In the operating area around station we routinely travel between the station itself and various field huts where we either base ourselves for field work or take the opportunity to get off station for a little R&R. The huts are very basic but they do afford protection from the weather and the chance to be away from the hum of the powerhouse and the grind of station life.
Of course in Antarctica there are no roads and travel between the station and the field huts needs to be undertaken via routes that have been well established as safe and efficient. Current navigational technology allows us to follow way pointed routes using the vehicle based GPS (or handheld ones as back up or on quad bikes). Whilst this is very convenient, it is important to actually mark the routes with physical objects. Firstly, having an appropriate physical way point allows us to additionally use radar to navigate in difficult conditions. But perhaps even more importantly it’s great to have something that you can actually see. In a complete whiteout, even though the GPS says you are where you should be and the radar says there is something there where it should be, there is nothing like being able to see a stick in the ground that tells you that you are on the right track.
And this brings us to cane line maintenance. Every route from the station to field huts and beyond is marked not only by GPS tracks but also physical canes stuck into the snow and ice. These canes, when placed, protrude two to three metres above ground. Most have tin cans attached to them to allow them to be picked up by radar and some have red flags that are visible both during the day and at night. Depending on the terrain and the straightness of the track, these canes may be placed every several hundred metres or even more frequently.
Unfortunately, over time the canes become buried in snow and ice or get blown over and destroyed and it is important to have a regular program of maintenance to keep the cane lines serviceable. With the rapidly approaching summer, bringing with it better weather and an influx of expeditioners, we have been attending to our cane lines around Casey over the past few weeks.
Last weekend, Dan, Mike and Sheri did some work on the cane line from station out to Jack’s Hut which lies on the moraine line to the north of station. Jack’s Hut is famous for having the toilet with the best view in the universe. It is only an hour from station and shares part of the route with that to the Casey ski landing area and with the closest hut to station, the Wilkes Hilton.
In the previous week Cam and Misty recaned the line from station to Robbo’s Hut and next weekend we hope to sort out Wilkes. That will only leave Browning Hut to do and with the wildlife starting to come in and the views of the Vanderford Glacier to be had, it is unlikely that any trouble will be had finding volunteers for that job.
