May 4, 2017

A day in the salt mines

Christian is breaking lose snowblocks from the ceiling of the tunnel to increase the height.

Although the wind doesn’t let up, several people today braved the wind and worked on the surface. One of the snowed in Flexmobils was heated up and started by Sverrir and HansChr. Jens Christian and Bo worked on directing our 3 m satellite disk.
A true manifestation of collective effort was the raising of the 6 m tower at the water vapour sampling site. 8 people participated in the operation.
There was a lot of traffic in the ramp tunnel, which serves as the entrance to the trenches. The usual passage of people working in the trenches, was sometimes stopped as a mining gang (Chrstian, Iben, Camilla and Maria) worked on increasing the roof height. This was done by cutting blocks away from the roof with a chain saw. The blocks were broken off using a spade or hammer, and they dropped into a waiting box sled. The full sled was then hauled to the surface.
Snow science continued by Hans Christian, Motohiro, Maria and work in the drill trench by Steffen and Trevor, Bruno, Dennis, Grant and Kenji.

What we did today:

1. Increasing height of the ramp tunnel by cutting 40 cm from the roof.
2. Starting Flexmobil 1 and driving it out of winter parking.
3. Work in the drilling trench.
4. Work on the satellite disk.
5. Work on setting up science trench.
6. Water vapour sampling site tower raised.
7. Removing snow drift from ramp entrance.
8. Snow sampling.

Ad.3: Drillers report:

1. Mounting electrical power in drillers cabin.
2. Pull test using second winch controller.
3. Worked on plumbing for drill fluid reservoir.

Weather today: Clear all day, with periods of thin overcast, moderate to strong wind. Temp. -10°C to -18°C. Wind: 15 kt to 22 kt from SW. Visibility: To horizon. Slight snow drift.

FL, J.P. Steffensen