May 2, 2024

GRIP team ready for leaving Summit Station

Sorting and packing GRIP cargo on two Nansen sledges at Summit Station (Big House in the background).

Today the GRIP team had a tour around Summit Station’s facilities together with the other science team that arrived yesterday. After the tour around camp, it was time for snowmobile training. We will drive fourth and back between Summit Station and the GRIP site on two snowmobiles with Nansen sledges behind. In the afternoon we sorted out our cargo and packed the equipment on the sledges. We bring a GPR radar and a magnetometer to locate some of the old structures under the snow surface and shovels to dig out the borehole. Once the GRIP borehole has been located, we will bring two borehole cameras to check the conditions of the casing and a GPS system for surveying local topography and a new precise coordinate of the borehole.

What we did today:

1. Joined the station morning meeting 7.30am.
2. Tour around Summit Station.
3. Snowmobile training.
4. Planning meeting with Summit Site Supervisor about GRIP mission the coming days.
5. Sorting and packing GRIP cargo ready to leave Summit Station tomorrow.
6. Continued to adjust to the altitude (we are all three doing fine).

Weather today: Sunny day with a few thin clouds. Wind 11-17 kt turning from SE to SSE. Temperatures between -31°C and -23°C.