9 Weather

Weather details are outlined in the diary. Overall, it was not good. Temperatures were low, ranging from −15° (rare), to −27° (more common). Both at the Table Mountain and Mt Feather sites we were plagued by mists rolling in most afternoons. Contrails effecting the performance of Gentle 15 prevented our move from Table Mt to Mt Feather on Tues 22 Nov. The next day cloud was closing in and contrails were appearing on the second trip. Our move from Mt Feather to Mt Crean was likewise aborted on 29 Nov when Kiwi 03 was delayed by mechanical trouble and by the time they arrived the cloud had rolled in. On the following day (Wed 30th), Gentle 12 arrived at 1020, ferried two to Mt Crean, arrived back at Mt Feather at 1130 and was only just able to collect the rest of the party before the cloud descended.

We had two storms with winds exceeding 50 knots. The first was on Thurs 24th at Mt Feather the second was on Mon 5th Dec at Mt Crean.