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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1977-78: VUWAE 22

(b) Event 13

(b) Event 13

The coastal route to Cape Royds is well known, we generally experienced good travelling conditions although some sastrugi were encountered between Cape Evans and Royds. Generally well compacted snow covered the sea-ice for much of the journey. Travel on the Taylor Glacier was much more varied and demanding. We were put down at Depot Nunatak - meeting briefly with Event 12. Circumnavigation of Depot Nunatak revealed a heavily crevassed region to the North making toboggan page 15 travel somewhat hazardous and requiring much caution. Crevasses however, were clearly visible in the blue glacier ice. From Depot Nunatak down glacier to the Kennar Valley further heavily crevassed areas were encountered and travel was slow, again requiring extreme care. Below the Kennar Valley no problems of this type were encountered and between the Kennar Valley and the Beacon Valley the glacier was covered with compacted snow. Aerial photos from Event 12 and local knowledge were very useful in route finding.

The glacier margins were steep at the Beacon and Pearse making the use of ropes and prussics essential for access to the valleys, no problems were encountered getting on and off at the snout.

In the Wright Valley we were landed in Tyrol Valley between Mts Baldr and Thor and journeyed by foot down through the Labyrinth into the South Fork and eventually to Vanda. The terrain was easy and access to areas of interest particularly around the Upper Labyrinth was no problem. The next base was established on the Olympus Range beneath Mt Dido. A single Meade tent was found sufficient for the conditions encountered.

After working from this camp for several days we returned to Vanda via the North Fork of the Wright Valley. Access to the North Fork is not difficult below Mt Dido.

After Christmas we travelled via Bull Pass to a previously established camp at Lake Vida. From this camp at the west end of the lake we made several trips of several days duration, to the lower Olympus Range (Mt Cerberus) and to the Upper Victoria Glacier. Access onto the glacier was via a frozen waterfall on the south-west side of the glacier. This was the only viable access-point we found on the lower reaches of the glacier.