Large activity

Building the last weatherports.

A lot of things are happening now. The many new people really make the camp move. One group erected three weatherports and our camp is now fully established. There is noise and activity in the kitchen during meals, and the feeling is good and positive. We have a lot of things to be glad about: Preparations for drilling is moving ahead as planned, and we are about to be ready with construction work on the surface. Time is approaching, where we will build up the ice core laboratories in the science trench. We just have to make the last few things, and receive another plane tomorrow, and them most people begin to work under ground.

What we have done today:

1. Borehole camera deployed a second time, and a film was recorded.
2. Repairs on electrical system in drill trench.
3. Built 3 weatherports. Camp structures now complete.
4. Put a large welding tent on top of entrance to science trench.
5. Organized cargo back for Kangerlussuaq.
6. Hoisted heavy and outsized items down through the skylight in the drill trench.
7. Grooming skiways.

Ad.1: This is how the drillers report looks today:
“Today we took advantage of the dry borehole and deployed the down hole camera. The bottom of the casing was clearly visible. Below the casing the borehole was smooth, including the entire transition from the point where the drill diverged from the original borehole to where the new borehole was fully established. Meanwhile, preparations were made for mounting the EPICA drill, new cold temperature hoses were installed for the drill liquid pumping station, safety features were implemented into the winch control, and items for the trenches were lowered via the crane through the drill trench roof.”

Weather: A clear, but windy day , - 17 °:C to -12 °C, 10-22 knots mainly from S and SSW.
Visibility: Unrestricted.

FL, J.P. Steffensen