Hello from the ice
By SGT R Forbes
I am currently deployed on Operation Antarctica attached to Antarctica New Zealand, in one of four Communications Operator roles for this summer season at Scott Base. The role involves providing a 24-hours-a-day listening watch over all the scientists and base personnel moving around the Ross Dependency area. This can be base personnel moving from Scott Base out to Phoenix ice runway on a cargo run, or keeping track of the Traverse Team as they transit via Pisten Bully to the Kamb Ice Stream over 1000km away through patches of heavily crevassed terrain.
Before leaving we completed Antarctica New Zealand pre-deployment training. This included scenarios in their fire training building, crawling through pitch-black, narrow tunnels geared up with a breathing apparatus set. We training to deal with vehicle fires and chemical spills in the labs.
The view from the Communications Office window is incredible, in the foreground you have the pressure ridges from the sea ice being forced against the shore line. This causes them to rise up 3–4m in the air forming a wall-like fence of jagged ice. Just over the pressure ridges sit all the local Weddell seals with their pups, which have been appearing since mid-September. In a couple more weeks the chunky pups will be getting weaned. Looking due-south over the McMurdo ice shelf towards White and Black Island, is our giant weather rock Minna Bluff. If Minna Bluff disappears in low cloud, chances are high that its heading straight for us.
The staff at Scott Base provide support for all the events and scientific parties. We get to meet people that are very passionate about their fields. There is one group of scientists who are transiting around the McMurdo Sound studying the movement patterns of Weddell seals, and how their underwater movements are linked to their food distribution. There is also the Antarctic Heritage Trust, which is carrying out the world’s largest cold climate heritage conservation project, they are carrying out restoration work on Hillary’s Hut, Shackleton’s and both of Scott’s Huts.
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to help them dig out all the snow that had accumulated around the back of Scott’s Discovery Hut. When we finished we were treated to a tour by the AHT members, it was inspiring to hear and see the incredible level of detail they go to conserve these huts for future generations.
Life here at Scott Base, is what you make it. There are plenty of recreational activities that can be done in your down time to keep yourself busy. There is a flagged walking route through the pressure ridges that will take you through the jagged formations of sea ice, past the Weddell seals and their pups and loop back around onto Scott Base. You can also help out the event personnel or Scott Base staff with some of their odd jobs that need completing. I enjoy going into the kitchen and baking 10kg batches of white, wholemeal or fruit bread for the personnel that enjoy carb loading, or playing football with the Americans at the large gym over McMurdo Station.
