Hut maintenance

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This week at Mawson: 25 May 2012

Two tradies and two photographers headed out into the wilds to do some essential hut maintenance repairs. First stop was the Mt Henderson hut where the intrepid workers battled through whiteout, blowing snow and gale force winds to park the Hagglunds, unpack and enter the hut. First job on the list was the essential repairs for the toilet. Someone, somehow had broken the cosy cheeks. Chris used contact glue to stick the two sections of blue polyurethane foam together and with the addition of special silver toilet seat tape from Mitre 10, the toilet seat was ready for use. 
After the trauma and hard work of watching the sunset through the snow at 3.30pm, an enjoyable evening was had by all.
The next day after the traditional civilised breakfast of toasted bacon and cheese sandwiches, we packed up and headed over to Rum Doodle hut.
Two items were on the list for Rumy. A new window for the inside cold porch door, cause those without a head torch have been know to bumble round in the cold porch for quite some time before finding a door, whether it was the door they wanted is another question. The second job required the skill of a plumber to take out the old oven and install a shiny new one.
By dinner time the work was completed, with candlelight streaming though the window into the cold porch everyone felt safe to venture out to view the aurora. Dinner was of course, Fray Bentos pies, as that is the only way to christen a new oven in Antarctica.

Vicki Heinrich

Carpenter holding the repaired blue foam toilet seat
Extreme toilet seat repairs

(Photo: Vicky Heinrich)

Warming the carpenter's tools above the heater with the framed window on the bench
Warming the carpenter's tools above the heater with the framed window on...

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

Carpenter measuring the position of the window in the hut door
Chris measuring the position of the new window in the hut door

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

The carpenter outside the hut cutting a section from the door in order to insert the window with ice and mountains in the background
Chris outside the hut cutting a section from the hut door in...

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

The hut door with its new installed window
The hut door with its new installed window

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

Three expeditioners can be seen inside the hut when photographed from the Hut Cold Porch
Pete, Chris and Bob can be seen in the hut when photographed...

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

An expeditioners serving the last meal of 2 minute noodles cooked on the old stove
Pete serving the last meal: 2 minute noodles cooked on the old

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

The plumber disconnecting the gas supply to the old stove
Pete disconnecting the old stove from the gas supply

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

The plumber using pipe benders on the copper gas pipe
Pete using pipe benders on the copper gas pipe

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

Two tinned pies cooked to perfection with beautiful puff pastry tops in the new stove
Fray Bentos pies cooked to perfection in the new stove

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

In the foreground are the rocks and ice with drifting snow and in the background the frozen ocean and a setting sun
The great view from the Mt Hendo hut bay window

(Photo: Vicki Heinrich)

The pink sky before sunrise with a mountain in teh background and ice in the foreground
Just before sunrise as viewed from Rum Doodle Hut

(Photo: Bob Jones)

An all terrain vehilce and the green field hut in the foreground with mountain peaks dusted with snow in the background
Rum Doodle Hut with the snow dusted peaks of the David range...

(Photo: Bob Jones)

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This page was last modified on 25 May 2012.