day with unworkable weather. Well-earned rest and catch up of
geological notes, needed sleep and hot, tasty baking means that we are
ready for more tomorrow - although the forecast isn't too good for the
weekend for the moment. Moderate winds around 20-30mph which is nothing
special, and nothing compared to past weather systems here, but with
snow added in it makes what is quite stationary work pretty uncomfortable.
Danny and Tim had also planned to recce the route to our fuel and stuff
cache that was left last year but with no contrast and snow this isn't
possible. As much as we trust our amazingly detailed satellite
pictures, we need good contrast to check out new routes so we can see
the crevasses and check anything suspect out before driving over them
with 300kg skidoos and heavier sledges! We rope the unit of skidoos and
sledges together to offer a little extra protection, but avoidance is
better than dealing with a crevasse fall on a skidoo.
Almost finished in this area, we have a few more days to do here before
moving to camp two - near Mount Avers, 20km or so along the range to the
west. Moving camp is not a quick or easy affair, it will involve one
recce and at least two fully loaded journeys to move everything we need
to the new site. We have to dig out our 5 tents and buried food here
and then dig them in again at the new site. Digging the tents into the
ground a little offers a lot more protection from the wind when it comes
than piling snow on the valences - added snow is much more likely to
blow away than the ground surface itself. Hopefully.
So here we are, sitting in the endurance tent, Chris measuring bits of
tape, Fawna about to wash her golden locks of hair, Danny in his scott
tent "reading", Tim I eating cheese and Tim B typing. Another hard day
at the office.
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