Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2004-05: VUWAE 49

*EVENT DIARY

*EVENT DIARY

Date	Main Activities and Location	Other Comments
18 Oct	Arrival at Scott Base
19 Oct	Full AFT training for Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss, refresher AFT for Bertler and Pyne Equipment shake-down and field preparation
20 Oct	Equipment shake-down and field preparation
21 Oct	Attempt test drilling at Windless Bight aborted due to mechanical problems of Huggland Loading the three Huggland slegdes	page 7
22 Oct	Continuing field preparation and loading of three Huggland sledges In the afternoon, Huggland is repaired and the drill is set-up at Windless Bight
23 Oct	Successful test drilling at Windless Bight, recovery of 21m core	See Fig.1
24 Oct	Attempt to traverse to Marble Point with two Hugglands and three sledges aborted due to mechanical problems	See Fig.2
25 Oct	Bertler, Pyne, Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss, McBearty, and "Doug" traverse to Marble Point Scott joins K049 at Marble Piont via helo to repair Huggland and continues to accompany the group to Cape Roberts	See Fig.2 Weather conditions are good, H3 looses vast quantities of antifreeze
26 Oct	Bertler, Pyne, Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss, McBearty, and "Doug" traverse to Cape Roberts	Weather conditions deteriorate, low visibility less than 100m, blowing snow (Fig.2)
27 Oct	Bertler, Pyne, Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss, McBearty, and "Doug" wait at Cape Roberts
28 Oct	Bertler, Pyne, Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss deploy to Evans Piedmont Glacier with two Twin Otters (total of 5 shuttles from Cape Roberts) Camp set-up
29 Oct	Drilling preparation, excavating drill pit	See Fig. 7, 8, and 9
30 Oct	Completion of drill pit preparation, start of high resolution snow pit sampling of 4m deep pit at the drill site
31 Oct	High resolution snow pit sampling, deployment of meteorological station, preparation of second 4m snow pit for geographical variability
01 Nov	Completion of high resolution snow pit sampling, deployment of mass balance devices (coffee-cans). Completion of two further snow pits (3 and 4m deep respectively) for snow density and stratigraphy measurements
02 Nov	Set-up of drill and recovery of 10m core
03 Nov- 12 Nov	Recovery of 180m deep ice core, continuing mass balance measurements, and weather station wiring and programming	See Fig. 9
08 Nov	Pick-up of two 212 helicopter (US & HNO) loads of ice core boxes (total of 22 boxes). Boxes were transferred to Crary Ice Core Freezer at MCM	Visit by Keith Springer
13 Nov	Dissembling of drilling system and light penetration measurement in the drill hole.
14 Nov	Borehole temperature measurement, preparation of cargo shipment
15 Nov	Two Twin Otter pick-up of ice core boxes to Crary Ice Core Freezer and retro cargo to Scott Base Completion of mass balance measurement and weather station programming
16 Nov	Pyne and Kingan transfer to K042 moving to Cape Roberts via Twin Otter where they meet up with Cavanagh Twin Otter transports on load of retro cargo to SB Bertler, Kipfstuhl, and Bayliss more to Victoria Lower Glacier with US 212 helo Camp set-up at Victoria Lower Glacier	See Fig.3page 8
17 Nov	Bertler, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss - set-up of base station at Staeffler Ridge (2km from camp) in the afternoon after white-out partially cleared. Snow mounts in 20m intervals were used for track marking. Transport via skies and pulk. Initiation of mass balance measurement	See Fig. 5
18 Nov	Check on base station at Staeffler Ridge, continuation of mass balance measurement, high resolution snow pit sampling at former drill site.
19 Nov	Check on base station at Staeffler Ridge, initiation of mass balance measurement at second location at VIC II (3km away from camp), completion of high resolution snow pit sampling. Investigation of second 3m deep snow pit for geographical variability in snow stratigraphy, density, and temperature
20 Nov	Completion of investigation of second snow pit. Bertler, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss move to SB with HNO (1 load). Ice core box is transferred to Crary Ice Core Freezer
21 Nov-22 Nov	Bertler, Pyne, Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss, Cavanagh-field preparation at Scott Base for deployment to Mt Erebus Saddle
23 Nov	Deployment to Mt Erebus Saddle deferred because of bad weather at destination
24 Nov	Bertler, Pyne, Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss, Cavanagh move to Mt Erebus Saddle with 3 Twin Otter loads and one HNO underslung load Camp set-up and secure cargo	See Fig. 3
25 Nov	Drilling preparation, excavating drill pit. Slow progress due very dense snow, high winds (~35knots) and blowing snow.	See Fig.7 and 9
26 Nov	Completion of drill pit, start of high resolution snow sampling at the drill site, continue preparation of drill pit
27 Nov	Completion of high resolution snow sampling, completion of preparation of drill pit. Commencement of drilling operation
28 Nov	Continuation of drilling operation. HNO drops off electric chains saw to cut ice core box storage in drill pit Bayliss suffers work painful accident injuring a finger, first aid is applied	See Fig. 7
29 Nov	Continuation of drilling operation. Bayliss's condition is not improving with increasing swelling and pain. As weather situation deteriorates we request pick-up of Bayliss. Bayliss is moved to SB and MCM hospital via PSA A-Star.	Planned visit of Minister Geoff and media was deferred due to deteriorating weather conditions at Mt Erebus Saddle.
30 Nov-02 Dec	Due to bad weather conditions all activities are aborted, with the exception of necessary camp maintenance, such as snow cover relief and secure cargo.	See Fig.6
03 Dec	Continuation of drilling operation with new time schedule, starting at 5am	page 9
04 Dec	Pyne moves to SB and Bayliss returns to Mt Erebus Saddle with HNO. Retro of ice core boxes to Crary Ice Core Freezer. Re-supply of polar tents for generator and toilet Continuation of drilling operation.
05 Dec	Continuation of drilling operation.
06 Dec	Continuation of drilling operation.
07 Dec	Continuation of drilling operation Pick-up of ice core boxes by HNO Pyne return to NZ
08 Dec	Completion of drilling operation. Achieved depth 200m
09 Dec	Down-hole light and temperature measurement, dissembling drilling system, packing cargo
10 Dec	Bertler, Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss, Cavanagh move to SB, pick-up by Twin Otter (3 loads)	As ice run way has been closed for the season, the Twin Otter lands on the sea ice in front of SB to minimise travel distance of ice core boxes and cargo.
11 Dec- 14 Dec	Preparation of cargo shipment and return of SB equipment
13 Dec	Kingan transfers to warm store construction crew
15 Dec	Bertler, Kipfstuhl, Bayliss, Cavanagh return to NZ
19 Dec	Kingan returns to NZ

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