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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1971-72: VUWAE 16

PREPARATIONS FOR VUWAE 16

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PREPARATIONS FOR VUWAE 16.

In late February 1971, Askin and Barrett, who had just returned from the VUWAE 15 expedition, and Kyle prepared a proposal containing two independent programmes for submission to the March meeting of the Ross Dependency Research Committee (RDRC). Both programmes were approved and passed on to Antarctic Division, D.S. I. R. The programmes were summarized thus:

Two parties are proposed for VUWAE 16. Proposal A is for a four-man party to study the McMurdo Volcanics and basement rocks in a small area on the eastern edge of the Evans Neve, north Victoria Land. The area can be reached only by C-130 Hercules but it may be possible to combine with Dr. Laird's DSIR party for this. Field time is approximately two months.

Major requirements from Antarctic Division are:-
  • field leader
  • 2 motor toboggans and 3 sleds
  • 2 tents

It is also proposed that two of the men spend the last month of the season on studying the volcanic rocks of Mount Discovery with helicopter support.

Proposal B, which is for a project quite independent of Proposal A, is for 6 personnel to study Beacon and Ferrar rocks just west of the Dry Valleys, between the Skelton Neve and the Mackay Glacier. Seven localities will be reached by helicopter and one area by Hercules. Field time will range from about one to two months.

Major requirements from Antarctic Division are:-
  • 1 assistant (Nov. 20 - Dec. 3)
  • 3 tents
  • 2 motor toboggans and 3 sleds (Nov. 22 - Dec. 15)
Requirements for both parties (total requirements):-
Food - 24 boxes
Petrol - 210 gallons
Hercules time - 14 hours (5 flights)
Helicopter time - 54 hours (15 flights - 24 hours close support).

The expected official government approval for the New Zealand programme, normally given in May, did not come, and it was not until late June that Government's decision to cut the entire field programme was made known. However, after several representations from RDRC, a reduced programme from Waikato and Victoria Universities was allowed.

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In the meantime Antarctic Division had not been able to obtain a field leader with Antarctic experience for Kyle's north Victoria Land programme. Dr. Laird, N. Z. Geological Survey, who had had two season's sledging experience, and had planned work in a nearby area, was approached, and agreed to lead the party. However the planned time in north Victoria Land was reduced to five weeks and Kyle's work on the volcanics around McMurdo Sound was extended.

The Beacon project was reduced to a party of four for a field season of two months, though substantially the same programme was planned. The final schedule for both programmes was submitted in mid-August after many changes. In addition a table of flight requirements, weights, destinations and dates (Appendix I), and a table giving the exact latitude and longitude, map elevation and surface conditions of each proposed landing site were submitted to Antarctic Division along with the programmes. Details of programmes and logistic support were then discussed with the Scott Base Leader, Mr. Barker, and Mr. Thomson, Antarctic Division, just before and during the training week at Lake Tekapo in late August.