May 8, 2019

Mining in the snow caves continues

Dominic and Trevor removing snow blocks from drill trench.

Again today, lots of snow blocks were removed from the trenches by a group of hard working people. Another group finished putting bunkbeds together in the weatherports. Snow drift removal is progressing and the area around the main dome and carpenters garage is ready for the season. In the isotope warm laboratory, the setting up of equipment continues. It has been a relief that the isotope machines have survived the tumbling they received as they were blasted along the snow when the airplane that brought us in had to use full thrust to become unstuck after letting us out. I did not mention this before, as we were holding our collective breaths until the machines were checked. Everybody is in a good mood but also tired in the evening after days of hard work. The AWI Basler is now scheduled to arrive here on 10th May.

What we did today:

1. Removing snow between main dome and carpenters garage.
2. Vehicle re-fueling station in place.
3. Trimming of the ceilings in the snow caves.
4. Setting up bunkbeds in weatherports. We now have 22 extra heated beds ready.
5. Ceilometer now active.
6. Work on setting up the isotope CFA laboratory.

Weather today: Low overcast, light snow, clearing in the evening. Temp. - 14 °C to -26 °C. Wind: 6 kt to 10 kt from NNW. Visibility: Down to 2 km during snow fall, later unrestricted.

FL, J.P. Steffensen