The Komats – Multiple Authors
Drama and Death in Bill’s Gulch – Geoff Renner – 1964
The Terrors and the Komats shared much. They had originated at Hope Bay, trained and travelled many miles in one another’s company, moved to Stonington by ship then returned oversnow to Hope Bay. They also shared a family – a litter of five ‘semi-precious stones’. Whilst Amber, Jasper and Agate ran with the Komats, Jade and her brother Onyx pulled with the Terrors. Cain was a leader of the Terrors backed by the centre-trace pairings of Jade and Nick, Kelly and Jet, Onyx and Bryn, then nearest the ‘cowcatcher’ the powerhouse duo of Mac and Coll. Where Coll lacked in IQ he made up for in grit and spirit. He was also one of the first Antarctic huskies to undergo major surgery. This was to remove a seal bone critically lodged in his intestine. The operation was successfully completed during his sea passage from Hope Bay to Stonington Island in early February 1964 – on board the RRS John Biscoe. Unfortunately, Jade was never able to realise her full potential as a sledge dog for she was killed in a harrowing accident during her maiden journey out of Stonington Island.
(Photo: Roger Scott)
In the early to mid sixties the scheduled field area for Stonington Island earth scientists was the east coast of Graham Land. The area bordered the Larsen Ice Shelf north of latitude 68° 30′ S. With aircraft support committed elsewhere personnel had no alternative but to travel and lay depots overland. A choice of two routes were known.
The safest, though longest, lay across Neny Fjord then up the long incline of Snowshoe Glacier to descend the gradual contours of Gibbs Glacier on Mobiloil Inlet. The disadvantages were the short but demanding ice foot and cliff fronting Snowshoe Glacier, and prerequisite of reliable sea ice to blanket the open and windswept waters of Neny Fjord.
The more direct route lay inland from Stonington via Northeast Glacier, then by a long and difficult haul up Sodabread to attain the plateau at almost five thousand feet. Separating the plateau from Trail Inlet on the East Coast was Bill’s Gulch. Only the foolish did not fear it….
The Komats – Neil Marsden – 1965 & 1966
Meet the Komats – A Eulogy in Doggerel
(Written during a lie-up on the Plateau – January 29th, 1967)
(All Photos: Neil Marsden)
A strong tradition exists down here, when writing reports at the end of the year,
That one should cite one’s team of dogs as far and above the other hogs
And who am I tradition to belie, and anyway falsehoods I do decry’
So disregard other false report and follow this I do you exhort.
(Although perhaps it should be stated in some quarters as biased I’m rated.)