The Ice Team aims to cover an average of 35km per day over a period of eight hours on travel days. They will take rest days when the weather is too bad to travel or there are any necessary repairs or servicing of equipment to be carried out. Below is a typical travel day during the traverse:
06.30 Check that weather conditions are within range for travel (temperature, conditions, wind chill). Preheat blow air heaters with generator if necessary. Start heaters to preheat vehicle engines.
07.00 Team meeting: reassess conditions – decide on plan for the day
07.30 Start up D6N’s; remove tent covers; shut down generator
08.30 Skiers and Ice Train set off
Various Short breaks for snacks and drinks of up to one hour
16.30 Stop for overnight camp – check immediate area with GPR if necessary
16.45 Start up generator
17.30 Shut down vehicles. Cover vehicles with tent covers
18.00 Refuel vehicles and day tank (if necessary)
18.00 Communications, data download
18.45 Team meeting – discuss events of the day
19.00 Evening meal
Once on the move, the ski party will set the pace for the Ice Train; there will be one driver in each of the D6N cabs and the Traverse Manager and one other team member will be in the cabooses.
