists and most importantly my friend Sarah, had arrived at the wharf. For three days the whole base was one massive human chain unloading the ship into Rothera.

Fossil Bluff, Antarctica

Fossil Bluff, Antarctica

There is a coire just behind Bluebell cottage. I think the combination of ice, wind and meltwater result in these incredible formations.

Fossil Bluff, Antarctica

Inside is a tiny fuel burning stove (running off aviation fuel). The walls are lined with shelves, rammed with tins of food, oddities collected from outside and ancient books dating back to the 60’s when the first FIDs stayed here. There is a small water tank into which we drop bricks of snow from outside. Against the back wall are two bunks, painted red. There is a little desk setup with the radio for relaying the met observations. Any spare bits of wall are covered with maps of Antarctica and artwork from all the previous inhabitants. There is a book here called the Silent Sound written by one of the three men who were the first to stay here. It’s been incredible to read it while sitting in the bunk that it was written from.

Fossil Bluff, Antarctica

George.

Fossil Bluff, Antarctica

At the moment I am out at Fossil Bluff where I’ve been for the last week, working as weather-girl-come-petrol-pump-attendant. Fossil Bluff is on the east coast of Alexander Island. To our west are scree mountains partially covered with snow, and interspersed with valleys. To our east is the vast flat white of George VI Sound, also known as the Silent Sound, and then about 40km away are the mountains of mainland Antarctica. Fossil Bluff International airport consists of some flags, some fuel drums and a small, dumpy, red fiberglass hut called an apple hut. About a kilometer to the north is Bluebell Cottage, a beautiful wooden hut, set just up off the sound, complete with wooden veranda and pet skua, George.

Sky Blu, Antarctica

Flying from Sky Blu we saw a faint Brocken spectre in the clouds below us. It wasn't strong enough to come out well in the photos so I've increased the colour saturation.

Fletcher Glacier, Antarctica

The Ellsworths are home to Mount Vincent, the tallest mountain in Antarctica (shown here), so the views from, and as you fly into the field site are pretty special. Once we had unloaded the plane, we got a quick tour of the camp and a cup of tea before returning to Sky Blu. We finally landed at Sky Blu at midnight, by which time it was too late to continue to Fossil Bluff, so we were kindly put up for the night.

Fletcher Glacier, Antarctica

Fog at Fossil Bluff delayed our departure by a couple of hours so by the time we got to Sky Blu (the first time around) it was already late afternoon. We pushed on further south to find Sledge Party Quebec, camped out on Fletcher glacier at the foot of the Ellsworth mountains. Sledge Quebec are a team of glaciologists, who are attempting to drill 130m ice cores in one season. These cores will then be analysed to provide a history of surface temperatures and snow accumulation over the last 200 years. This shows the camp at Sledge Quebec, which is the best equipped camp I have ever seen, complete with showers, microwave, large structured tents and Saturday film nights.

En route to Fletcher Glacier, Antarctica

I’ve already mentioned Fossil Bluff, which is a fuel depot about 225 miles south of Rothera. Beyond that is another depot called Sky Blu, which is about 450 miles south, at a latitude of 75 degrees. Sky Blu has a blue-ice runway which allows not only the Twin Otters to land but also the Dash 7 (larger planes, able to carry greater loads). These two camps enable field parties (known as Sledge Parties) to reach a massive area within north-west Antarctica. Both Fossil Bluff and Sky Blu have to be manned at all times during the summer season to provide constant weather information for the pilots and to provide safety cover for landing, refueling, and taking-off.

I knew I was to be heading out to Fossil Bluff to help man it for a few days so on Sunday morning I had my radio on standby, waiting for the call.

“Andy B, Andy B? This is Clem.”
“Go ahead, Clem.”
“Hi Andy, we’re ready to move the detonators onto the plane now.”
“Thanks Clem, I’ll get everyone ready”.
Goodness, I thought to myself, I wonder what poor people will be flying out on that plane.
“Rosey, Rosey? This is Andy B. Can you get your stuff together and make your way over to the hanger?”. Ah.
It turned out that a field party near Sky Blu needed to blow some things up, and that the plane going there needed a co-pilot, and since I was heading out to Fossil Bluff anyway-- so that Sunday, I got to make the most amazing flights around the Peninsula, flying Rothera-Fossil Bluff-Sky Blu-Sledge Party Quebec-Sky Blu-Fossil Bluff.

Rothera, Antarctica

Skidooing back down to Rothera from the weekly AWS check at the skiway. This is the stillest I have seen the bay yet.