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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1968-69: VUWAE 13

Initial Planning

Initial Planning

A visit to the Boomerang Range was proposed as part of the geological programme for VUWAE during the 1967/68 season. It was intended that the party be moved from Ross Island to the Boomerang Range area by helicopter. This operation was cancelled when it was realised that the distances and elevations were beyond the operating capabilities of the available helicopters. The programme was postponed for one year. during the ANZAAS meeting at Christchurch in late January 1963, Professor R.H. Claris:, Dr A. Wright, Dr B.C. McKelvey and Dr P.N. Webb met to discuss the VUWAE geological programme for the 1968/69 season. Dr Wright was to have led the 1967/68 visit to the area. At this meeting it was decided that, subject to their obtaining leave, Messrs Webb and McKelvey would be leader and co-leader respectively of the party, and be responsible for organising the logistics and scientific programme of the expedition.

On 1st April details of the proposed party movements, the helicopter and Hercules support required, and the weights involved, were submitted to Antarctic Division. This plan was accepted by Antarctic Division and passed on to Deep Freeze headquarters later in the year.

During the winter and spring of 1968 Drs McKelvey and Webb prepared a number of geological memoranda which summarised earlier geological work in the area between the Boomerang and Olympus Ranges, and set forth a possible geological programme for this area. These were circulated to the other expedition members.

At the request of VUWAE the U.S. Navy VX-6 squadron flew a photo trimet run along the Boomerang Range from its southern tip northwards to the head of the Taylor Glacier in the spring of 1967. These and other photographs were studied in detail before proceeding south.

Discussions were held with Guyon Warren, New Zealand Geological Survey, Christchurch, prior to our departure. Mr Warren was a member page 6 of the Trans Antarctic Expedition Northern party, the only previous party to investigate the western Skelton Névé in any detail.