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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1993-94: VUWAE 38

Event Diary

page 4

Event Diary

4 Dec Wizevich and Woolfe flew to Christchurch and were met (−5 PM) at NZAP clothing shed by Thornley, who arrived the previous evening.
5 Dec Departed Christchurch ∼12 PM arrived in Antarctica ∼6 PM.
6 Dec Wizevich and Thornley attended survival school, overnight on ice. Woolfe drew and prepared field gear and provisions. Woolfe joined party at 10 pm for overnight stay, and to assist in next day's training.
7 Dec Field training, including 'shakedown' of field equipment, and practice as a team. Evening event briefing. Visited Discovery Hut - a very worthwhile experience.
8 Dec Helicopter arrived at Scott Base ∼12:30 PM, arrived and put in at Table Mountain about 2 PM. Because of snow, wind and limited visibility, the proposed camp site could not be reached. Set up camp. Weather deteriorated in late afternoon.
9 Dec Reconnaissance of geology and local terrain. Walked to eastern peak (Navajo Butte) on Table Mountain, across saddle to 'Table Mountain' (western peak) and down northern slope of Table Mountain before returning to camp. In evening walked to edge of Bindshadler Glacier to look for best route for crossing of glacier next day.
10 Dec Traversed Bindshadler Glacier to Platform Spur. Route was flagged for future treks to Spur and to Sickle Ridge. Examined geology. Weather deteriorated; returned to camp across glacier at slightly higher elevation than flag route and encounter numerous 1-2 m wide crevasses on west side. Walked across lower Sphinx Valley and Navajo Butte to camp.
11 Dec More snow on ground from previous night. Further reconnaissance of Navajo Butte, Table Mount, Sphinx Valley and Centurion, a peak between The Handle (northern end of Sickle Ridge) and Sphinx Valley.
12 Dec Began measuring stratigraphic section on southern end of Table Mountain (west summit), on Columnar Valley side. Woolfe returned to camp with painful cheek area.
13 Dec Additional snow makes it difficult to examine gentle sloped outcrops. At same Table Mountain location, studied section higher up stratigraphically, where the rock faces are near vertical and thus not covered with snow. Woolfe remained in camp.
14 Dec Continued measuring stratigraphic section on upper part of Table Mountain (west summit). Woolfe remained in camp.
15 Dec Reviewed work to date with Woolfe, who returned to camp at noon. Continued measuring section on upper part of west summit. Weather deteriorated (−20 knot wind) in afternoon. Finished early.page 5
16 Dec High winds (up to 30 knots); remained in tent for day. Much snow removed from outcrops.
17 Dec Woolfe returned to Scott Base for medical reasons. Returned to lower part of Table Mountain section.
18 Dec Snowed heavily during previous PM and continued lightly throughout day. Most of the outcrops are again covered in snow. Started section along vertical cliffs on northern side of Navajo Butte.
19 Dec Returned to northern side of Navajo Butte and finished measuring available (vertical) section. Began measuring new section on (upper) south side of Navajo Butte. Light snow fell all day.
20 Dec Returned to southern side of Navajo Butte and continued measuring section. Light snow fell throughout day.
21 Dec Returned to south side of Navajo Butte and finished measuring section. Light snow fell all day. Woolfe left Antarctica for Christchurch.
22 Dec Walked along SE Navajo Butte, noting areas for future work, through Sphinx Valley to Centurion. Measured short section. Snowed all day.
23 Dec Returned to Table Mountain (west summit) and continued measuring stratigraphic section on upper part of steep (subvertical) exposure .
24 Dec Visited by Santa; requested wind to blow snow from outcrops. Began measuring lower part of section on north side of Navajo Butte. In late PM, winds increase to 20-25 knots. We believe in Father Christmas!
25 Dec Inspected lower Table Mountain section; still had considerable snow. Returned to northern side of Navajo Butte and continued measuring section. Strong winds (probably <30 knots) during PM.
26 Dec Winds continued in AM, but diminished in early PM. Returned to northern Navajo Butte; work went slow in moderate wind and cold.
27 Dec Returned to lower Table Mountain section. Outcrop visibility vastly improved. Continued measuring stratigraphic section.
28 Dec Returned to lower Table Mountain and continued measuring section.
29 Dec Returned to north side of Navajo Butte and in PM returned to south side of Table Mountain section. Continued measuring sections.
30 Dec Thornley evacuated to Scott Base for medical exam, returned same day. D. McCarthy joined party while Thornley was away. Strong wind (20 knots) in AM, got stronger (∼40 knots) in PM. Remained in tent for day.
31 Dec Continued to measure section on north side of Navajo Butte.page 6
1 Jan Same as previous day.
2 Jan Spent AM finishing section on north side of Navajo Butte. In PM returned to Table Mountain (west summit) to also finish section.
3 Jan Started to measure section on (lower) south side of Navajo Butte.
4 Jan Detailed reconnaissance of SE side of Navajo Butte. Examined New Mountain Sandstone in Sphinx Valley area, recorded paleocurrents and observations of trace fossils and sedimentary structures. Determined outcrop in Sphinx Valley was not sufficient for detailed study.
5 Jan Finished measuring stratigraphic section on south side of Navajo Butte. Started measuring series of smaller sections on SE side of Navajo Butte.
6 Jan Finished measuring series of sections on SE side of Navajo Butte.
7 Jan Measured section on SW side of Navajo Butte. At 10 AM, 12 and 2 PM hiked to top of outcrop (Mt Newell repeater is N of Table Mountain) to communicate with Scott Base regarding visit by Distinguished Visitors (DVs). Visit delayed (until following day) by bad weather at Base.
8 Jan Visit from DVs (scientists in influential positions) enjoyed by all. Requested from SENZREP additional helicopter time at pull out, in order to sample rocks at Platform Spur and Sickle Ridge. Started and finished measuring a section between Navajo Butte and west summit.
9 Jan Traversed SE side of Navajo Butte and traced beds between series of sections measured earlier. Recorded additional paleocurrents and observations of trace fossils and sedimentary structures in Sphinx Valley. Climbed up Centurion, sampling sandstones for petrographic analyses, and then up The Handle for samples of Ferrar Dolerite. Hiked along ridge towards NE terminus, dropped down to Columnar Valley. Crossed Valley to base of Table Mountain, sampled lower stratigraphic units and inspected lower New Mountain Sandstone for future study.
10 Jan Finished up loose ends on several sections in the Navajo Butte area.
11 Jan Climbed down to Columnar Valley to finish remainder (lower 30 m) of stratigraphic section at Table Mountain.
12 Jan Traversed NE side of Table Mountain to examine lower units of the Taylor Group. Recorded paleocurrents and observations of trace fossils and sedimentary structures; collected samples for petrographic study.
13 Jan Spent day re-examining the stratigraphic sections that we have studied. Collected samples of concretions for Woolfe to study.
14 Jan Winds in AM about 15-20 knots. G. Avery put in to help collect flags (placed 10-12-93) on Bindshadler Glacier, and sample rocks on Platform Spur and Sickle Ridge. Party traversed glacier as weather deteriorated page 7 (wind >40 knots). Helicopter picked up party on Spur. Studied Spur from air, decided sample site could not be reached without ropes. Sickle Ridge covered in clouds, no attempt to reach. Weather deteriorated further, pilot decides to retrieve some of camp gear and head back to Scott Base. Met with SENZREP and Operations Officer and decided to retry sampling and to retrieve equipment on Monday. Showered.
15 Jan Formally requested additional helicopter time.
16 Jan Played American football and beat the Yanks at their own game!
17 Jan Helicopter moved Thornley, Avery and B. Jenks (rock climbing expert) to Platform Spur to sample. Wizevich flown to Sickle Ridge to sample. Wizevich returned to Table Mountain; photographed outcrops and retrieved camp. Picked up party at Spur and returned to Scott Base.
18 Jan Wizevich and Thornley returned to Christchurch.