 |
| Iceberg Alley |
Today I had set my Alarm to get up early and get the last
things – battery chargers – into the approximate boxes and bags and be fully
prepared as directed for a possible fly-off anytime after 8 am ships time.
Getting up early also allowed me to be up and running and taking pictures as we
were sailing into ice berg Alley and into the fast ice zone offshore of Davis
Station. The scenery of ice bergs grounded on shallower banks a few kilometres
off shore, the magnificent lighting of an early morning made this arrival
spectacular.
A quick breakfast, then another briefing, actually most of
the announcements came out of the loudspeakers. Priority list A people – to
meet in the starboard side lobby at 8 am sharp – fully clothed and ready for
departure – all carry-on bags to be deposited in the D-Deck cinema - … . A
typical
Hurry up and Wait situation –
fully appropriate, we all wanted to use the magnificent fair weather window and
great flying conditions for a fast transfer to Mawson Station. After the
briefing we had about half an hour time to get a few more things organised, may
grab another bite and a drink, then regroup again in the lobby. Group 1 and 2
already had left, group 3 was ahead of us in group 4. Up to the helicopter
deck, and well a small change of plans, back down and regroup in 30 minutes.
Another quick good bye’s to our fellow travellers and then it was our turn.
Survival gear on hand, a small backpack and the camera ready for departure w
stepped onto the scale, yes everything needs to be weight and recorded in the
manifest. And there we go off in the helicopter for a short ride to the sea-ice
runway a few hundred meters away from Davis Station and reaching solid ground,
stepping back onto Antarctic Soil.
 |
| Broken Ice |
 |
| Leaving Ship |
One two three four more round trips of the
helicopter and all of our luggage for the day was transferred as well. Off we
went, into the Basler aircraft, a quick flight briefing, the usual about seat-
belts and emergency exit and emergency procedures and then we took off. Further
west along the coast line, passing by some glaciers, the sun glistening on the
sea-ice and reflecting of the blue ice of the stranded ice bergs in Ice Berg
Alley.
 |
| Aurora Australis in Iceberg Alley, with heli operation in fullswing |
|
 |
| Loose Tooth - Amery Ice Shelf |
Then on the left hand side, a large white flat expanse opened up. The
Amery Ice Shelf in the south, the ice shelf edge as a thin line and flat white
all the way to the southern horizon. Excitement – to see my study area for the
past 2 years for the first time with my own eyes. Grandioso, amazing,
tantalizing – I have no words. There – the Loose Tooth – a large area of the
ice shelf which has partially separated from the mother ship through kilometre
long cracks, holding on only on thin thread. Further west the journey went
taking tons of pictures of almost the entire ice shelf edge until we entered
McRobertson Land.
 |
| Coastline |
 |
| Landing Approach |
 |
| Mawson Station |
No comments:
Post a Comment