Monday 9 September 1974
Ian Thomas attempted to observe auroral forms at Arrival Heights but was defeated by condensation on the observation dome. He needs an improved warm air blower.
I assembled the power unit of the heat machine to the boiler tubes sticking from the ice and made arrangements with the Americans for our joint trip to the New Harbour drill rig.
Bill Johnson and Bob Grant opened the hangar and got the power wagon wannigan out. Mike Wing is painting the colour code on jerrycans.
Sled mounted ‘wannigan’ (an enclosed container) on the right
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 8 knots Temperature -37.2°C
Tuesday 10 September 1974
Mike Wing spent most of the day checking every item of gear for the trip to rendezvous with Vanda. Having again got the heat machine assembled I tried to cut the boiler tubes free of ice but without success. The power pick broke through unexpectedly and before I could enlarge the hole enough to get the long manual saw through, my excavation had filled with water and everything had to be done again. However I have been able to test with CO2 that the rotor is not turning.
By means of cadging and PX purchases we have got all the goodies requested by Vanda.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 14 knots Temperature -41.2°C
Wednesday 11 September 1974
Our field party got up at 0500 hours but with strong winds and a high chill factor, after consulting with Sam Treves I decided to postpone. The problem Tony Atkinson has been having with the solarimeter has now been traced to low voltage (<240v) in the laboratory.
Bob Grant has been overhauling SnoTrac toboggans. Ian Thomas, with the aid of the maintenance staff, has now got his dome adequately heated. Kusana became very stiff in the hindquarters and must be put down. Mike Wing asked for the pistol to do the job but I would like to see the pistol returned to New Zealand so I did the job myself with the rifle. I put the dog on a short leash, tethered him to the incinerator tower and shot him through the head. Not a pleasant job but not difficult. The pistol is not necessary.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 25 knots Temperature -34.2°C
Thursday 12 September 1974
As late mouse I came on duty at 0100 hours. By 0500 hours the weather seemed favourable for our trip so I awoke the other two (Mike Wing and Ray Colliver). I was irritated when as a result of leisurely preparations we got away 20 minutes late and kept the Americans waiting. By 0800 hours we had crossed the tip of the “Dirty Ice”. At 0900 hours the tracks we had made on the 24th of August disappeared at the edge of new ice. A lead had opened up and refrozen. The Americans had undertaken to provide a coring drill but it proved to be damaged. Since the new ice could have been thin we detoured south to avoid it and reached the Stranded Moraines at 1100 hours.
By 1200 hours we had climbed the Bowers Piedmont without difficulty and by 1430 hours were at the New Harbour drill rig.
Bowers Piedmont Glacier on the mainland opposite Ross Island
We refuelled from a drum of mogas brought for us by the Americans and went on through very rough ice towards Marble Point. We were only able to proceed at walking pace and reached the wannigan at about 1800 hours. Because of the going, we had left the sledge some way behind and as we unloaded Mike suggested he and Ray go back to collect its load whilst I set up the radio and did what I could about a meal. He said he had arranged to contact the US group on a certain frequency at the same time and asked me to attend to it. I managed to contact the US group but no one else. The primus in the wannigan wouldn’t work so I could do nothing about a meal. Sometime later the other two arrived back towing the sledge. Contrary to my original decision they (Mike) had decided to press on with the sledge through the rough going. In light of what we had seen of the route on the first approach this was a reasonable decision but it was very much Mike’s normal behaviour. He persistently “takes over” and never consults. I took him in the SnoTrac up the glacier in an effort to find a place from which we could get radio contact with Scott Base and when we were on our own told him in Army terms to make suggestions by all means, but to leave the decision making to me.
Back at Scott Base the No2 Caterpillar had sprung an oil leak due to a blocked breather. Chris Wilkins acted as cook.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 25 knots Temperature -34.2°C
Friday 13 September 1974
At 0440 hours I woke with light coming into the wannigan and got everyone up. There wasn’t much room in the wannigan so it took some time to pack and get underway. I had again been unable to raise anyone at 0600 hours on the radio but I did hear Scott Base say that a polar blackout had occurred and they had heard from the Americans that we were OK. We drove across the Wilson Piedmont without difficulty and after weaving past one or two suspect areas at its inland edge finally sighted Bob Newland on a snow slope about 2000 feet up on the north face of Mount Newall. We handed over the supplies and started back within half an hour. We tied a crevasse plank behind the sledge for the descent from the glacier and after taking a few photos of ice conditions pressed on to the drill rig which we reached by 1400 hours. Refuelling we moved on again in company with the Americans and were back at Scott Base by 2100 hours. On the way we were treated to a spectacular display of nacreous (rainbow coloured) clouds. This was a successful trip. There was drama in the meeting on Mount Newall and, as always in Antarctica, potential hazard if equipment had failed or conditions worsened. Nevertheless it was not a difficult job and could easily be repeated if Vanda is again staffed during the winter.
Back at Scott Base Bob Grant repaired another 920 Caterpillar Front End Loader puncture. Stuart Clarke acted as cook.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 14 knots Temperature -37.3°C
Saturday 14 September 1974
In the morning I helped unpack. Mike Wing, Ray Colliver and I endeavoured to describe conditions at Marble Point to Lt Chris Stockwell. In the afternoon I spent more time, assisted by Chris Wilkins, trying to cut the heat machine free. Later in the afternoon I attended a meeting at McMurdo in which the Americans tried to decide what to do about DVDP, Marble Point, etc. I felt they were prepared to give up rather easily.
Pumping fuel ashore to the fuel dump at Marble Point
In the evening some of the staff attended a gambling evening in the CPO’s club at McMurdo.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 14 knots Temperature -29.2°C
Sunday 15 September 1974
The day of rest. I spent it making and fitting a duct from the incinerator burner blower to its injector. In the evening most Base staff attended a talk about Erebus by Sam Treves.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind South-West 9 knots Temperature -38.6°C
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