The Long Awaited Update...

So in the past 4 weeks I haven't made any posts. The reason is simple, I've been in the field and working. Sorry for the lack of communication, but we did not have internet/telephone access in our camp and the closest connection was an 1 1/2 hour walk away. Even though the hike down valley would have been a modest one, honestly there was no time. Our crew has worked non-stop all month to complete our tunnel, sample shaft and sampling. Thanksgiving day was our first full day off since our camp put-in on October 29.

Since I couldn't have periodic updates, here's the last few weeks in photographic review (credit for all photos go to Dr. Brent Christner, TMFT Brent):

Oct. 29-31: Camp Put-In

Our camp was located on the west lobe of Lake Bonney, next to the Taylor Glacier, in the Taylor Valley. Here's an aerial photo of our site, our camp is in the lower right hand corner (for reference south is pointing up). I am sorry it's too hard to make out the details of our site; when I come home I'll show off plenty of detailed photos of our camp and set-up.

It's no small task to transport 7500 pounds of equipment into the field; here cargo is brought out via a helicopter sling load.








Nov. 1-10: The Tunnel





Before tunneling into the glacier, we had to cut steps into the melt apron to create an approach we'd use to reach our tunneling elevation.

We used electric chain saws for cutting into the glacier; here our tunnel is starting to take form.

Here is our tunnel half way completed.

Looking out from the tunnel












A look down at our work site and tunnel.







Nov. 11-15: The Pit

Once we had a tunnel 38 feet into the glacier, we opened up a room to complete a vertical sampling shaft.

Here is our shaft about 1/4 completed.








About 1/3 of the way down we found the beginning of the sediment layers we're interested in.











Once we were in heavy sediment laden ice, we switched to jackhammering to conserve our chain saw blades.









The completed shaft was 23 feet from the ceiling of our tunnel to floor of the pit.





Nov. 16 - Ongoing: Sampling

With our sampling shaft open, we are able to collect a 4 meter tall profile.

Pierre and I returned to McMurdo station on Friday with our first batch of samples. We'll probably have to run 3 more helicopter flights just to bring all our samples to station. As of Friday morning, there was 80 cm of the column left to collect. Pierre and I will remain on station to receive the samples as they come in over the next couple days. We'll repack the nearly 2000 pounds of ice for transit back to our home institutions. Once all our samples are back in McMurdo, our team will shift into packing mode; we'll close our work site for the field season, pull out our camp, and return our field equipment to the work centers in town. After that, all that remains is getting on a flight home.


So far we've had a safe and extremely productive season and we look forward to returning home earlier than we expected. I look forward to hearing from my friends and family in the coming weeks. Please, e-mail me with questions and comments!

-Tim

Field Deployment; Three Day Delay

Friday the 26th has now come and gone, and B-236 is still at McMurdo. Although it is absolutely gorgeous outside today, bad weather and poor visibility earlier this week disrupted helicopter schedules and left us with a three day delay.

In fact, after Mark and Brent's Monday reconnaissance mission to our field site was postponed until Wednesday, they got stranded with the helicopter crew across the McMurdo Sound at the refueling station at Marble Point. They returned safely on Thursday morning and despite the snag, reported a good recon and good news about our field and work sites. From the sounds of it (and judging by the photos they brought back), the scenery will be fantastic; also, and most importantly, the camp will be well suited to support our scientific endeavors.

Field Preparations

Since my last update, 'bravo 236' (our team's call sign) has been gathering and packing field equipment like mad. Our group will only be in the field a total of 7-8 weeks, but by looking at all our equipment you would think we're going our for months.

The reason for the massive amount of equipment has to do with our task of cutting a work tunnel approximately 40-50 feet into the side of a glacier. In order to accomplish our objective, we need multiple chainsaws and chipping hammers, along with generators to power them; also we need back-ups of everything so that productivity is not disrupted in our remote site. In addition to our tunneling gear, we need camping, cooking, communication, mountaineering and laboratory supplies; along with tents to cook, work and sleep in.

I am involved in the planning and manifesting of equipment prior to field put in so I'll be able to give a total weight of all our equipment we will take with us. Currently we are at about 1300 lbs and that does not include most of our laboratory supplies and food stores.

Due to the limited bandwidth, I am having trouble loading photos, but some are soon to come I promise.

Landfall

B-236 (my field team) has reached the southern continent!! Via our US Air Force C-17 flight from Christchurch New Zealand, we arrived at McMurdo station earlier this week, on Tuesday Oct 16. We are currently swamped with arrival briefings, trainings and other preparations for our upcoming deployment to the field. Outside it is a comfortable -4 oF (or -20 oC for the Canadian folks), not much wind but constant daylight. Sorry I don't have any photos as of yet. Look for more updates later this week.

Lightening the Load

It was time...

High Strung Anticipation

Hi Everyone,

Breaking News: Deployment date approaches...

Our team is currently on track to leave Bozeman, MT this Friday (Oct 8, 2007). At which time we'll enjoy a whirlwind of flights around the world landing us in Christchurch, New Zealand next Sunday. From there we have a tentative flight to McMurdo on Tuesday.

I am not sure if I'll be able to keep up regular (weekly?) posts, I'll be in the field most of my deployment without internet access at our camp. The plan is to hike down valley to the next camp and take advantage of internet access there.

As with everything in life, this site is an experiment in process...