Since our last update, we’ve enjoyed some downtime with the Easter break and ANZAC Day. Like many of you back home, we were spoiled over Easter with an abundance of chocolate and deliciously fresh hot-cross buns. A few of the team also ventured into the field, enjoying some (brief) good weather and magnificent sunset views from Fang Hut in the David Range (check out the pics!).
ANZAC Day proved another highlight. We honoured the ANZACs with a poignant dawn service, followed by a full day of traditional ANZAC Day fun including indoor cricket, two-up, and a lamb spit-roast dinner.
Operationally, our focus is currently on progressing winter work projects and completing key training. One key winter project is the refurbishment of the Rumdoodle Field Hut, located 21 kilometres from station in the Masson Range. This iconic hut has housed many expeditioners over the decades of the Australian Antarctic program, but is now in need of some TLC — we look forward to keeping you posted on the progress of this important project.
Training-wise, a core group of the team are now focused on completing advanced search and rescue training (technical SAR training) and we intend to start training for sea ice operations shortly…that is, when the sea ice is ready!
Unfortunately, the challenging Mawson weather has blown out much of our sea ice, with a lot more open water than sea ice in Horseshoe Harbour and Kista Strait! To put the weather situation into perspective, April saw another 6 blizzard days taking our season total to 16 (37 is the season average). It’s all part of the experience though — what all Antarctic expeditioners commonly refer to as the ‘A Factor’.
Kyle (Station Leader)
