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

Event 13

page 14

Event 13

One dog sledge and one combination Nansen sledge were used on the Royds trip. Both had sledge tanks. No problems or breakages occurred. The same dog sled was taken into the Taylor, no transport difficulties were experienced in helicopter loading despite the difficulty in keeping the sledge runner away from the lugs projecting below the helo cabin, and keeping the handlebars clear of the ground when landing. At Depot Nunatak we also obtained the red sledge with the brake from Event 12. The dog sledge had both brake and keels although the keels were not used on the hard glacier ice.

The only repairs necessary were to replace the lashings and straighten and lighten the bolts on the brake bars. Brakes received extensive use because of the amount of downhill travel. Rope brakes fitted on the rear sledge were used for brief spells but have a very short life and were conserved carefully. Sled tanks were used with both sledges, one required the patching of a tear at the Beacon Valley.

(c) Air transport to, from and in the field was provided by U.S. Navy helicopter.