Monday 25 February 1974
Just before morning tea Bob Grant fell and sprained his ankle. Later in the day Ray Colliver and I drove along the South East side of the Hut Point Peninsula and located a good route by which to drive up onto its spine. This will give us a good start in our attempt to find an overland route to Cape Evans later in the week.
About midday Uglin, the second bitch of breeding age, had one pup. Either she ate the others with the afterbirth or they are yet to come.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 12 knots Temperature -15.9°C
Tuesday 26 February 1974
During the night Uglin had seven more pups. Clearly they cannot all survive but Mike Wing doesn’t seem very sure of himself when describing his programme for their care.
Garth Cowan and Stuart Clarke went to Arrival Heights to rectify a fault in the all-sky camera motor. At eleven o’clock Stuart rang to say the truck was stuck in a snow drift. Bill Johnson pointed out that they were equipped with a shovel and, as a concession, said he would ask Ray Colliver to put two lunches to one side. They arrived back at 1300 hours. Bob Grant’s ankle doesn’t seem too bad. He continues to work on toboggans. Bill Johnson took time out from sealing chinks in the Base to rectifying air locks in the fuel system to the range and kitchen diesel-beck. Chris Wilkins is still repairing the vacuum cleaner. The Post Office is experiencing faults with both its transmitters and its teleprinters. This is keeping Les Walker busy but although Titch Gibson has as many radio schedules as ever, the volume of traffic has fallen to the point where he can cope.
By midday Uglin had a ninth and, hopefully, final pup. Three have died and we are now left with three males and three bitches.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 14 knots Temperature -15.6°C
Wednesday 27 February 1974
Today Ray Colliver, Stuart Clarke, Les Walker and I were to survey the early stages of an overland route to Cape Evans. However when I awoke the temperature was -20ºc and there was a 20 knot breeze from the North-East. Conditions for travel were not impossible but visibility was so poor that we would have had difficulty in plotting our exact position. Accordingly I postponed the departure.
Two of our last litter became very cold and weak but were revived with a hot water bottle and eyedropper of milk.
I spent an hour before lunch discussing various possibilities for co-operation with Bill Sutherland the US commander at McMurdo. Then I made a start on assembling my heat machine. Bill Johnson reported seeing a small green man looking into the Base incinerator. Although this is an unconfirmed sighting at this stage Bill believes these little men will be seem more often as winter closes in
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 20 knots Temperature -16.8°C
Thursday 28 February 1974
Another of Uglin’s pups (a bitch) has died. Most of the ice strip has now broken out. The trip along the Hut Point Peninsula has been postponed first because of weather and then because of a signal from the Superintendent which instructed me to leave either Bill Johnson or myself out of the group. A later signal instructed me to give the heat machine project high priority and defer any personal field trips.
Hut Point Peninsula on Ross Island
Bob Grant continues to overhaul toboggans. Chris Wilkins has finished the vacuum cleaner. Mike Wing and Garth Cowan took the dogs for a run to Williams Field. Bill Johnson spent the day doing routine paper work and sorting drills and taps. Tony Atkinson changed over the wind direction indicator in the laboratory. Stuart Clarke sorted out developing chemicals. Otherwise normal laboratory routine.
I am worried about the Superintendents interest in the heat machine. The more I work on it the less faith I have that it will run for long enough to produce any results. If anything optimistic gets into the press we will all look silly.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 13 knots Temperature -16.2°C
Friday 1 March 1974
With colder temperatures Bill is experimenting with air reticulation alternatives in an attempt to maintain the engine room temperature without cutting off heat to the garage. Chris Wilkins wired up the seal meat thawing wannigan. Otherwise normal maintenance routine. The weather has become colder but seems to be clearing. The forecast, however, is for a deterioration in conditions. Stuart Clarke went to Arrival Heights.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 14 knots Temperature -20.3°C
Saturday 2 March 1974
Bill Johnson, last night’s late mouse, spent the early hours of this morning rectifying a blockage in the Shacklock range. During the night another of Uglin’s pups died. We now have three dogs and one bitch left.
At 1000 hours, having received no prohibition from the Superintendent, I dispatched Ray Colliver, Stuart Clarke and Les Walker in the SnoTrac along the spine of the Hut Point Peninsula.
I am continuing to work on the heat machine. We celebrated Bob Grant’s birthday with wine but cake, in Ray Colliver’s absence, was beyond the mice. Late in the evening Mike Wing and a number of helpers moved Uglin into the Garage Cold Porch.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 20 knots Temperature -21.8°C
Sunday 3 March 1974
We awoke to a fairly strong wind. The Cape Evans party is snowbound on the 500 metre, contour and visibility, even around the Base, is obscured by drifting snow.
Bill Johnson spent the day patching drift snow leaks around the huts. Mike Wing had a normal day looking after the dogs and I worked on the heat machine. Everyone else had a morning in bed and the afternoon off.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 30 knots Temperature -20.7°C
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