G.P.S'ing on Whitney Point

 
Here Phillippa walks around the edge of the colony with the trusty GPS. This data is collected every year, and from it can be ascertained whether the colony numbers are increasing or decreasing over time. Here on Whitney Point (a protected area) the numbers would appear to be staying much the same. 

Adelie Penguins at Whitney Point

 
These penguins are still maulting their feathers before heading out to sea for winter. This is why they look so fluffy in this photo. 

G.P.S'ing at Whitney Point

 
I was lucky enough last week to be given the opportunity to go out as a scientific assistant. I had to help Phillippa, our resident penguin studier go and GPS the sites where penguin colonies had been over summer. It was a fantastic day, and a great opportunity to visit a site that is usually closed and requires special permits to enter. 

More Work - Life's not one big jolly you know!

 
Here's more evidence that i am here doing a job. Here i was wiring up the new circuit breakers for the new fuel bowser. Exciting! 

New fuel bowser

 
Here's more proof that i really am employed here to do a job - in this photo i am wiring up a new diesel fuel bowser. This day was the coldest so far, but still only around -7 degrees. 

Snow on station - yay!

 

We woke up one morning last week to the excitement of a layer of snow on everything. Starting to feel like winter is on it's way! 

Browning Hut

 
This was the hut that we called home for the night at Browning. It took us roughly 3 1/2 hours to travel from station to there in a hagg. The snow that you can see swirling around the hut was because of the harsh katabatic winds that come from the pole and effect this area more than the station area. It really was cold here, which was great to finally feel the effects of Antarctica that i have been anticipating since i got here in December. 

Elephant Seal

 
It's a really hard life as an elephant seal. Lying around all day, the occasional swim. I think i could get used to that kind of life. Don't know if i could lie in my own waste all day though! 

Elephant seals at Browning Peninsula

 
Here is a group of elephant seals wallowing. They are huge, and i'd be lying if i didn't say that they smelt really really bad! 

Adelie Penguins at Browning

 
These penguins that are hanging around Browning are maulting their feathers at the moment. This means that they are very grumpy and noisy! These ones were very curious at the four passing humans as we made our way to the elephant seal wallow nearby. 

Katabatic Winds on Vandeford Glacier

 
In this photo, you can see in the middle there is haziness. This is blowing snow that is picked up by the Katabatic winds that come from the pole and blow everything seaward. Here you can see it reach the end of its travel, and deposit snow into the sea. 

Another Spectacular Sunset - Antarctic Style

 
Yet again, we were treated to a fabulous sunset out on our jolly. The Vanderford Glacier is out in the distance, and was simply amazing. 

Innocent looking from the surface

 
You would never guess that inside this slot in the snow lies the most amazing ice formations and colour imaginable. 

Clear ice at Browning

 
This is an indication of how clear the ice is that forms along the walls of the meltstream. 

Meltstream at Browning

 
This amazing looking place is in a melt stream that has been flowing while the melt was occurring during the height of summer. Now that it is cooler and not flowing anymore, what is left is a tunnel of amazing ice formations and blown in snow. Truly amazing. 

Browning Peninsula

 
While we were at Browning Hut this weekend, we spent hours walking around and exploring. The one and a half days that we had there were simply not enough. I could have explored for weeks and still found something new and exciting! 

Browning Peninsula

 
While Browning is located only about 3 and a half hours hagg ride away from station, it is a totally different landscape. It is amazing to see the rocks and hills as opposed to the flat terrain around Casey. We were lucky because it had just snowed, and looked like a wonderland. Fresh powdery snow, and i didn't have my board! 

Our Station Power Source

 
This is Generator Set 4. There are 4 generators in the main power house. Usually there are 2 running which supply enough power, but sometimes 3 run if there is a big load such as the science autoclave for example. If a generator breaks down, there are two spares in the main power house, and if there is a problem with the supply from the main power house in general, we can shift the load over to the emergency power house which contains another 2 gen sets. For the 10 days of maintenance in the main power house, the station was running off the emergency power house. 

Maintenance on Main Power House

 
Here I am working (again, i told you i was here to work - contrary to popular belief!) on the Generator sets that supply the station with its electrical supply. For two weeks, we have shut down the power house and done annual maintenance routines. At the time of this photo, we were loading up each of the four gen sets individually and taking readings to see how they were running. The whole process of this load testing took 2 days thereabouts as we had to apply a load then wait a certain time before taking the measurements. It is a very interesting process that i have enjoyed thoroughly. 

Main Power House Maintenance

 
This photo shows the Hi-Fog system getting tested. Hi-Fog is a fire suppressant system that sprays a fine mist over a fire and puts the fire out very rapidly. When we test it we hook hoses up to the nozzles so that we don't have a shower when we release the water. 

Quad Bike Training

 
Before we are allowed loose in the Antarctic Recreation Area, we have to be trained to ride quad bikes. In the training we learn the art of navigation, getting unbogged, and general riding skills (perhaps to avoid getting bogged). Admittedly it is a fun day, even though it is a training day. Someone's got to do it i suppose! 

Fred Goes Global

 
Hold on world, Fred's business is becoming a global entity - with Robbo in Okemo, and me in Antarctica, this is service to rival any international contracting company! 

Hagglunds

 
This is a photo of a hagglunds vehicle. It is extremely versatile, and quite comfortable to travel in if you like noisy, bumpy rides! 

Wilkes Hilton

 
This is the Wilkes hut where we stayed on our Tuesday night jolly. It is very large, and is unique on Australian Antarctic stations because it has a wood fired stove, which is very nice and rustic feeling! 

Old Wilkes Station

 
This is some of what is left of the old Wilkes Station. This photo shows the tunnel that used to link buildings. Some of the old station is exposed enough so as to allow entry to the buildings. Rumour has it that there is even a husky out there that becomes exposed every now and then.