Field Transport

Helicopter support was the only field transport required for our expedition. Unfortunate circumstances led to additional support other than our basic allocation for put in and pull out. The party was transported to Table Mountain on one flight, although the helicopter was carrying a near full load. After a week in the field, Woolfe developed a medical complication and had to be evacuated from the field. Woolfe was eventually transported to New Zealand and was not be able to return. This left us without our most experienced Antarctic person, and seriously jeopardised our capacity to achieve the scientific objectives. A second medical evacuation (Thornley) nearly caused cancellation of the expedition. Fortunately, Thornley was returned the same day after being examined by the medical personnel at McMurdo Base. Dom McCarthy (Base Engineer) was sent up to assist Wizevich in Thornley's absence. The swiftness in which both evacuations (and one return) was achieved was impressive.

Because of the loss of Woolfe, we were not able to traverse glaciers and thus not capable to visit remote sites for geologic sampling. We requested the SENZREP for additional helicopter time in order to visit the locations. The additional time was granted and an experienced guide (Grant Avery, geophysics technician) was sent to accompany us. Unfortunately, our attempts were thwarted by bad weather (winds over 40 knots) and we could not complete our sampling. Furthermore, with the weather rapidly deteriorating, there was no time to load all of the camp into the helicopter. Left behind was approximately 700 lbs of equipment, including 70 lbs of rock samples that were intended to accompany the party back to New Zealand. Because the sampling was considered critical to accomplishing an event objective and because of the samples left at Table Mountain, the SENZREP and Operations Manager granted another attempt (i.e., additional helicopter time to revisit Table Mountain) before our scheduled departure to New Zealand. During the aborted attempt at sampling the Platform Spur site, it was determined that the only method to attain samples was to lower down on a rope over the edge of a near-vertical cliff face. Bruce Jenks (Field Supply Officer), experienced in rock climbing, was added to the party. On the return to Table Mountain, Thornley, Avery, and Jenks were dropped off at Platform Spur to sample on the face of the steep cliff. Wizevich was then transported up to Sickle Ridge. The helicopter pilot resolved that the locality to be sampled was ∼10,000 ft (map read <9500 ft, see discussion in Event Map section) and dropped Wizevich and a crewman (the helicopter needed to refuel at Marble Point) at ∼9,000. After sampling was completed, Wizevich was flown around Table Mountain in order to photograph the rock outcrops. Upon completion of the task, the remaining equipment at the camp was loaded. The party members at Platform Spur were picked up and we returned to Scott Base (via Marble Point for fuel).