May 3, 2016

EGRIP put-in 2016 now completed

The Pistenbully picks up arriving cargo.

The last plane of the put-in period has come and gone. We do not have any more LC-130 flights before the beginning of June. We have all the cargo we planned for in camp, and of course it is possible that we have forgotten something. Right now however, we do not remember to have forgotten something, which is good. We might have forgotten something forgotten; but we feel confident, that we will handle it when or if this issue comes up. Sune and Hans Christian (the younger) left us today. They will return to the project later this summer. Malte and Christian (carpenter) arrived today, and they participated in camp work immediately. Around the dinner table, there was a very nice and relaxed mood. No more flights in the near future. From now on, we will organize camp and begin construction of the deep ice core drilling site.

What we have done today:

1. Built two 12’ by 20’ weatherports (now four weatherports are up).
2. Groomed snow around main dome.
3. Troubleshooting central heating in main dome and main snow melter.
4. Stowing all perishable foods in main dome.
5. Received Skier 21 flight.

Ad. 3: We could not understand why so little heat was transported in the pipeline. It turned out that there was a fault in electrical supply to the circulation pump. We have by-passed the problem, and now the pump works fine.
Ad. 5: Skier 21 landed at EGRIP at 11.27 local time and it departed at 12.12 local in first attempt using only half the skiway. In those 45 hectic minutes the plane unloaded 6800 kg cargo, transferred 5500 liter fuel to the camp tank and was loaded with 1000 kg return cargo. Also, two passengers arrived and two departed. It was a very successful mission.

Weather today: Sunny and clear. Temp. -22°C to -34°C, Wind 5 - 10 kt from SW. Visibility: To horizon (same as yesterday).

FL, J.P. Steffensen