Log Entry No 10 - 5th Jan 08. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

We, the yacht party have just returned from a good sail up to Port Lockroy, spotting some excellent climbing opportunities en route.

Hump Backed Whales alongside.

Meanwhile the mountaineers, who are doing well, are at 65.21S 63.33W, overlooking the Summers Glacier. They are planning to push on up a particularly steep slope, today, but conditions are good so hopes are high.

Mountain camp.

You’ve probably heard quite enough from us for a little. So, now that James, Conor and Geordie have settled back into ‘normal’ life aboard, I’ve asked James to tell you about their days on the hill collecting rocks.

Andy Mills

FROM THE FIELD STUDIES PARTY.

As the Mountain Party departed the yacht bound for the plateau (hopefully), a party of three were also put ashore at Waddington Bay with the intent of conducting field studies. Dr Conor Ryan, James Annear and Geordie Taylor planned a five day stay during which they wanted to examine rock structures and samples and to start the process of glaciology sampling.

Wake up Geordie!

Initially setting up camp with the Mountain Party, Conor, Geordie and Dick Pattison set off to explore up the ridge separating the Trooz Glacier from the Wiggens, going east of Mt Hill and conducting reconnaissance for further areas of interest. Concurrently James, Steve Ayres and Louise sledged the snow sampling equipment some way up the glacier and started to drill for the first snow core. Despite their best efforts the snow depth was such that only just over 1m was collected. Better luck next time. They also spent some time moving stores for the land party up the hill.

The next day Conor and James moved camp and all their equipment up to the col overlooking the Trooz glacier at about 300m, hoping to retrieve another snow core sample the next day. Geordie lucked out as he was selected from a cast of thousands to help the land party by dragging a pulk to their high cache. This he enjoyed immensely.

James & Geordie take snow samples.

The third day started slowly with a snow sample being collected and then with the prospect of the relatively fine weather holding Conor and James couldn’t resist the lure of climbing Mt Hill, a small mountain adjacent to the col. They skied about halfway up and then put on crampons. Unfortunately after locating a couple of crevasses by the time honoured tradition of putting their legs in them, the weather became all Scottish and about 100m from the top the pair decided that discretion was the better part of valour and then enjoyed (!) a ski down, the rope and ski-skins not hindering at all.

The trio then descended to the original base camp to enable Conor to concentrate his efforts on examining the rocks making up the lower part of the ridge. However the weather had other ideas and despite a valiant attempt at bashing rocks in driving snow day four produced little in the way of concrete results. It being New Year’s Eve meant that a party atmosphere was engendered within the confines (!) of the tent and a few small libations may have been consumed, in between attempts to call friends and family in the UK.

The morning of Day Five dawned much clearer and efforts were concentrated on rock sampling and the movement of all the equipment down to the shore in preparation for pickup by MIB. Luckily much was achieved in the geological arena, with some puzzling dykes producing thoughtful looks from the Doctor!

Then the MIB appeared with Rob and the other Doctor and in two trips moved the somewhat relieved party back to mothership Discoverer.

James Annear