Monday 26 November 1973
Today Dr Tazieff, Phillip Kyle, Lin sparks and Murray Kidd got away on an outgoing C141. Coming in was Bruce McLauchlan Post Office Technician. Steve Warder and John Shaw were unable to get back from Vanda in time to catch the plane but at least managed to get to Scott Base. John Warriner returned with them.
We have been trying hard to get cargo to Vanda but continually seem to keep missing out. Today however Gordon got away an 800lb load. It should help.
With so many people away from Base it took almost the entire remainder to fill the ice sledges. However we got that done and also held a rehearsal for our short range rescue team. The radio problem experienced by Event 2 has been traced to a faulty modulator. Apparently their tent just couldn’t take the high winds they experienced. It’s stitching has been stretched, its poles bent and it is torn.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 14 knots Temperature -12.2°C
Ration Strength 21
Tuesday 27 November 1973
This morning I was awakened early by one of the Laboratory staff. At 0230 hours Janet Crump, leader of the party at Shapeless Mountain, had awakened to the sound of laughing and crying. She looked out of her tent to see Ken Blackwood and Russell Plume on hands and knees outside their tent in the snow. The temperature was below -200C. She and Graham Rowe walked them up and down, dressed them and got them into sleeping bags. Because someone had turned the Scott Base receiver down it took her two hours to attract the attention of the mouse on duty. She did so at 0510 hours and asked for Shaun who organised a helicopter and a replacement field assistant. Both were on the way by 0700 hours. Ken Blackwood and Russell Plume were brought back to the McMurdo Hospital, treated and discharged.
In my formal statement concerning the incident I made the following comments:
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We need a series of objective tests to determine just which are the most significant factors leading to a carbon monoxide hazard situation.
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I was at fault in that my procedures required no positive check by the mouse that he could hear calling stations.
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I should have been awakened sooner.
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We need advice as to whether exercise is the best treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning and the result should be incorporated in our manuals.
We were able to get John Shaw off to Christchurch
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 13 knots Temperature -12.0°C
Ration Strength 21
Wednesday 28 November 1973
The DVDP geologists are bristling with excitement. They have found marine diatoms in the Vanda lake sediment, suggesting the valley was once a fjord and tending to prove some theories and disprove others.
I was at last able to get away to Vanda. I had intended to call on Janet Crump at Shapeless on the way and leave Ken Blackwood and Russell Plume there. Unfortunately bad weather closed in and the helo had to turn back to Vanda. It dropped Plume, Blackwood and myself at Vanda, picked up Brian Fischer, the carpenter, and returned to Scott Base.
NSF helicopter
Vanda lake ice is slipperier than wet glass but with the aid of old crampons Ian Curphey Vanda Leader and I walked the length of the lake to the drill site. The rig had gone to Don Juan Pond but I was able to have a word with one or two of the drilling crew. Meantime back at Scott Base the Survival and Rescue instructors had finished another course and returned for a few days.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 2 knots Temperature -2.7°C
Ration Strength 25
Thursday 29 November 1973
In the morning Janet Crump reported from Shapeless that the party had had further symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning mainly headaches. Accordingly I directed Shaun to bring the whole group out. Unfortunately, owning to the weather, the helicopter still cannot get to the party. Pinned in Vanda by bad weather I spent the day doing odd jobs for Ian Curphey, Vanda Leader.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 5 knots Temperature -9.6°C
Ration Strength 25
Friday 30 November 1973
Still weather bound at Vanda. I climbed halfway up the valley wall (2000ft) and then helped paint the new hut. On the radio I heard that Bill Johnson was back from Cape Bird having completed the hut cold porch. Chris Wilkins received a “singing telegram” from the Post Office on this, his birthday. John Earlie was delivered to Cape Bird by the same helo which brought Bill Johnson out.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 4 knots Temperature -9.5°C
Ration Strength 25
Saturday 1 December 1973
This morning Janet Crump, having had more troubles asked to be lifted down to Vanda for a few days. As snow had covered a lot of her work area this seemed to be a good idea. I think it was a courageous thing to do as she risks being charged with a lack of persistence and courage but lives other than her own are at stake. It gives me solid confidence in her judgment.
Shaun did his best to arrange the withdrawal but one of the three helicopters developed a transmission oil leak and was grounded. I became very concerned and got in touch with the officer in charge of helicopter operations, Tom Chider, to emphasise how important I felt it to be to get the party out. They made another effort later in the day and were successful.
In the meantime I was lifted back to Scott Base together with Chris Wilkins, the electrician. We arrived to find that a dog team race from the airstrip to the Base organised by Shaun Norman in my absence, was halfway home. On the sledge driven by the winner, Bill Whitley was Bruce Barclay, MP and Bob Miller, Chairman RDRC. Other visitors were Bob Thompson, Bob Clark, Victoria university and Colin Rudd, RNZAF. Also with the group were five members of the Italian party. Later in the evening Ross Cooper arrived back from Shapeless Mountain. The Base is now full.
Conditions at 0900 hours no wind Temperature -5.6°C
Ration Strength 38
Dog Team Race
Sunday 2 December 1973
We started the day with the usual late breakfast and then after morning tea took our visitors on a tour of the Base. In the afternoon they watched our field assistants instructing a para-rescue course. This included a parachute jump. We were unable to unite the two Event 2 parties owning to bad weather but successfully moved the Mount Crean party (John McPherson) to Aztec Mountain. The helicopter continued on a brought Rosie Kyle into the Base.
In the evening we held a function for our guests and senior people from McMurdo. The evening finished with a panel discussion which was much appreciated by those present.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind West-North-West 8 knots Temperature -4.8°C
Ration Strength 39
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