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Victoria University Antarctic Research End-of-Season Report 1995-96: VUWAE 40

29 - 31 October

page 2

29 - 31 October.

A cargo train traversed SB to CR over this period taking just under 26 hours travelling time. Personnel accompanying it were Pyne, Ridgen, Caulder, Walton, Knox and Davis. The Train was made up of: Hagglunds H28 and sledge, Kassbohrer PB 170 and Caterpillar bulldozers D6LGP and D5LGP which between them towed eight sledges. The sledge cargo was three Accommodation Containers, NZ9, NZ1, NZ3, NZ7, ASV, four Skidoos, the prefabricated 'wannigan vestibule', fuel tank and many other miscellaneous items like timber and tools. The sledges used were one German Aalener lOt, the purpose-built crack bridging sledge (a very useful load carrier as well), three Mitchell-designed rigid sledges, the SB Oskam sledge (returned to SB later) and three Cantago sledges. At Marble Point they left temporarily left NZ9 and picked up one of the German fuel sledges.

The party used the prepared American route to Marble Point and then navigated by the established waypoints. Even with the benefit of the helicopter reconnaissance deviations were necessary to bypass rough ice not often visible from the air. A 20 km long iceberg locked into the sea ice from Dunlop Island to the Debenham Glacier Ice Tongue forced the party to traverse to the seaward side of it. The party overnighted off the Bowers Piedmont Glacier. Overall the route was a very good and safe one.