The Blog

Spencer at Work – by Brian Newham For the eagle-eyed among you, you will have noticed from the Live Map that the Ice Train has not moved very much the last couple of days – indeed, it has not moved since covering five kilometres yesterday morning. This is due to the fact that unscheduled maintenance work has had to be carried out to one of the Cats. It is very frustrating since the weather has…

The phone lines have closed, the results are in. The three questions that are being sent to Spencer and Richmond will be: If one or both of the Cats break down or are damaged beyond repair, what then? (by Mark Saunders, very similar to a question by Pati Coukell) In a worst case scenario, what would the biggest repair you would be able to carry out on the Cats in the environment you’re in? (by…

I am still loving it down here, especially now that our progress counts towards completion. The days are short enough now that we end up driving in the dark some of the time, which is a whole new element. I always like operating in the dark; all the different lights and colours. It seems like the world closes in around you, shrinks even. It makes the environment seem less intimidating I…

The Ice Team is at the same position as yesterday having been unable to take advantage of excellent travelling conditions. The team recently found some issues with the fuel scoot runners so took the opportunity to rectify these whilst conditions were favourable. All seven scoots that the team have with them are now fixed, but it took the whole day to complete. They will have to do similar…

With the nights drawing in quickly now, we won’t be getting many more evenings like. Best to enjoy it while we can. It’s stunning here in Antarctica tonight. A Cat, a mountain, the moon and a caboose (in case you had not spotted them) – by Brian Newham Collecting snow for the melt tank – by Brian Newham The aluminium Zarges boxes hold the food and, when empty, the rubbish – by Brian Newham by…