Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1978-79: VUWAE 23

APPENDIX 2 - ITINERARIES

page 30

APPENDIX 2 - ITINERARIES

Event 12 - Glacial Sediment studies

Oct 17	Robinson and Ross (DSIR field assistant) to Scott Base.
17-20	Preparing field gear.
21	Robinson and Ross to snoot of Taylor Glacier.
22-27	Work around glacier, on englacial debris, temperature measurements and saline discharge.
28	Robinson and Ross shift to Wright Upper Glacier.
29-30	Work around glacier; sampling englacial debris.
31	Walked Wright Upper Glacier to Vanda, via North Fork.
Nov 1	Day at Vanda.
2	Work on lake benches and glacial deposits, north side of Lake Vanda.
3-4	Robinson and Ross to Asgard Hut and Sykes and Albreich Glaciers.
	Returned Vanda Nov 4.
5	Day at Vanda.
6	Walked to Sandy Glacier, Bull Pass.
7	Robinson, Ross, (and Millington and Fraser, Vanda staff) to Victoria Upper Glacier.
7-10	Work around glacier and lake.
11	Robinson and Ross to Scott Base (Millington and Fraser return to Vanda). Barrett, Bentley to Scott Base.
12-17	Preparation of field gear, scientific equipment, vehicles and shake-down trip to Cape Royds (13/14th).
17	Barrett to Mt Bastion (helo) with K13
18	Robinson, Ross Bentley, Höfle, Grund travel to area of MSSTS Site 1 - 12 km NE of Butter Point with 2 Snotracs, 1 toboggan and 4 sleds.
19-24	Site located approximately. Lines surveyed transverse and parallel to the sea floor topography (NE and NW), each approximately 10 km long.
25	Barrett, and McGinnis and Power (K-10), arrive from Scott Base.
	Decision made to establish another transverse line 5 km NW.
26-28	Survey of new transverse line. MSSTS Drill Site 1 selected in 131 m of water. Robinson out on 26.
28	Cutting access hole begins in evening. G. Lees arrives from Scott Base by helo.
29-Dec 1	Access hole completed by blasting. Current measurements and sampling completed. Visited and sampled icebergs near Marble Point.
Dec 2	Ross, Bentley, Lees toboggan to New Harbour to locate MSSTS Site 2. Barrett, Höfle arrive later with rest of equipment.
3	Surveying, bathymetry and location of site.
4-5	Access hole cut and blasted. Current measurements and contour sampling completed. Ross and Bentley survey Ferrar Glacier front.
5-6	Late night and early morning efforts to blast hole through 4.8 m of ice at Ferrar Glacier.
6	Barrett, Grund, and McGinnis and Power (K-10) to Scott Base by helo. Alan Burt and toboggan arrive. Geddes and Lees return to Scott Base in 6 hours.
7	Bentley, Ross carry out gravity survey of Mt Coleman.
8	Bentley, Höffle sample wind-blown sediments, and two icebergs in New Harbour.
	Ross, Burt carry out gravity survey up Mt Barnes. (Burt probably gets snow blindness during day).
9	Ross, Bentley erect cairns for 1979/80 Drilling Camp.
	Camp shifted to Ferrar Glacier.
10	Work on Ferrar Glacier access hole. Several attempts made to lower grab but no success. Improvised sampler with some success.page 31
Dec 11	Burt to Scott Base by helo. (Snow blindness).
	Camp shifted to Cape Chocolate via Strand Moraines.
12	Cape Chocolate, Hobbs, Blue Glacier, Strand Moraines revisited.
13	Back to Scott Base in early hours of morning.
13-15	Boss, Bentley, Höfle at Scott Base, packing and checking gear, samples, etc.
16	Boss, Bentley, Höfle helo to Mt Fleming to join K13.

Event 13 - Beacon Studies

Nov 11	Barrett, Bentley, Christoffel, Garden, Mroczek, Pyne to Scott. Flight postponed 24 hrs).
12	Preparing field gear (Events 12, 13).
13	At 1800 hrs NZST: K12, K13 to Royds by vehicle. Field gear test, survival course, gravity meter tests and paleomag sampling.
14	Return to Scott Base.
15-16	Field resupply checked and arranged for transport.
17	Barrett, Christoffel, Garden, Mroczek and Pyne put in Mt Bastion. (Marginal conditions - high winds).
18-24	Work at Mt Bastion.
21	Resupply cancelled - weather.
22	Resupply cancelled - weather.
23	Thanksgiving Day, no helo flights.
24	Second resupply attempt of the day successful; Barrett to Scott Base.
25-Dec 2	Continued mapping, paleomag and metamorphism sampling.
Dec 3	White out - Tent day.
4	Final sampling at Mt Bastion summit.
5	1845 hrs - deteriorating weather, Richards to Bastion.
	a) Christoffel, Garden and Richards to West Beacon (see EVENT 13A).
	b) Mroczek and Pyne to Vanda. (Move to Mt Fleming postponed).
6	Mroczek and Pyne to Mt Fleming.
7-15	Initial reconnaissance; mapping and Weller studies begun.
16	Bentley, Höfle and Ross to Fleming.
17-19	Continued work, Höfle began work on Metschel Tillite.
20-24	Bentley, Mroczek and Pyne continued work at Fleming.
20	Höfle and Ross to Labyrinth on foot, Ross continued to Vanda Station.
	Höfle worked in Labyrinth.
22	Ross to Labyrinth by helo.
23	Höfle and Ross to Mt Fleming. Tent Day.
25	Christmas Day dinner.
26	Storm, tent day.
27	Helo resupply (opportunity basis) didn't arrive.
28-30	Continued work.
29	Recce to Shapeless Mt.
30	2045 hr. Bentley, Höfle, Mroczek, Ross, Pyne to Vanda via Vortex col and North Fork Labyrinth.
31-Jan 2	New Year at Vanda.
Jan 2	Ross to Don Juan Pond by foot.
3	Bentley, Höfle, Mroczek, Pyne to Mt Fleming (helo).
	Ross assisted Event 15 at Don Juan.
4-8	Continued work.
5	2045 hr Ross to Mt Fleming from Don Juan (foot).
7	Ross to Vanda. (foot).
9	Bentley, Höfle, Mroczek, Pyne to Horseshoe Mt (foot).
	Recce and mapping.
10-11	Completion of mapping and Weller description.page 32
Jan 12	Helo delay (weather), tent day.
13	Helo delay (insufficient pilots), teat day.
14	Bentley, Höfle, Mroczek, Pyne to Scott (helo).
15-17	Packing cargons, Mouse at Scott.
18	Bentley, Mroczek, Pyne to New Zealand.

Days in Antarctica	69
Days at Scott	6
Days in field	63
Travel	8
Tent days, helo waits	10
Work	45

Event 13 - Paleomagnetic Studies

Nov 11-Dec 4	(see Beacon Studies above)
Dec 5	Helo arrives with re-supply. Christoffel and Garden to W. Beacon.
	Joined by Richards. Now designated Event K13 - Bravo Hotel.
6	Reconnaissance W. Beacon section and to summit for altimeter check.
7-13	Sampling on W. and N. faces fo w. Beacon, from New Mountain sandstone outer base to Weller coal measures near summit.
13	Final sampling. Garden twists knee.
13-14	Sorting samples, packing gear, circumnavigate Beacon for reconnaissance.
15	Joined by Williams. Christoffel, Richards and Williams to Table Mt.
	Garden to McMurdo for observation on leg.
15	Reconnaissance of New Mountain sandstone and Terra Cotta siltstone on Table Mt.
16	Overhaul coring drill. Continue reconnaissance.
17	Sampled entire section to within 10 m of Kukri peneplain.
18	Return to Scott Base.
18-20	Packing field gear.
20-21	Christoffel and Garden to Christchurch (via Dunedin).

Days in Antarctica	40 (Nov 11-Dec 20)
Days at Scott Base	7
Days in field	33
Travel	4
Tent days	1
Work	28

Event 5 - Erebus Crater Studies

Dec 7	Dibble to Scott Base, with Monteath, Giggenbach (DSIR), and Tazieff France
8-9	Preparing field gear.
10	Dibble to Fang acclimitization camp, with Monteath, Thompson, Giggenbach (DSIR), Fink (L & S) and Tazieff (France).
11-12	Climbing practice, and magnetic survey of Fang.
13	Party to Erebus Observatory Hut. Install seismograph and microphone at Hut.
14	Shift geophone to site above Ice Cave.
15	Shift microphone to Crater rim.
16	Install magnetic induction loop around Crater rim. Connect to tape recorder in Hut.page 33
Dec 18	Attempted descent into inner crater.
19	USARP party (Kyle, Keys, McIntosh, Cashman) arrive from Fang.
22	Tazieff leaves for France.
23	Install steel cableway across Crater (for dropping penetration viscometer spears into Lava Lake) while Monteath and Giggenbach descend into inner crater (stopped by explosion at 1811 NZST).
24	Add nylon draw cords to cableway. (One broke almost immediately due to chemical attack and increasing wind).
25	Replace faulty geophone with spare one.
26	Magnetic induction loop broken by gales.
27	My tent blows down when 2 guy ropes fail. Repaired.
28	Cableway found to have blown down.
29	Retreived geophone and mirophone. Giggenbach and Fink's tent ripped and my tent completely disappeared in a full gale.
30	Prepare to leave. Kyle and Cashman to Scott Base. Only 1 Helo flight possible.
31	Dibble and Fink to Scott Base.
Jan 3	Dibble to Christchurch. Monteath, Thomson, Giggenbach, and McIntosh to Scott Base.

Days in Antarctica	27
Days at Scott Base	5
Days in field	22
Travel	2
Work	20

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