This week at Davis, expeditioners underwent quad bike training that will allow them to use the quad bikes for field travel on the sea ice over winter.

Quad bike training commences

On any given day on station there are numerous activities and work being undertaken. A walk from the main living quarters to the main workshop, past the Davis Utilities Building and the field store reveals that a mechanic may be counting stock, an electrician checking on heat trace, a carpenter plastering and painting and expeditioners at the field store heading off on field training.

The sea ice is now 500–550mm thick in the recreation area, which is an area bordered by islands and rocky outcrops in an arc three kilometres distant from the shoreline. This means that travel by foot, ski, bicycle and quad bikes (specifically for training) in this area has been approved.

For some expeditioners, quad bike training offered a blue sky day, with not a breath of wind, perfect views to the plateau and out to sea. For other groups the weather was not so kind. With darkness continuing to extend into the day, training commenced in the semi-darkness with overcast snowy conditions which was how the rest of day panned out. Excellent training for later in the season when travel is likely to be undertaken in periods of poor light.

on