IT’S A RECORD!! (probably)

As you may have read yesterday, the team is currently winching back six fuel scoots which had become stranded beyond the reach of the Cats because of severe crevassing blocking their path. Yesterday, they pulled back two scoots, today they did the next two, and if all goes well, all six of the scoots will be alongside the Cats and cabooses by this time tomorrow, ready to head out of this horrible crevasse field to join the other scoots 5km away.

The reason why it is taking so long is because to reach the scoots from the Cats has involved the team having to link every wire, strop, tow rope and sling they have at their disposal to cover the 500m which separates the scoots from the machines. This has left the team with an improvised winch cable made up of about 20 different parts of varying lengths, and because the winch on the Cat is only 50m, this means that every time the winch draws in its 50m length. the team have to unlink and remove 50m of the improvised winch cable, unreel the 50m Cat winch cable, reconnect and start the process all over again. Are you still with me? This is hard and heavy work which is not helped by the strong winds and blustering snow and the fact that there are crevasses all around them, although the minus 37C temp does keep the guys from overheating, so that’s a bonus!

Brian Newham believes that this might very well be the longest winch ever carried out in Antarctica, and given his experience of working on the continent I am certainly not going to argue with him. Of course we all accept that this might not be the record, but until we can discover anything to the contrary we’re feeling pretty confident. Mind you, this certainly wasn’t one of the records we had ever planned on breaking during this expedition!

Goodnight

Hugh, Operations HQ

There are 7 comments

Posted by Continental on May 16, 2013 @ 3:39 pm

Dear Hugh, I am afraid you are contemplating an ill-conceived, yet
adventurous neo-imperial journey that has turned utterly questionable.

As expedition co-leader Sir Ranulph Fiennes informed us in February,
explaining his “human urge”, “This expedition will present challenges neither I
nor any other human being has experienced or been able to prepare for. (…) We
will not be able to rely on our equipment.” … The question that now arises,
however, is this:

Who is going to take responsibility for declaring an end to this spectacle
and bring the brave Ice Team home?

Posted by trustypal on May 16, 2013 @ 4:40 pm

The trouble is! there is no way out until spring. They can not be rescued. I knew this was doomed from the start.

Posted by Supporter on May 17, 2013 @ 7:42 pm

I’ve met plenty of armchair warriors, but not many armchair defeatists. If this “spectacle” offends, don’t log on just to chip at people who have got a set.

Posted by Annac on May 16, 2013 @ 5:16 pm

There is no option but to rely on your equipment. But the amount and weight of this equipment seems to be hampering your efforts to go forward. Is the terrain worse than expected/ Or is the equipment not performing as well as hoped? I do hope you can get out of this and make some progress eventually.

Posted by Flossie on May 17, 2013 @ 8:24 am

Well done guys!

Posted by Patrick on May 19, 2013 @ 8:45 am

PLEASE, PLEASE someone call a halt to this madness. Let these brave men rest up where they are until they can turn back for home.

Posted by Hugh Bowring on May 19, 2013 @ 4:29 pm

Hello Patrick
Thank you for your concern. Any decision like this would, of course, rest with the ice team.
Best wishes
Hugh, Operations HQ (London)

IT’S A RECORD!! (probably)