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Immediate Report of Victoria University Of Wellington Antarctic Expedition 1987-88: VUWAE 32

Event Diary

page 23

Event Diary

14 Oct. G. Blake arrive Scott Base.
14-24 Oct. G. Blake preparing equipment for K042. Attended survival course.
24 Oct. A.R. Pyne and B.L. Ward arrive Scott Base (3 day weather delay in Christchurch).
25 Oct. Unpacking cargo. G. Blake drove D3 and NZ-1 to ice edge for Scott Base recreation trip. Equadorian guest scientist Fernando Zurita arrives Scott Base.
26 Oct. Began setup of drilling equipment on sledge (winch and hydraulic unit and drilling mast). Cleaned up NZ-1 after Sunday trip. Pyne, Ward, Zurita attend evening survival lecture.
27 Oct. Helo reconn. of sea ice to Tripp bay. (Pyne, Ward, Blake, Ayres and Saxby). Established ice crack monitoring stations at C. Roberts and Depot Island. Zurita attend survival course, joined by Pyne and Ward in late afternoon.
28 Oct. Continue equipment preparation. B. Armstrong and P. Shane arrive Scott Base.
29 Oct. Survey work at Erebus Ice Tongue to locate S216 sediment trap. DOSLI surveyors (Anderson, Faloon) and K042 personnel. Test of K042 Grizzley (G4). Armstrong and Shane attend evening survival lecture.
30-31 Oct. Armstrong and Shane attend survival course. Continue preparation of equipment. Meeting with S216, Surveyors and K042 at Scott Base to discuss respective programmes and cooperation for the season.
1 Nov. Preparing equipment in morning. Pyne and Blake take D3 and rescue equipment to Erebus Ice Tongue for D5 rescue.
2 Nov. Continue equipment preparation including adjustment of G4.
3 Nov. Final packing sledges and equipment. Tested drill sledge equipment and grab in front of Scott Base in afternoon. Pyne and Zurita tested S4 current meter in fish hut. Tractor train departed Scott Base at 10.30 p.m. Spent night on sea ice near runway.
4 Nov. Continue travel towards tip of Dirty Ice. Met K191 near sea ice edge to discuss route and ice conditions. Arrive Butter Point 2.30 a.m. 5 Nov.
5 Nov. Leave two NZARP survival boxes at Butter Point. Pick up explosives. Continue to Explorers Cove, New Harbour, arrive 9.00 p.m. Winch wire jammed in drum on D3.
6 Nov. Visit S043 (diving group, SCRIPPS) to discuss local sea floor topography and ice conditions. Bathymetry survey of proposed sample line.page 24
7 Nov. Stan 87-1 sample site. Drilling access holes and taking grab samples. Ward sprains ankle. Zurita picked up by helo 2.00 p.m. to return Scott Base.
8 Nov. G4 used by Pyne and Shane to locate route to 100 m sample site (87-1-6). Echo sounder repaired in afternoon. Last sample for Explorers Cove taken.
9 Nov. Depart Explorers Cove 1000 hours. Arrive Cape Bernacchi 1700. Samples put into preservative. Echo sounder soldered by Blake.
10 Nov. Blake checking sample line route with D3. Armstrong and Shane do bathymetry survey with G4. Pyne and Ward set up IBM PC and test S4 compass. In afternoon start grab sampling on surveyed line (87-2).
11 Nov. Bathymetry survey completed. Two final sites grab sampled. Ward and Armstrong mix batch of preservative, preserve sediment samples. Blake reorganizes gear sledge. S4 current meter profile taken twice at 87-2-6 (108 m) site, for comparison of data. S216 arrive 1930 hours.
12 Nov. Depart Cape Bernacchi 1030 hours. S216 remain to core sea floor. 1645-1700 at Marble Point, load 6 fuel drums. Depart Marble Point 1735 hours. Arrive Spike Cape 2250 hours. Unload K121 penguin tracking hut. Pyne blasts hole in 44 gal drum, to leave with one other.
13 Nov. Depart Spike Cape 1000 hours. Travel over rough ice. Pass Dunlop Island 1200 hours. Pyne and Blake change oil filter in D3, 1700 hours, just south of Cape Roberts. Still having problems. Blake discusses problem with Clayton Ross, Scott Base mechanic, 1900 hours. Changed another oil filter. Proceed at 2030 hours through very rough ice to Cape Roberts. Continue around point to smoother ice, arrive 2225 p.m.
14 Nov. Helos behind schedule, proposed VIP visit uncertain. Scott Base 'flu hampering operations. Request relayed for resupply via K191 (Surveyors). Bathymetry survey carried out. Drill four holes (87-3) and take grab samples.
15 Nov. S216 arrives with sampling equipment provided by Dr. E. Barrera, Ohio State University; pH meter non-functional, mercuric oxide containers (glass) broken. Disposed of contaminated material by burning. Finished sediment sampling. Pyne took two current profiles at 100 m site. Camped third night at Cape Roberts.
16 Nov. Current profiling in central deep (800 m) basin in Granite Harbour. S216 arrive 1700 hours with mail, new pH meter.
17 Nov. Depart for inner Granite Harbour 0935 hours. Took water profile with S4 off Couloir Cliffs. S216 coring nearby. Depart 1430 hours for page 25 Mackay Glacier Tongue snout. Put S4 down at 705 m for overnight profile. Camped near S216.
18 Nov. Retrieve S4 after 15.3 hour profile near sea floor. Moved camp to Cuff Cape, on south side of Mackay Glacier Tongue. Set S4 to profile overnight in 152 m water. S216 still coring in area.
19 Nov. Retrieve S4 0900 hours. Depart Granite Harbour 1045 hours. S216 remain to continue coring. K042 continue north, crossing two cracks, traveling on outside of large bergs, arrive Tripp Island 2400 hours.
20 Nov. Pyne, Ward, Armstrong and Shane carry out bathymetric survey for sampling line. Blake checking Herman Nelson operation. S216 arrive 2100 hours.
21 Nov. Sampled Tripp Island grab transect (87-4-1 to 7). S216 continue areal bathymetric survey for Tripp Bay area. K191 survey flagged sites.
22 Nov. Ward, Armstrong and Shane take bathymetric survey in tide crack. Blake and Pyne start S4 profile and water sampling on grab line. Echo sounder freezing up during use. In afternoon, Armstrong, Blake and Shane take G4 to fry Glacier Tongue to continue areal bathymetric survey. Pyne and Ward finish S4 profiling. Ward mixes batch of formalyn. Camp with K191 and S216.
23 Nov. Travel to Gregory Inland. K191 continue survey at Tripp Bay, S216 depart for Granite Harbour. Arrive Gregory Island 1635 hours. Pyne and Shane do bathymetric survey.
24 Nov. Sample grab transect 87-5. Take S4 current profile. K191 arrive 2000 hours. Ward preserved sediment samples.
25 Nov. Retrieve S4. Ward and Armstrong mix formalyn. Shane packs gear, tents. Blake and Pyne straighten wannigan sledge towbar. Depart 1320 for Granite Harbour. Arrive 1800 hours. S216 coring nearby. Set up S4 for overnight current profile at 858 m. Brake system on S4 slipped at 0520 hours on 26th. Reset and continue profiling.
26 Nov. Thanksgiving Day. S216 departs for Dunlop Island. K042 travels to Cape Roberts, arriving 1630 hours. Pyne, Blake, Shane and K191 clean junk from C. Roberts hut, for retro to Scott Base. Thanksgiving Dinner with K191.
27 Nov. Depart Cape Roberts 1000 hours, arrive Dunlop Island 1500 hours. Bathymetric survey of grab transect completed.
28 Nov. Started grab transect 0930 hours (87-61 to 6). Put S4 current meter down for profile. VIP helo dropped off mail about 1400 hours. Returned 1 hr later for 45 min visit (Ruth Richardson, Jim Barker and page 26 co.). Showed them samples, biota, and S4 results. Put S4 down for overnight profile.
29 Nov. Ward and Armstrong check all preserved samples for pH reading, and adjust (0945-1745 hours). Blake and Shane retrieve S4 and sledge from 87-6-6 site.
30 Nov. Depart Dunlop Island for fuel stop at Marble Point. Met S-216-seconded Armstrong to S-216 to assist in setting sediment traps. Received spark plugs from helicopter, sent out mail. K042 pick up l barrel Mogas at Marble Point, continue to large iceberg in New Harbour, arrive 2220 hours.
1 Dec. Pyne, Blake, Shane drill one access hole (87-1-8, 164 m) take grab sample, set S4 for 24 hour profile. Armstrong still with S216, who have mechanical breakdown of transport at Marble Point. Pyne, Blake, Shane take G4 to Butter Point to dispose of old explosives. Ward prepares batch of formalyn, preserves sediment samples.
2 Dec. S216 still at Marble Point with mechanical problems. Ward and Pyne preserve samples, check pH of formalyn mix.
Retrieve S4 current meter at 1400 hours. Tried 3 profiles through water column; considerable distortion in data.
Met two Greenpeace personnel touring New Harbour on toboggan.
3 Dec. Pyne retrieves Armstrong from S216 with G4. S216 mobile. Ward, Blake, Shane continue with D3 train to Cape Chocolate. Armstrong and Pyne catch up 1315 hours. S216 passed K042 at 1400 hours. Continue to Cape Chocolate, crossing several large cracks. Pyne and Shane scout route in G4 toboggan. Cape Chocolate inaccessible. Deviate to Blue Glacier. S216 arrive 2050 hours. Leave Cape Chocolate survival box at Blue Glacier.
4 Dec. Pyne and Shane do bathymetric survey for grab transect. Grabs completed 1800 hours. K191 arrive 1930 hours. Set S4 for 12 hr profile at 87-7-7, 107 m, overnight. Armstrong and Ward preserve samples.
5 Dec. K191 remains at Blue Glacier site to wait for helo and S-216 (Dunbar) for survey of sediment trap sites. Ward and Armstrong drive ASV (K191 vehicle) back to Scott Base, departing 1100 hours. Blake drives D3, Shane and Pyne scout route with G4 toboggan. VIP helo (Holborow, Suggate, Taylor) buzz our caravan, do not stop. Helo arrives for K191. K042 continues past Dirty Ice to Scott Base, arriving 2040 p.m.page 27
6 Dec. Depart SB for Cape Armttage transect 1045 hours. Bathymetric survey completed and flagged sample sites. Ward and Armstrong mix formalyn.
Cleaning of wannigan started. Final discussions with S216 at McMurdo Station.
7 Dec. Grab transect at Cape Armitage (87-8-1 to 6) completed at 1630 hours. Water samples for Dr Barrera taken. Cleaning continues.
8 Dec. Cleaning and sorting of gear continued. Blake and Pyne unloading sledges. Shane to McMurdo Sick Bay with fever and dehydration. 1900 hours back to final grab site (87-8-6) to demonstrate operation to VIP party (Holborow, Suggate, Taylor) and TVNZ film crew.
9 Dec. Finish packing sediment samples. Retro cargo packed for shipment (air) to NZ. Sledges unloaded, field gear returned.
10 Dec. Armstrong and Shane depart for NZ.
11 Dec. Blake and Pyne assist S216 (Dunbar) to set sed trap at Erebus ice Tongue. Ward takes K042 cargo and baggage to Hill Cargo, finishes personal packing.
12 Dec. Ward and Pyne depart for NZ.
14 Dec. Blake departs for NZ.