Terra Firma Survey Gear Recovery via Sea Ice – Steve Wormald
Header – Cape Berteaux from the Air – Tim Christie
In November 1969 the Summer Survey party were threatened with the possibility of being cut off from Stonington by open water, so it was decided to leave the survey gear on the Terra Firma Islands and sledge south to Fossil Bluff. En route it was decided that they should recce the Mt. Edgell area and both sides of the King George VI Sound. Unfortunately the John Biscoe was unable to reach Terra Firma during the 1969/70 relief due to heavy ice, and it was therefore left to Stonington’s sledge teams to attempt recovery of the survey gear in 1970.
As sea ice had been poor all year it was decided in the winter to try and uplift the survey gear and depot it along with as much manfood and dogfood as possible somewhere on Cape Berteaux, from where access could be gained overland from Stonington via the Plateau, using the depot put on the Plateau via Sodabread.
The party spent 10 days in the field, including 2 days of lie-up, covering 120 miles, and comprised 5 dogs teams and six men:
Sledge Echo: Tony Bushell with the Komats, Mick Pawley with the Giants, Tim Christie – Surveyor
Sledge Kilo: Rod Pashley with the Picts, Steve Wormald with the Admirals, Neil McAllister with the Debs
Continuing from Stonington 1970 and Topo Survey pages…
The party left base at 0930 on August 6th, 1969, with a total load of 3200 lbs, including 25 days food and two sledge units, the Picts leading off with 400 lbs. They encountered slush and open leads near Red Rock Ridge, and two sledges overturned and got a soaking. They camped by the depot on Refuge in deep soft snow after 14.4 miles. The next day was a lie-up with snow and wind.
On August 8th, the journey re-started very slowly in deep soft, poor visibility and heavy snow, with the Debs leading. “Evil Soft” in Rymill Bay necessitated ski leading to a ramp on the Bertram Ice Piedmont, where the party camped in deep soft after crossing an open lead. 9.9 miles were achieved in 7 hours of “slow and laborious” travel.
The sledges moved away from the Bertram at 0945 the next day, back onto the sea ice with the Admirals leading, in clearing skies and, after deep soft close to the Bertram, improving surfaces. After some trouble crossing a lead near Barn Rock, the party eventually camped at the depot on Terra Firma after traveling 17.6 miles. The survey gear was collected and checked out in the tents that evening. The Honda generator was found to be seized and the batteries doubtful, but the Tellurometers seemed OK. Late to bed at 2 am.
An unwelcome 7:30 alarm on August 10th saw clearing skies, some fog patches, and -31C. After loading some additional supplies from the Terra Firma depot, the party headed for Cape Berteaux with the Komats leading. The dogs seemed really pleased to be in the sun after such a long period of miserable winter weather, and the teams raced along despite a 3800 lb total load. After almost 15 miles the party camped by the ramp, about six miles from the tip of Cape Berteaux. More survey gear checked in the evening to ensure what would be needed to be carried from Stonington for the Summer Survey.
On the 11th, a fast run to enabled the survey gear and 21 nutty, 6 manfood and 14 paraffin and all survey gear depoted in windscoop below “Deschanel False” Survey Station, information being transmitted back to Stonington for the Depot Book. There followed an enjoyable run with empty sledges back to base camp in sunshine, with the dogs racing despite -38C. 8. 4 miles for the day.
Another cold and clear day on the 12th, the sledges were now very light, enabling a fast run led by the Komats in -35C back to Terra Firma. The sea ice south of Terra Firma was thought to be the previous year’s ice. The party camped by the Terra Firma Depot at 2:00 pm after 14.8 miles, with deteriorating weather. The next day snow prevented travel, with wind blowing strongly out of Windy Valley.
On the 14th, in overcast weather, snow and some wind, the Debs led off, but the ladies were playing up and so the Admirals took over the lead. Surfaces were very poor as the party approached the ice cliffs, eventually reaching the Bertrand ramp, camping in deep soft after 18.0 miles.
On the 15th, the Komats led off across Rymill Bay on awful surfaces most of the way back to Stonington. The Giants took over the lead, in deep soft and increasing slush approaching Red Rocks. A skidoo was requested by radio and was deployed from Stonington, a most welcome sight. The party arrived tired and ready for a beer at 8:30 pm.
This was a sucessful trip in that the party recovered several thousand pounds worth of survey equipment and deposited it, and a large depot, at Cape Berteaux for summer work. The nightly weather forecasts given by Stanley Met were thankfully received and of great assistance.
Steve Wormald – GA Stonington, 1970