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. |