We are out – EGRIP camp is closed for the winter

EGRIP members on LC-130 on the way to Kangerlussuaq. From left to right: Paul, Kim, Mathias and Helle.

The pull out flight to EGRIP was a success. The plane landed at 11.25 and by 13.30 the camp was closed and we took off in the first attempt without using rockets.

Even though the weather for once was not ideal: Snow showers and cross winds, the skiway had set in a fine way and was hard and fast, so we got airborne with all our cargo in first attempt.

All worries have now gone, and EGRIP is closed after a successful season. Back in Kangerlussuaq we got reunited with Pat, Nanna and Anna who arrived from Summit one hour before us.

I know, that the phrase: “It has been a long journey for me” is used so often on television show these days; but in our case it is true. We came to NEEM camp, took it down and stowed it all on sleds. We pulled everything 465 km across the ice sheet, and built EGRIP camp in ten days. We got pulled out two days behind schedule; but in this line of work, that is nothing.

The NEEM/EGRIP campaign has been successful, and I thank members of the team: Pat, Anna, Nanna, Paul, Helle, Sepp, Sverrir, Mathias, Joel, Dorthe and Kim for their hard work and good attitude. Team effort is essential for the success of a project of this kind.

I thank for a good collaboration with CH2MHill Polar Services (CPS) staff, the GrIT traverse team and our funding agencies: A.P.Moller Foundation (Denmark), U.S. National Science Foundation, Alfred Wegener Institute (Germany) and Bjerknes Centre (Norway).
 
What we have done today:

1.    Adding the final things to pallets.
2.    Taking down weather station and windsock.
3.    Pulling tomatoes and generator to snow hills.
4.    Receiving Skier 21.
5.    Parking Flexmobile on snow and snow mobile and Caterpillar in garage.
6.    Sealing the main dome with plywood.
7.    Flying to Kangerlussuaq.

Weather: snow showers coming and going. Temp. – 14°C to -22°C, 3 m/s from NW.  Visibility:  1 – 5 km.

FL, J.P. Steffensen