Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1992-93: VUWAE 37

Field Equipment

Field Equipment

Two "sleepy" box sledges were used by this event. Repairs were required in the field to the part where the ski attaches to the sledge which had become damaged due to metal fatigue. This is the result of a design weakness which should be remedied in the future. The plywood sides and ends were in a poor state of repair when the sledges were allocated and should be renewed.

The field food is generally good quality and continues to upgraded each year. Living and cooking in a Wannigan means that more exciting food can be prepared than in a basic tent camp if the appropriate food items were available. Some new occasional "luxury" items could be introduced such as cans of fruit (pineapple, peaches etc.) mushrooms and other vegetables. The other suggestion is that items should be small and usefully packaged for field use, for example chicken pieces instead of whole chickens, small tins items. The new bags of lamb/ pork strips available this season is an example to develop. Some bulk items can be usefully pre processed/packaged at Scott Base, for example grated cheese in ziplok bags. More insulated containers/boxes are still needed for frozen food storage in warm areas (sea ice).

page 9

NZ1 was used for cooking and messing between 5 to 7 people. The wannigan is very crowded and the cooking area should be redesigned to provide more useful bench space, a LPG oven/ grill top burner combination in addition to the newly installed microwave. The microwave, cutlery and dishes needs to be secured better for travelling especially over sea ice. The layout of a galley on a small boat could provide a suitable model for redesign. A table in addition to the dining table still should be retained for instruments. Extra seating that doubles as inside rubbish containers are also required. Large containers (210 1 drums or plastic drums) with locking lids are also needed for cargo train rubbish handling.

A 200 mm Fin auger was used to make holes in the sea ice. the cutting edges of these augers are in need if careful machine grinding because hand stoning can't make a sharp lasting edge and new cutting heads could also be purchased.