This week at Mawson: 06 January 2023

The time has flown by in the lead up to the Christmas and New Year period at Mawson. The small crew has been busy getting summer works completed, setting up the red shed with Christmas decorations, working festively away on their Kris Kringle gifts and taking advantage of the calmer weather to get off station and enjoy some of the many sites in the region. Christmas Eve started off for a few with a day trip out to ascend Mt Henderson. As we rolled into Christmas Day some of the crew managed to speak with friends and family before brunch, closely followed by handing out of Kris Kringle gifts which showcased everyone’s skills, with various and amazing presents crafted from materials on station. Onto the main event with a Christmas dinner put on by Donna and her team of helpers which was nothing short of incredible, then a night of games, drinks, and laughs.

From Boxing Day through to the start of the new year the station was quiet with half the crew offsite at a time on back to back trips out to Mt Hordern and Mt Twintop; with the exception of a short changeover half way through the week. On New Year’s Eve the clock striking midnight was celebrated by a handful on station; and the entirety of the team re-united on January 1^st with the end of another successful trip.

The sea ice has deteriorated rapidly of the past weeks and days, signalling not only the end of 2022 but also the end of sea ice travel out to some of the favourite spots. However this has brought a lot more activity close to station with the return of penguins and seals popping up on both sides of the station.

Alan, Station Supply Officer

Between Christmas and New Year, over two trips, the entire Mawson team was lucky enough to undertake a camping trip to Mt Hordern. A peak approximately 45km inland from station, rising out of the ice to an elevation of 1510m (4954’), which is reached by traveling across the ice plateau in our unstoppable Hägglunds vehicles.

The picturesque camping site is established at the base of the mountain, with polar pyramids and polar domes both providing sleeping, eating and toileting facilities – glamping Antarctic style!

Both teams making it to the top of the nearby Mt Twintop on one day’s side trip, and then the more adventurous group actually ascended Mt Hordern and achieved the summit after a 6.5 hour climb on New Year’s Eve. What a way to see in the New Year!

A most picturesque spot with mountains which look out of a fantasy novel – perhaps the sleeping place for Smaug in Lord of the Rings – and surrounded by a sea of ice which is slowly flowing towards the coast. One group with blue skies, one with cloud and snow, but all enjoyed a once in a lifetime camping excursion into the wilds of Antarctica.

Bec, SL