May 6+7, 2023

A traditional EGRIP weekend

Outside group picture of all in camp in their Saturday best and in -27°C. From Left to right: Nicholas (the banana), Sepp (the photographer) just making it round the banana, Romain (helping Sepp), Iben, Nico, Grant, Anna-Maria, Jeppe, Sverrir, Emma, Bruno and Bo.

With camp now in a fully operational state we were able to have a traditional ice core camp weekend here at EGRIP for the first time this season. This entails a Saturday dinner-party with food prepared by volunteers and work only resuming after a late brunch on Sunday, so we all can get a small break, and remember that a week has passed. This Saturday Bruno kindly offered to make us all a great traditional Swiss cheese fondue, getting everything ready with the assistance of Anna-Maria and Sepp. Anna-Maria also dug out the ice cream machine from winter storage and made us a tasty raspberry sorbet for dessert. After dinner it was time for games and fun until the early hours. Sunday started late for most people in camp with Jeppe kindly preparing a delicious brunch for all of us, even including fresh avocado-slices!
Workwise the drillers have now started assembling the drill and in addition Nicholas has been calibrating the drill orientation while Grant has been readying the bore hole camera insert for a visual inspection of the bore hole. The science trench is also getting operational with Nico tuning in saws and tables for ice core cutting. Iben has been readying the ice core logging table, including the fluid extraction device.
Anna-Maria and Bo also made an inspection of various safety equipment in camp, making sure all is in place before ice core drilling and cutting starts. In the Weatherport clinic Anna-Maria furthermore organized the medical equipment here at EGRIP. In camp Bruno continues to tidy up IT and electrical cables with his efforts now going into the maze of cables in the cupola as well as the camp radio communication equipment. On the surface, Sverrir continues to organize drums and further level the surface, while Sepp is using the snowblower to get rid of and prevent snowdrifts. Bo and Sverrir adjusted the North direction of the Davies weather station and secured it, as it was found to point toward 350 deg instead of true North. Finally, Anna-Maria and Bo furnished one more Weatherport, now only our smallest Weatherport (Stapi) remains to be furnished.

What we did during the weekend:

1. Started assembling drill and bore hole camera.
2. Readied saws and tables in science trench.
3. Readying fluid extraction device and table in logging cabin.
4. Continued grooming and leveling of camp.
5. Continued organizing surface cargo including drums.
6. Furnished one more Weatherport.
7. Continued organizing of camp electrical and IT cables.
8. Inspected camp safety equipment.
9. Organized medical equipment in clinic.
10. Adjusted North direction of Davies weather station by 10 degrees.

Weather this weekend: Some clouds moving in and out, but mainly sunny. Temp. -37°C to -19°C. Wind: 8-16 kt between SW and W. Visibility: Unrestricted.

FL, Bo M. Vinther

Left: Anna-Maria and Bruno preparing the fondue. Right: Camp enjoying this rare treat at EGRIP.