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REPORT ON THE SIXTH VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION, 1962-63
INTRODUCTION
A Victoria University of Wellington Antarctic Expedition was again mounted in the 1962-63 summer to carry out investigations of ice free regions in the vicinity of the Darwin Glacier, about 175 miles south of Scott Base (see fig. 1).
Finance:
Financial aid for the expedition came from -
University Research Grants Committee
University of Wellington
National Science Foundation of America which supported
Dr. Rich and Mr. Smith.
Personnel:
- I.A.G. Willis, Temporary Junior Lecturer, Geology Department, V.U.W. (Leader).
- Dr. C.C. Rich, Professor in Geology, Bowling Green State University, Ohio, U.S.A. (Deputy Leader).
- T.R. Haskell, Senior Geology Student, V.U.W.
- J.P. Kennett, Senior Geology Student, V.U.W.
- W.M. Prebble, Senior Geology Student, V.U.W.
- G.J. Smith, Senior Geology Student, V.U.W.
The personnel formed two distinct teams; one geological (I.W., T.H., J.K., W.P.), this team operating as two-man parties, and one glaciological (Dr. Rich and Mr. Smith).
As a safety factor and for a greater "social life", the parties camped together whenever possible, and where this was not possible contacted each other daily by radio.
PLANNED PROGRAMME
After a reconnaissance of the Brown Hills and lower Darwin Glacier by Professor R.H. Clark and Mr. R.H. Wheeler in October 1961 it was decided to send an expedition into this region. It was planned that the expedition would map the Brown Hills (200 sq. miles) and then sledge (man-hauling) across glaciers to Darwin Mountains (200 sq. miles) and/or Tentacle Ridge (90 sq. miles). This was expected to occupy the 8-10 week field season. In case the glaciers could not be crossed the Taylor Valley (600 sq. miles) was considered as an alternative area to be mapped after Brown Hills.
As well as geological mapping and a glaciological study the expedition planned to collect botanical and zoological specimens wherever possible and take Meteorological records.
PREPARATION
As the expedition was working further south and at higher altitudes than previous Victoria University parties, it was decided to outfit it with new equipment. (Most of the gear held by the university has served at least two seasons in Antarctica.) This year, for the first time, the larger part of the grant was allocated to Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R., and most of the equipment, clothing and food was bought through them. Antarctic Division also loaned the expedition a considerable amount of gear thus helping to keep the cost to the University down.
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ACHIEVEMENTS
Reports summarizing the various fields investigated are given later.
Geology:
The expedition mapped the Brown Hills region - this taking less time than allowed for as the geology was less complex than expected. As the party could not sledge across to Darwin Mountains or Tentacle Ridge, air support was asked for to allow the mapping of Darwin Mountains.
Due to the short length of time required in the Darwin Region it was decided to map Taylor Valley as well this season. As well as dealing with Taylor Valley itself the expedition spent a few days at Marble Point, a few miles north east of Taylor Valley. This work completes the detailed coverage by V.U.W.'s Antarctic Expeditions 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the "McMurdo Oases" - a largely ice-free region stretching from the Koettlitz névé north to McKay Glacier, an area of about 3,000 sq. miles.
Biology:
Numerous samples of lichen and algae were collected from the Darwin region, and lichen, algae and moss from the Taylor Valley. Also collected from Taylor Valley were several species of "mites" and "springtails" and from along the coast samples of marine life.
As previous V.U.W. Antarctic Expeditions have also collected lichens, algae and moss and after handing them over to "interested" people outside the University have, in most cases, not received any indication that any work is being done on them, members of this year's expedition intend to do their own research work as far as possible, and at least publish a preliminary note on their findings.
Meterology:
Unfortunately, due to an accident while unloading a Globemaster, the expedition's Barograph and Thermograph were smashed, so no continuous records could be obtained.
Gravity:
Dr. Colin Bull spent five days with the expedition in the Taylor Valley, during which time he did a gravity traverse of the valley. (See report later.)
NARRATIVE OF ACTIVITIES
Dr. Rich and Mr. Smith left New Zealand on 10th November, a week before the rest of the party, and were present on a reconnaissance flight which found a ski landing site on the western side of Brown Hills. (Helicopter support could not be used as on previous expeditions as the area was outside helicopter range.) The party was flown in to this landing strip in two ski equipped Dakota flights on November 22nd. It was decided to sledge the gear around Bastion Hill and establish a base camp in a large valley N.E. of Bastion Hill. This was accomplished on the 23rd and 24th. From this base camp the parties radiated out doing their respective work.
After a careful look from Bastion Hill at the routes from Brown Hills to Darwin Mountains and Tentacle Ridge, it was decided that the crossing of the glaciers was definitely out for a Victoria University expedition. Ait support to take the geologists to Darwin Mountains was asked for and granted. The geologists having finished work in the Brown Hills returned to the landing site on Dec. 10th to cross to Darwin Mountains. However, bad weather delayed the flight for ten days during which time the glaciological team also finished their work in Brown Hills, and this allowed the expedition as a whole to be flown by Dakota to Darwin Mountains on December 20th, where they worked until December 28th when they were flown back to Brown Hills.
A few days were spent celebrating a belated Christmas, packing up base camp and sledging the gear back to the landing site to be taken back to Scott Base. The expedition arrived at Scott Base on 1st January.
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On the 2nd January Messrs. Haskell and Prebble with Dr. Colin Bull (Leader VUWAE 2, Deputy Leader VUWAE 4 - now at Ohio State University) left by helicopter for Taylor Valley and established a camp at the western end of Lake Bonney. This also served as a reconnaissance flight to determine sites for food dumps. Messrs. Kennett and Smith flew in on the 3rd and Dr. Rich and Mr. Willis on the 5th.
Four food dumps were established with helicopter support at approximately 10 mile intervals along the valley between Solitary Rocks to the eastern end of Lake Fryxell. The expedition worked from west to east along the valley, retracing their steps as little as possible.
Dr. Bull spent five days with the expedition doing gravity and glaciological work. This reunion with Dr. Bull was most unexpected and was enjoyed by all.
The expedition was lifted by helicopter from Lake Fryxell to Marble Point on 16th January and the next four days were spent doing geology, glaciology and collecting marine organisms in this region.
The expedition returned to Scott Base on 20th January.
Dr. Rich and Mr. Haskell flew back to New Zealand while the remainder returned on January 28th.
RECOMMENDATIONS
| 1. | The expedition should comprise 4 or 6 men rather than 5. For safety reasons it is necessary to mostly operate in pairs and in a 5 man expedition one party has to operate as 3 men, which is very cumbersome both in the amount of equipment needed when `fly-camping', which is virtually the same as that needed for four, and in the overlapping of efforts during day trips. The amount of country covered this season was largely due to being able to operate as three 2-man parties. |
| 2. | The use of Mead tents. These were found to be superior in many respects to those used before. |
| 3. | The use of double sleeping bags. These greatly add to general comfort when working in the colder areas. |
| 4. | A solid, preferably steel, case to lessen the high breakage rate of sunglasses. |
| 5. | Expert fitting of crampons. Seven out of twelve crampons supplied new to VUWAE 6 broke due to poor fitting and shaping by a reputable South Island alpine sports centre. This could have been easily remedied had the supplier bothered to give a few instructions on fitting them. This is the only complaint regarding gear supplied but we feel that it is a very important one as apart from inconvenience, lives could be at stake if a crampon broke on an icy slope. |
THE FUTURE
The successful work of VUWAE 6 marks virtual completion of geological mapping by Victoria University of Wellington of the known ice-free areas. Future large expeditions will depend on the existence of suitable areas found elsewhere in Antarctica. There is still scope for some small scale expeditions to look at specific problems and map a few isolated areas that have been inaccessible to earlier expeditions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Victoria University of Wellington Antarctic Expedition No. 6 wishes to especially thank:-
Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R. (N.Z.) for allowing us to purchase our gear through them, loan of some gear, and material help during the time of the expedition.
The services of the United States of America for air transport to and from Antarctica and especially the air support received while in the field.
Lt. Col. Ron Tinker. Leader Scott Base, for all his help and assistance given while we were in Antarctica, and for taking such a personal interest in our welfare.
Mr. Bob Mason, U.S.A., R.P. representative, McMurdo, for help and assistance.
Personnel at Scott Base, especially Messrs. Bill Goss, Guy Mannering and Graham Jackson, for their help and hospitality while at Scott Base.
Professor Clark, Geology Department, Victoria University of Wellington, who has made these antarctic expeditions possible.
- University Grants Committee for the main financial aid.
- Victoria University of Wellington for grant.
- National Science Foundation for assistance given to Dr. Rich.
- Geology Department, Victoria University, for aid with instruments etc.
- Lands and Survey for essential aerial photographs.
- University photographers for copying aerial photographs and processing Expedition film.
- Parents and friends of Expedition members for tolerating their absence and providing luxuries to aid our diet.