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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1976-77: VUWAE 21

(b) Event 36

(b) Event 36

One polar tent was torn by strong katabatic winds on December 30. The wind was estimated to be at least 80 knots as it exceeded the anemometer which records only up to 60 knots (at 2 metres). The tent tore in two places; a one metre long tear under the doorway and a 0.2 metre tear on the lee side of the tent on the inner wall.

Most of the guy ropes on the windward end of an Italian tent were snapped during strong turbulent winds in the Northwind valley. One of the longitudinals on one sledge was broken on landing on a helicopter. This was due to the flexing of the skid on landing and the tightness of the lashings.

Two items were lost on this expedition. One snow stake was dropped from a loaded sledge while travelling. The groundsheet for one polar tent was lost while camp was being broken, due to a very gusty wind, on the Chattahoochee Glacier on December 24.