May 2, 2019

EastGRIP camp 2019 is now open!

People are walking towards the closed EGRIP camp.

The first team of 13 field participants arrived at EastGRIP at 12.15 local time. Temperature was -12°C and the wind was 8 knots, so it was really balmy compared to last year. The plane departed at 12.55 without the use of rockets. In the meantime, camp crew had gained access to the main dome and carpenters garage, where the 35 kW generator was running at 13.25. Garages and main dome were found intact. In the cupola, temperatures were already above freezing on arrival. The first Pistenbully was running at 15.00, and at 17.30 all vehicles from the garages were running. Everybody had a nice sleep and temperatures inside were nice and warm in the evening. Camp population is now 13: Sarah, Sverrir, Hans Cristian, Sepp, Jens Christian, Bruce, Valerie, Dominic, Frederik, Nikolaj, Trevor, Dorthe and J.P.

What we did today:

1. 13 people arrived at EGRIP at 15.20 with Skier41 (tail 95).
2. Outhouse ready.
3. Opened main dome. Above freezing in cuppola.
4. Opened Carpenters garage, Mechanics garage and white storage tent.
5. We have one snowblower, 4 snowmobiles, two Pistenbullys and the Caterpillar running.
6. Started backup generator at 13.25. Back-up generator is now powering camp.
7. Tomato sled pulled into camp.
8. Activated old cooks snowmelter for drinking water.

Ad.6: The main generator will not be started right away. A lot of snow drift will have to be removed before a good parking spot for the main generator is available.

Thursday weather: Thin broken, dissipating in afternoon. Then blue skies. Temp. -12°C to -19°C. Wind: 6 kt – 18 kt from WSW. Visibility: to horizon.

FL, J.P. Steffensen