Crevasse trip, Rothera

Up the snow/ice ramp from base there is a show crevasse that the field assistants (=glib term for very experienced mountaineers that look after us down here) kindly take us down every so often. This was my first trip down and despite it being an overcast day it was still spectacular down there. Some photos (some heavily processed):

 

 

 

 

 

 The ramp is getting very damp due to the warm weather. This is a stream running across the ice, collecting all the water running down the ramp.

 

The melting is increased by the dust and grit kicked off the runway by planes landing.The dark grit absorbs heat and melts several centimetres down through the snow:

Other wildlife, Rothera

The wildlife this far south isn't too varied, but there are always a few things around. A Minke Whale swam past the wharf this afternoon and Orcas have put in a few appearances, but no photos yet.

 

 Blue-eyed Shags

 South Polar Skuas. Photos taken during a survey of the breeding colony.

 Wilson's Petrel

 Leopard Seal

 Antarctic Tern

Weddell Seals, Rothera

 

The wedds are are an ever-present and ever-cute presence around the point and on icebergs (though they are more vulnerable to the Orcas on the latter). The Orcas have made sporadic appearances but no photos yet.

This was a rather sad sight, an adult (presumably the mum) was swimming round the dead pup (in the shadows top left) nudging it with its nose and flippers, trying to wake it up.

Penguins, Rothera

Some photos of the Adelies around base. They are always fun to watch (including going past the office window on occasion). They seem curious, though it is mostly just because they are short sighted and attracted to anything walking around (or oil drums). Two waddled onto the pitch during our Christmas Day football game and another did a length of the runway during the New Year's Eve 10km (5.5 laps of the runway)

 Adult around 'The Point' (a small area we can walk round, a very pleasant after dinner stroll)

 Young bird around the point

  Adelie on base, with the Bonner lab (right) and new Dutch lab (left) behind

Well, at least if two join in the football it will be fair (photo: Tim Moffat)

 Helping walk the penguins off to safety (photo: Tim Moffat)

Elephant Seals, Rothera

Some photos of the Ellies from around the base and the point. This is the first year they have regularly come onto the base but numbers have been building up on nearby Lagoon Island in recent years. They are smelly, noisy and get in the way but definitely add some fun to base.

 

 

 

Vernadsky/Faraday base call

The trip down the Antarctic Peninsula included a stop at Vernadsky, a Ukranian base that used to be the UK's Faraday base. A stop is required to service the tide gauge, that dates back to the days of it being Faraday. Good weather and a not very tight schedule (we were half a day late for Rothera and had to make it a full day) meant we all got ashore. One of the guys coming down with us to help with the gliders, David White, was especially keen to get ashore as he wintered at Faraday in 83 and 84

 David behind the famous bar, built by a disgruntled wintering carpenter who was supposed to be doing something else with his time (and wood). The Ukranians made us very welcome, with plenty of food and homemade vodka.

 Vernadsky (formerly Faraday) base

 Someof the Gentoo Penguins. There were none here in 83/84 but the population has increased rapidly as the sea ice extent has reduced along the Peninsula

The first load getting ferried back to the JCR.