First Rothera Winter – 1976 – Alec Hurley

First Rothera Winter – 1976 – Alec Hurley

Header Photo: Alec Hurley

Accommodation:

Completed the internal fit out of the accommodation and installed and commissioned the main generator. As the genset was next to the living area, Andy did a great job in attenuating the noise with a plywood canopy, which made it tolerable running during the day, but we normally reverted to a Tilley lamp in the evening.

Move Fuel to the Ski-way

Ready for the next field season we moved a 1,000 drums of aviation fuel to the ski-way, a round trip of approximately 6 miles from the base via a steep ramp to a ridge traverse. With good weather this was completed in 6 weeks.   

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Tractor Trip

July was mainly taken up with the Tractors and equipment delivery from Adelaide. Due to the weather and the extraction of Mary the IH from a crevasse after a mishap on the Shambles glacier this journey took 12 days. (see separate story on Rothera page)

Travelling

With the fuel drums moved to the ski-way and heavy machinery and equipment from Adelaide safely at Rothera, there was time to think of other activities. The sea ice was well set in Marguerite Bay and we took the advantage to travel and pay our salutations to the newly reopened Argentinian Base San Martin. The 13 day trip, including a 6 day lie up, proved to be a good pre-season test for the Skidoos (a relative new introduction for field trips in 1976) with lessons learned on icing carburetors and replacing head gaskets, the latter being key information for Tony Salmon, prompting a campaign of modifications of the 640 skidoos ready for the summer season.

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The trip also was a gastronomical experience, sampling 1952 vintage ‘canned’ Fray Bentos Steak & Kidney puddings at Horseshoe and Argentinian steak and lamb with Mendoza wine at San Martin. 

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We met Sledge Delta from Adelaide at Horseshoe on our way back from San Martin 24^th-25^th August and the other teams arrived at Rothera shortly afterwards, however my memory fails me on the exact details.

Last 4 dog teams arrived from Adelaide:

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Conclusion from Brian Sheldon’s Journey Report

     The reception at San Martin and the subsequent hospitality was excellent.  Col. Amilcar was the commander and his very weak English was improved by the hour.  Our miserable Spanish was flowing almost as fast as the vino.  The new hut they were building was only just habitable and only 2 Argentinians with ourselves slept in it.  The shell and partitions were up and the lights in some areas were in use powered by an emergency generator.  The central heating system was in operation and seemed very effective.  The remaining 13 Argentinians slept in huts scattered all over the island, all of these were past their best being last used 18 years ago apart from by Fids.

     Our own depot at the Debs, they are keeping indoors and assure us they will always be available.  It only consists of 5 nutty because I brought back the old manfood boxes for summer use, mostly New Zealand Nutty YUK, but in good condition.

The trip to Stonington was the first break they had been able to have and this, in super weather, was the highlight of the visit.  A public holiday was declared.

Their coal stocks were 18 years old and many hours did they spend scrabbling about amid the stones on the beach looking for it.  I offered them Stonington coal if they ran out.  The whole building program had been delayed because the roof of the new building blew off when only partially completed.

On the whole a tremendously successful visit marred only by the delay in the journey from Horseshoe to San Martin.

Argentinian flyers drop in

The assumption was that they dropped by to see what was happening at Rothera, anyway they were nice enough guys and the Captain gave us all a much needed haircut. Due to bad weather they ended up staying a couple of weeks and needed their Twin Otter digging out before they could leave.

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Ships Return

The John Biscoe arrived first with 160 tons of concrete and a team of builders. The Phase II building program had started and by the time the Bransfield arrived with the building structures, the main accommodation block footings were ready to accept prebuilt panels. As you will appreciate with the Phase II building and the summer field programs meant Rothera became a busy place.  

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With all the actively and loads of work the summer season past quickly and some of us were soon on our way home.

Alec Hurley, DEM, Halley 1975, Rothera 1976