The Capture of Kovik – Roger Scott
Most of this story is taken directly from my diary and with contribution from Dog Holden.
In late October 1974 two survey teams and a geological party met up at the 3 Slice Nunatak depot, on the east side of the peninsular, at almost the same latitude as Stonington. One survey team of Graham Wright and Roger Scott had already arrived at the depot to join Fergy Anckorn and Bernie Care, both geologists. When the other survey team of Dog Holden and Richard Barrett arrived there was a loose dog, Kovik, running with the team. In fact, Kovik had ‘escaped’ earlier in the day when Dog and Richard were still at Cape Freeman having just measured a survey line. Dog was moving him from the night span to the main trace for travelling and got his unclip-clip sequence wrong. There was a brief moment when he was not clipped into anything. He looked up into Dog’s face and must have seen the look of horror as he realised what Dog had done (or not done), and was away like a shot!
As they sledged towards the rendezvous at 3-Slice that day Kovik ran in his place in the team but was not on the trace.
After the arrival at 3-Slice a method was devised to catch the errant dog. It is almost impossible to catch a dog such as Kovik who does not want to be caught so other ways must be tried. The main issue of having a dog loose is that he upsets all the other dogs. It is a case of ‘Look Boss he’s off and running around so why can’t we be off as well?’ So a pit was dug, covered with a Space Blanket then a light covering of snow and a piece of nutty (Husky dog food) placed into the middle of the blanket. Of course, Kovik had sat and watched all this preparation so didn’t go anywhere near the “trap” but instead nicked some food off one of the bitches.
The next day, the 20th October, none of the six teams were travelling so we decided to have a combined effort to catch Kovik. Using the very steep side of the nunatak as a backdrop the six of us managed to edge him closer to the gully where he was eventually cornered. As we closed in to get hold he retreated further and further and in the end decided to make his dash for freedom up the gully. The gully started at around 45 degrees and we did not think he could get up it but he started and scratched and scrambled his way upwards. He reached a level rocky col on the summit ridge about 1000’ above the campsite at the base. Several of us then started up the gully in pursuit but very quickly realised that it was not going to be possible in just rubber soled canvas mukluks. When it steepened to an icy 65-70 degrees that, unbelievably, Kovik had managed to scale, we baled out. It was now too late in the day for another attempt so he was left on the ridge and kept us awake all night with his howling.
The next day was overcast, not suitable for survey, so again we devoted the day to catching Kovik. This was now becoming a serious exercise. Three of us, Dog Holden, Graham Wright and myself put on crampons and with rope and ice axes prepared to go up the gully. Three others were left behind to keep an eye on the camp and other dogs. The climb up the gully was a good Scottish Grade 3 Ice (climbing term for really steep). We moved up the gully with Kovik at the top looking down and keenly watching our progress. When we got to the top of col we started to close in on him. He was on a small outcrop of rock near the col surrounded by glare ice but still made several desperate attempts to get clear. We twice had him by the leg but as we immediately lost our balance on the steep ice we had to let go. He then headed back to the centre of the col and disappeared over the far side. When he dropped out of our sight we were convinced he was a gonner, given the steepness and nature of the ground. In fact he was trapped some 40’ down on a small sloping slab of rock unable to go up or down. This slope was even steeper than the side we had ascended, getting close to vertical, and was a mixture of rock outcrops and snow gullies.
To avoid the possibility of him making another desperate bid for freedom and jumping down the slope to his likely death we decided that we would have to make our approach to him from below. I was now roped up and with Dog belaying at the top I went down the slope to one side and traversing across managed to get beneath him. Going upwards I got hold of Kovik and trussed him up with a collar, tape and rope. Dog and Graham pulled him up to the col and he was literally swinging free in space and pawing the air and snapping with fear and agitation.
The descent to the camp was one of the most spectacular sights that I have ever witnessed. It was not possible to to walk him down on the rope being icy, hard compacted snow and very steep.
Initially we led him down the gully as far as we could go but when the gradient steepened Dog stayed at the top with Kovik and anchored the top end of the rope. Graham and I descended the full 300 ft to the other end of the rope. We then fixed this end and then started to pull Kovik down. He was reluctant to go (not surprising) and was pushed by Dog the first 10’ or so to get him moving. It then all happened. He started to slip, lost control and rolled the next 100’ or so as he gathered momentum. He then started to cartwheel. It was an amazing sight. He was cartwheeling head over rear legs and bouncing off the ground every 20’ or so. He was literally airborne when he passed Graham and I and we had fling ourselves to one side to avoid being hit by an 80lb flying dog in a whirlwind of snow. He continued in the same way for the full 600’ of rope until he slithered to a halt at the bottom with the rope now taut. He lay still for a few seconds and when Fergy and Richard got to him he was already chewing at the rope, ready for the next jaunt!
Roger Scott – Surveyor – Stonington 1973 & 1974