A N E W S B U L L E T I N

p u b l i s h e d q u a r t e r l y b y t h e NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY

THE NEW ENDEAVOUR

Flying the New Zealand flag, H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour off Hawaii during her voyage to New Zealand to begin Antarctic supply work this summer. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Vol. 3, No. 4 DECEMBER, 1962 AUSTRALIA Winter and Summer bases Scott / W/ ' S u t n m e r b a s e o n l y t S k y - H i Jointly operated base H.illett NEW ZEALAND (Hi N2) Transferred base Wilkes Ui fcAust TASMANIA Temporarilyiion-operation.il *Syowa

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DRAWN BY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS 1 SURVEY WELLINGTON. NEW ZEALAND, SEP I9fcl (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin")

Vol. 3, No. 4 DECEMBER, 1962

Editor: L. B. Quartennain, M.A., 1 Ariki Road, Wellington, E.2, New Zealand. Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: Secretary. New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 2110. Wellington. N.Z.

R.G.S. AWARD The Cuthbert Peck Grant ol the SUBSCRIPTION TO Royal Geographical Society lor 1962 "ANTARCTIC " has been awarded to Captain P. J. Hunt, R.E.. leader of New Zealand's southern field party in 1960-61, "for ing costs it has become neces his contribution to Antarctic survey sary to increase the subscrip and his qualities of leadership in tion rate for all readers who the held." are not members of the New THE TWO ENDEAVOURS Zealand Antarctic Society. The New Zealand Antarctic Society From the beginning of April, n-oposes to present to the new 1963, the annual subscri"*; H.M.N.Z.S. "Endeavour" a painting for this journal will be £1. mv of the old "Endeavour" by a dis charge for single copies will be tinguished New Zealand artist as a 5/- in all cases. gilt from Society members. Contri butions lor this purpose will be wel comed, and should be addressed to the Treasurer, N.Z. Antarctic Society, INDEX P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. We regret that owing to unfore " ANTARCTIC WEEK " seen circumstances the completion The Christchurch Branch ol the of the index which is being prepared N.Z. Antarctic Society staged an An for volume 2 of "Antarctic" has been tarctic Exhibition in connection with delayed. Every effort is being made the Antarctic Week in September, to expedite the preparation of the organised bv the Christchurch City index, and we apologise to readers Council with the co-operation of U.S. who may have been inconvenienced Operation Deep Freeze and the by the unavoidable delays. Society. We hope to publish an ac count of this very successful effort VETERAN in our next issue. Visiting the Antarctic to examine " DISCOVERY " the operation of the current scien A coloured photograph ol the tific programme in November was statue of Captain Scott in Christ Dr. Laurence M. ("Larry") Gould, church, New Zealand, has been pre Chairman of the Polar Research. sented by a Christchurch citizen, Mr. Committee of the U.S. National F. N. Dephoff. under arrangements Academy of Sciences. Dr. Gould made by the Mayor and Council of was making his fourth visit to An the city, for the wardroom of the tarctica. He was Chief Scientist and " Discovery," Scott's old ship, which Second in Command of Byrd's first is moored" on the Thames in London expedition in 1928, and led one of as a permanent memorial to Scott. the most outstanding dog-sledge The Christchurch statue, which journeys in Antarctic history. He was carved by Lady Scott, was pur returned in 1956 and 1957 as head chased by public subscription and of the U.S. scientific effort during unveiled on February 9, 1917. the I.G.Y. December. 1962 TWO NEW ZEALAND SLEDGING PARTIES IN DIFFICULT AREA

^ Two teams of New Zealand surveyors and geologists with their field assistants are this summer working in an area which has long resisted human penetration. This is the notorious Terra Nova lessor David's manuscript diary, now Bay—Wood Bay region, that part of in the archives of the University of the Victoria Land coast and its hin- Sydney. terland which lies between 74°S and RECCE 76°S, approximately 150 miles north , .. , of Ross Island, or half-way between A preliminary air reconnaissance ScottScott Base leaders 1962 and huddled in an ice-cave which they J96p accompanied by the team had excavated in a drift at Evans oSfe? L*?e w" and, Gm')' To-"n'

^Hs^ssss^s^si 75°s' ^&Sr^3^i£rS^ ti I fh n rS tH PCT P^teau to the west. On their return Kfidnart? j£r ff&l\ffie?edgion ?n SiSSS" I Th? ■£?Iy "ley S described ^1 StS^iSSftS? the country in which ^ Magnetic Pole party, David, Maw- operate as challenging . ?°iL«&nd,1907-09 Mackay, "Nimrod") of Shackleton's expedition. In SOUTHERN PARTY one of the most famous of Antarctic journeys this team, after man-haul- Firsl of the New Zealand teams ing their sledges all the way up the into the field was the Southern parly coast from McMurdo Sound, struck comprising R. W. Hewson (leader) Terr", lwT £ Southern end of who was a member of last summer's SS^toJStfw^ffi.'SS! *°rthera field Pa^ and who has ed the then site of the Magnetic wintered over at Scott Base, M. R. Pole and sledged back to Relief Inlet J- Forcl (surveyor), D. N. B. Skinner (in Terra Nova Bay) where thev (.geologist, who was in the northern were picked up by" the "Nimrod" nc,d parlv in 196°-61) and J. F. Ric- The only later party to operate any- 5er (Canadian geologist who has where near this area was the "One Antarctic held work with an Northern Party of the Trans-Antarc- American expedition). Hewson's tic Expedition under Lt-Cdr F R team ,oft Sc°tt Base on October 18 Brooke. The northern limit of this w.iln \wo clog-sledges, each drawn by party's sphere of operations how- nine huskies. This is the earliest ever, was the Mawson Glacier 150 date on which a sledge party has miles south of Terra Nova Bay' sct oul ,rom Sc°tt Base since the The New Zealand team operating preliminary sorties before the coin- in this area during the 1962-63 sum- mencement ol the Trans-Antarctic mer will have with them not only journey of 1957-58. the published narratives of these Ford, who will be wintering over parties, but a photostat copy of Pro- at Scott Base, will be replaced for December, 1962 the second phase of the season's By the end of October the com field work by I. Cave, also to be a bined dog and motor parties had winter-party man. reached the Nordenskjold Ice Travelling with Hewson's party in Tongue north of Tripp Bay. the early stages was another four-' Here they crossed the Oates Pied man team comprising W. R. Louie mont Glacier, striking inland from (leader), P. M. Otway (surveyor), K. the Ross Ice Shelf, made a difficult A. J. Wise and B. R. Wilkes (New crossing of the Mawson Glacier, and Zealand entomologists working for camped at the head of the Davis the Bishop Museum, Honolulu). Ot Glacier in 75° 50'S; 160° 40'E. way was a member of the Southern From here the dog-team parties field party last year and has winter were to carry out survey work and ed at Scott Base. Wise and Logic the toboggan men to be air-lifted have also had considerable previous back to base. Antarctic experience. NORTHERN PARTY MOTOR TOBOGGANS Meanwhile the less experienced This team is trying out two newly Northern Party, comprising Gair, acquired American-made motor to Pain (who had wintered at Scott boggans which, if they prove satis Base) Tobin and Sheehan, had been factory at high altitudes, may "indoctrinated" in a series of experi eventually partially replace dogs for mental sledging trips in the vicinity most New Zealand field work in the of Scott Base. One such training Antarctic. The motor vehicles were run was to Black Island and White to be tested in company with the Island from October 23 to October dog teams at sea level, up the 26 when the party was accompanied coast from McMurdo Sound to the by Billing, Public Relations Officer David Glacier, and up the glacier it at the Base. High winds on the 25th self. They were then to be air-lifted made for unpleasant conditions. back to base. The team was flown to its actual The day after the toboggans left field of operations on November 3 base their drive belts broke as a by two Dakota aircraft of the U.S. result of extremely low temperatures and had to be replaced; spare belts VX-6 Squadron. A very rough land were flown out by helicopter. ing was made on a poor surface on the Polar Plateau at 2,000 feet, in By October 23, five days out, the combined teams were two miles approximately 73°15'S, 163°E. This north of Spike Cape (77° 18'S) and is about 80 miles north-west of Wood reported "all O.K." Bay, between the country traversed by David's party, to the south, and FIFTY YEARS AGO that crossed by the American Sno- cat traverse of 1959-60, to the north, On October 25 they reached Gran on approximately 72°S. The Ameri ite Harbour (76° 57'S) where Grif cans, however did not travel further fith Taylor's Western Geological east than about 160°E (see "Antarc Party had its base in 1912. They tic" vol. 2. no. 6, June, 1960). pitched camp and visited the granite block kitchen constructed and used by Taylor's party. This igloo was RELUCTANT EXPLORER also visited by an American party One passenger missed his plane. a year or two ago. The New Zea- At McMurdo airstrip the Greenland landers were interested to see an husky Koleralik ("the timid one") ice-axe, several pairs of boots and slipped away and evading all would- old fuel cans left by the British be captors, made post-haste for the parly 50 years ago. Not to be out Scott Base dog-lines. He was re done, the entomologists discovered placed by a 15-month-old youngster, an insect "in a dormant state." Freddv. December, 1962

Delays—and a Near Disaster A bad run of weather at a critical period, culminating in a number of mishaps to U.S. aircraft and N.Z. ground vehicles, con siderably delayed the commencement of New Zealand's field pro gramme. November 22 was a black "Thanks weasel while crossing rough ice giving Day" for the New Zealanders' homeward bound four miles" from good American friends. At McMurdo the base. The occupants, Tinker, there had been three days of wailing Mannering, Rainev and Cave, who for suitable weather conditions to had been on the flight to the Davis permit the air-lifting back to base Glacier, had to walk the rest of the of the Southern Geological and Sur way home. vey party's toboggans and trans A second attempt was made to portation of the Victoria University pick up Logic's toboggan party on of Wellington party and the "Tara- November 22, but although the air rua" expedition to their respective craft commander had no difficulty spheres of operation. Then on in locating them, conditions were so Thanksgiving Day came news of the poor that the first aircraft could not disablement of a Dakota aircraft in land and the second plane was sent the Sentinel Mountains and a heli back from near the Mawson Glacier. copter crash injuring two men in the Taylor Valley. PEARILOUS MOMENT However, one major task was ac Three days later, November 25, complished. A ski-equipped Dakota another attempt to pick up Logic's carrying the six-man University party all but ended in tragedy. A party landed safely on the Darwin Dakota landed safely on the Plateau Glacier. Almost immediately, how and flew Otway and Wise back to Mc ever, fog banks closed in on both Murdo. On the second flight Logic, sides of the makeshift uphill run Ford and Wilkes were emplaned. On way, and the plane made a difficult board also were cartographer Rainey, take-off in the nick of time. Mannering and Billing from Scott Base. TOBOGGAN LIFT The aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant The attempt to carry Logic and D. R. Miller, had just fired the bank his team with their snow-toboggans of six jato bottles and was about back to Scott Base from 5,000 feet 3011. off the runway when it stalled up on the Polar Plateau near the and the port wing dug into the head of the Davis Gacier was, how snow. Only a split second power ever, foiled. The aircraft had to re shut off prevented it from cart turn to McMurdo carrying not the to wheeling on the wing which dug a boggan-team but the urgently-needed long scar in the runway before the new sledge-runners which had been aircraft settled at right angles to Mown out for one of the dog-teams. the flight line. The leading aircraft dropped to fifty Jato bottles continued to flame as feet above the snowfield landing site peirol trickled on to the snow. The before it was decided that the fog temperature of about 30deg. of frost and ice crystals in the atmosphere orobably stopped the ignition. would make safe landing and take Pieces of shattered engines and ski off impossible. undercarriage were widely scattered. The site, which had never before There were tears in the wings and been used for aircraft landing, was fuselage. only found after the plane had Providentially the petrol did not woven its wav through mountain ignite. If the starboard wing had valleys and fog-banks. dropped, the aircraft could have The final blow of the day was ploughed through the camp killins the break-down of a Scott Base men and dogs. r e c T; - . , Mi j'ii f^Ifl

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TARARUA ANTARCTIC glacier and their work made possible the publication in January 1960 of EXPEDITION the 1:250,000 "Tucker Glacier" map The crash meant another delay for by the N.Z. Lands and Survey De the New Zealand eight-man Feder partment. The surveys of the "Tararua Ex ated Mountain Club party, which pedition" will be connected with had been waiting several days to stations established by the 1957-58 enter its Tucker Glacier survey area. expedition and also with stations The expedition has in the main expected to be established during November, 1962, by the U.S. telluro- been organised by the Tararua meter operation "Topo West". Tramping Club ol Wellington. The The geologists, in addition to their are| they have chosen to explore, reconnaissance surveys and collect survey, and make a geological recon ing of rock specimens will also be naissance of is a mountainous region responsible for collecting any mosses lying to the south and west of the and lichens encountered. Soil samp tucker Glacier (approximately 72° ling will also be undertaken as op jO S, 166°E). portunity arises, and regular meteor The composition of the party is: J. ological observations will be made. Millen, B. E. Leader and surveyor, An aerial reconnaissance is to be G. Iloldsworth, B.E. Deputy leader; carried out before the full team is F. Pearson, B.E. surveyor, P. Le Cou- flown into its area of operations to teur, B.Sc. geologist, E. Leitch, B.Sc. examine the area and to determine Geologist, J. Hayton, I. Joice, R. landing, re-supply and withdrawal Lloyd. points. The expedition has been financed by the party members and the Tara TENTATIVE PLANS rua Tramping Club, and it is hoped that the Mt. Everest Foundation will The provisional plan is to land give assistance. Major support has the party on the Plateau between been provided by the Antarctic the head of the Trafalgar and Pearl Division of the N.Z. D.S.I.R. in the Harbour Glaciers (approx. 72° 20'S, form of loaned equipment and ac 160°E) which enter the N.W.-S.E. commodation at Scott Base, and flowing Tucker Glacier from N.W. some supplies of food. Equipment From here the two parties will each has been loaned by the N.Z. Alpine man-haul two sledges in the respec Club and many N.Z. firms have as tive areas of operations. sisted the expedition. The parties will rendezvous again 04 November 15 the main group here about the end of December and of ;the party flew down to Scott will probably return to Scott Base Base and set about making readv about the end of January, possibly for the field. The Expedition will from near the confluence of the operate in the field for 8 weeks, re Tucker and Trafalgar Glaciers (72° turning to New Zealand in February. 30'S, 168° 30'E). At this point the Moving in two parties of four, mah- party would be in a position if neces hauling sledges, it is hoped that a sary to man-haul their sledges across survey of 2500 sq. miles of previous the Tucker and by way of Football ly unvisited territory can be mapped, Saddle to Hallett Station. involving each party in about 200 miles of travel. LATE NEWS LITTLE KNOWN COUNTRY The party was flown in by two The only previous exploration of U.S. aircraft on December 5. A dif the Tucker Glacier region was car ficult landing in very soft snow was ried out by a N.Z. Geological Survey made at 72° 17'S; 165° 35'E at a party under Dr. H. J. Harrington in the summer of 1957-58. This eight- height of 8,200 feet above sea level. man party, working from Hallett This is on the Plateau about 100 Station, spent four weeks on the miles west of Hallett Station. December, 1962

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CRECHE AT CAPE CROZIER

Emperor penguins guard their chicks at Cape Crozier in the Ro:s Dependency, where New Zealand scientists will be working this summer.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph. AT CAPE CROZIER assist in a sea current measurement study to be made by N. M. Ridge- This summer will see the longest way of the New Zealand Occano- human occupation of Cape Crozier, graphic Institute. the eastern tip of Ross Island, since The men lived in a small James- Wilson, Bowers and Cherry-Garrard vyay hut set up by American scien lived there for ten days during "The tists in September. Worst Journey in the World" in the It is thought that the recording winter of 1911. of vibrations caused when icebergs Three New Zealanders and an calve from the ice shelf may help American left Scott Base for Cape to disclose the cause of vibrations Crozier by U.S. helicopter on Octo recorded at Scott Base. There is a ber 29. The New Zealanders, whose growing belief that the origin of the primary task was to instal a new two sets of vibrations is the same. type of tape recording seismograph In his two months at Cape Crozier at the Cape, were R. R. Dibble, Williams will try to find the walls senior scientific officer, Geophysics of the stone hut in which Dr. Wil Division, D.S.I.R., who developed the son's party lived. The site was re apparatus, G. A. Williams and A. C. discovered by Sir Edmund Hillary Langston, both technicians who have in 1957. Williams hopes to carry out wintered-over at Scott Base. The restoration work on the site and en American with them is a research sure the preservation of equipment biologist who is studying penguins. left there by Dr. Wilson. Dibble returned to New Zealand On November 14 the party sighted on November 10 but the two tech the U.S. icebreaker and cargo ship nicians remained to operate the convoy battling its way through the seismograph for a month, also to ice 60 miles north of McMurdo. December, 1962

ZOOLOGICAL PLANS P. Fitzgerald, M.Sc, a soil chemist who is interested in analysing soil At various periods during the com samples to establish soil-flora rela ing summer five University of Can tions. terbury men will be continuing the work on Adelie penguins and Mc- Cormick skuas carried out during the A party which included the old past few years. This year's team and new Scott Base leaders flew by comprises: Dr. B. Stonehouse, W. Featherson and M. S. R. Smith all helicopter to Cape Royds on October of whom will be furthering t" work on projects which they iiim ated last summer. O. R. W. Sutherland, a B.Sc. Stonehouse and Sutherland car- (Hons.) student, who will begin ob rii servations on Adelie penguins and guins at Cape Crozier and were re skuas. turned to Scott Base on December 5.

Wellington University Team Heads For The South The six members of "VUWAE 6," this year's expedition mounted by the Victoria University of Wellington, left New Zea land on U.S. aircraft on November 10 and 14 bound for Scott Base and their field of operations to the south. This year's team will be working area just north of the Darwin Glacier on the ice-free areas in the vicinity about 20 miles from its junction with of the Darwin and Carlyon Glaciers, the Ross Ice Shelf in approximately Victoria Land, some 150 miles south 160°E. The area is. therefore, in west of McMurdo Sound. (See An Australian Antarctic Territoy. tarctic vol. 3, no. 3, September, 1962). The- expedition is the sixth in a The parly was flown in, after con- seriGs of expeditions by members of the University, and continues the is expected to set up camp in the Brown Hills region. They will move scientific exploration of largely ice- across the Darwin Glacier to the ice free areas which has been the ob free areas on Tentacle Ridge (79° jective of most of the earlier V.U.W. 35'S, 157° 20'E) north of the Darwin, expeditions. and on the Darwin Mountains This summer the principal aims further to the west. The party is will be geological mapping, topo equipped with a banana sledge" for graphical survey and glaciology, but the purpose of this investigation. No biological, geophysical, and meteor re-supply flight is envisaged. ological studies will also be under taken as opportunity offers. The Darwin Glacier area, where this ex pedition will work, is further south, higher and more exposed than the BROADCAST TO FRENCHMEN areas traversed by the earlier Uni Radio Australia has begun broad versity parties. casting a weekly 15-mmute pro A preliminary air reconnaissance gramme to French scientists in An of the area early in November re tarctica. vealed what appeared to be "a very The programme, which is tape- good ski-landing place" at 79° 47'S, recorded by Paris Radio, is air 158° 10'E. This is in the Brown Hills freighted to Melbourne each week. December, 1962

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AFTER THE WINTER AT SCOTT BASE Now Zealanders clear snow drifts before the summer thaw to prevent flooding of the covered way, seen on right. Photo: Guy Mannering, Antarctic Division. N.Z.D.S.I.R. AT SCOTT BASE Visitors have included Messrs. A. E. Allen and H. R. Lapwood, M.P.'s Flights by United States planes and Mr. J. B. Collett, Mayor of Lyt- from Christchurch, New Zealand, to lelton. Dr. H. Gowland, assessor of McMurdo, Antarctica, began on Sep medical examinations of men apply tember 16, and the following day ing for Antarctic service, spent about Lt.-Col. R. A. Tinker, the Scott Base a week at the base in mid-November. leader for 1963 and his deputy W. R. A. Heine, a frequent visitor to the Logic, flew south. By October II, 20 Antarctic during the past few years, New Zealanders had arrived at Scott is engaged on a glaciological re Base, 13 of them to winter over search programme. Photographer throughout 1963. At the peak of the Guy Mannering is assisting Mr. summer season there will be more Heine by photo-recording the break men at Scott Base than ever before. up of sea-ice in McMurdo Sound. New Zealand still relies heavily P. McGill was injured when he fell on dogs for field party haulage. At from a sledge on the ski-ing grounds the beginning of the' season there on October 27. He was evacuated to were 58 dogs at Scott Base, includ New Zealand by U.S. aircraft but is ing eight pups born during the expected to return to the Antarctic winter. later in the season. By November 15 the Base popu TRANSPORT FLEET lation had grown to 40, including the The mechanical transport at pre Ministry of Works men who will sent in use at Scott Base or in the supervise the £30,000 building pro field comprises: 1 Nodwell personnel ject. Site clearance for the new carrier, 1 Sno-cat, 3 weasels, 4 farm- buildings began about mid-Novem tractors, 1 D-4 tractor, 2 Polaris ber under the direction of T. G. H. snow sledges, and 1 Land Rover, a Havward. total of 13 vehicles. '3oj oqi Aq Ajsnoiujoua pauiu -3b ui S9i>[snq osug noo$ oqi jo 6'iio •JO.VO SB pi | j sb 9SBQ »O0S oi u.inioj .lojei luupxg a.ioiu f.uiqjou aq oj jno I|iav pub uoub|[9jsuoq jadncj -c'n o .««.! ]i asop 31UB0 ",(as.ioq„ oqi se UO piIB|B02 AVOfs] oj JIIO UAAOI1 SBA\ ,, 'saiuod uoijipadxa 11005 aqj m -ioi|3B|[B9 ssjiAj 11 .laquiaAOfsj uo o§ juBpuaasap b puhoj pBq Aaqj uup _ „ ' | | B o j a . v o ' i jqSnoqj A||boj gjj „j9SJ.oq v., 'Aipajia •Suippisi oN oSAxn\j on jindai -xa uelu auo jno paua f4j 5joo"T„" joj u.injoy -opuoiq b oj jaqSmren -""• "-"j-iei e pdtuoo] sjqSijpeaq oqi•|ciu ui SS:W o.iuBqa n!AA . :paoipei pue siqj jo p.ieoq sjo.mjaB|nuBui [apouj AbkI , ,ms uaqAv 3oj e q'nno.iqj aseq -sip jo ujjij uoi3ui|[9yv\ nijoqiBduiAs 01 sjqgiOH Ibaujw'uiojj jpqs-aai aqj V •OABa-a.oi ub oj pgqsiUBq sbav oqs ssojob pseoAV Aq Suiujrijaj ojoav'uoiu JBqj (f;A'uBdiuoa pcq) iujBip joii io asEg J)od§ oavj joJuiav jse| 'aauEjs qonui os jsO| pcq aqg -jjij oaejB -ui jo£ 'Usui (jaqos'Apoajjad pue) o.\Bq oj si *asBg jjoag jc 9AI| oj joao [Buuou Apaajjad oj jojuiav dijojbjuv ubujoav A|uo aqj 'jaqSBUBQ ssipy aqj Suunp uaddeq sSuiqi obubjis NVWOM I HH3H HM 3AVH IVHM •sseg jjoa§ je A'jjBd pui?|Baz avo^ oqj joj S9qddns uo o>jbj oj z\ jaqiuoaon •„3A|OS UO UOj3ui|pAA IB POAUJB [9SS9A Ol|J_ -9J„ pi?OJ |biuon„ .lajfuej ' sojbjq pajiun aqj A|.iaiujoj HflW "0'*TA 'N'Z'N'y 'buoi-xouuot -r Cpj^j) ■£\ J9qO]DO UO UI UA\0|| JP3 iiupay jo puBiuuioa aqj japiin 9J9M 'uoijejs W9JIBH IB qbjeasoj 61 JoquiaAON uo 'PUBJB92 Avajvr *puB| 8o|o;q jno 3uiAjjed oq ||iav oi[A\ ->janv ui paAu.iB 'Aabn sa|«j$ pajitin ijub.i'3 -f -h 'pun ppy 'g g aqj uiojj |5UB|boz a\9j^ oj ubo| ' uo •uopeis 191 ,/jnoABapug „ •S'Z'N'WH ^»u 9qj, |uh uiojj pue oi iisuB.il Suunp asBg IJOOS }E OS|B pUB '(U9Al3 JOU 9UIJ1 JO .. HaoAvaaNH,, q)3u9|) j9iuiAV-piui ui ubjjbx IJBnis SujjunH S!M WOM "'jeoA siqj jno uojjaqjv -qsnaiqj jaiJEH )b japEaj nijijuaps a a f 'a|[o^ h M a 'seuioqj, U99q SBq oqA\ 'ABx-uo-iJodAvajsj 'jo aiB| *jo|Abx apnB[3 .iapuE|Eaz avojm "V S 'ipssnn "f -s 'uojq3nBN •QZ jaqojarj jo uoou °W I 'M 'iir3!II!W 'a "y SJds -joijb aqj uo ijbjojib uodsuEjj sajna 'IPS O f Pu»- JO|Abx 1 "H 'UBaunrj -J9H Aq JJOjibh oj asEg jjoas iuojj a S 'Id3/1 'uosjBAA I 'H idQ '3ui>j quou uavo[j aj3Av C96J jnoqSnojqi "M 0 1 "Id"3 'ssoy y j3s-jjbjs jjbis ogpuaios uojjbjs l»u«H •SJ90UJ0 UBI|IAp JO [o.ijuoa aqi jo juauodiuoa puB|B9Z avon oqi aqj jgpun 'joiuums siqj asug noa§ asudiuoa ||iav oi|a\ U9uj aajqj aqx jb >|joav uoijanjjsuoa uo pa3B3ua o.ib puuosuad Aujjv 8uiA\oj[oj aqx xamvii xv WVH1 NOIJLDflHISNOO

2961 'Jacjujooarj December, 1962 AMERICAN DEEP FREEZE 63 AWAY TO EARLY START Making the earliest fly-in to the Antarctic in Deep Freeze his tory, Rear-Admiral David M. Tyree arrived at McMurdo Station on September 16. This broke not only 6 months 12 To combat the brutal conditions days' isolation for the winter-over facing any downed aircraftsmen in arty but also the early fly-in record Antarctica, the Para-Rescue team ov 11 days. On board were 119 other was being taught the techniques of passengers flown in to make ad- climbing snow-piled hills, getting vance preparations for the arrival into and out of crevasses, the use of of the main body of scientists and ice-axes and all means of overcom- summer support personnel in Octo- ing in safety the natural dangers ber. 2,300 pounds of mail and 4i threatening man in the AntarcticAntarctic. thousand pounds of fresh New Zea- ..iTAnrxir -ctrvTc land fruit, vegetables and milk were ANTARCTIC EVES also flown in. in. The The thin thin edge edge of of the the wedge wedge of Adnvral Tyree said that this year's feminine participation in Antarctic early fly-in was essential in view of ventures has been driven home. Two the most ambitious schedule planned U.S. women biologists from De Paul for Deep Freeze 63. (See 'Antarctic", University, Chicago, will be amongst September, 1962 and following.) the scientists on board the U.S. re- On October 9 Rear Admiral James search ship "Eltanin", o; R. Reedy joined Admiral Tyree and from Valparaiso. Admittedly they for the next 10 days they made ex- may not reach the Continent, but tensive inspection tours of all of the such a major innovation must start U.S. Antarctic outposts except the modestly. Pole Station itself, where tern- The senior representative of the peratures were still too cold for National Science Foundation flights. Conditions were satisfactory thought it might well take a de- and Admiral Tyree remarked on the cade to break down opposition to work done during the winter period, the idea of women in the Antarctic, saying it was a credit to the winter- although there have been women ine-over group. scientists at the Russian base at By the time Admiral Tyree return- Mirny, and aboard the Russian re ed to Christchurch on October 20. 28 search ship, " Ob." The wife of a turn-around flights of the Globe- Norwegian whaler in 1937 was prob- master, three R4Ds, a P2V, a VX-6 ably the first woman to visit Antarc- squadron R5D and four turn-around tied, two women wintered over at flights by the Super Constellation an American base in Graham Land had been completed and these sup- in 1948, two air hostesses spent an port movements were quickly fol- hour or two at McMurdo in 1957, and lowed bv the arrival in New Zealand Mrs. P. G. Law, wife of the director of the ice-breaker "Glacier", tanker of tbe Antarctic Division of the Aus- "Mirfak", icebreaker "East Wind" tralian Department of External Af- and the "Chatahoochee", all fairs travelled to Macquarie Is- scheduled for resupply and support land and MacRobertson Land; but work. the Antarctic was still essentially a Also participating later will be the male preserve, supply vessel "Tombigbee", due to leave Lyttelton on January 2. CHANGECHANGE OVER OVER PARA-RESCUE In a bitter 30° below zero tempera- Rigorous field training was the ture. Rear Admiral David M. Tyree order of the day for the Para-Rescue handed over command of the U.S. Team of VX-6. receiving instruction Navy Antarctic support force to at Scott Base from New Zealanders Rear Admiral James R. Reedy on stationed there. November 26. ' " D e c e m b e r , 1 9 6 2

A 20-minute ceremony at Amund The nuclear plant was shut down sen-Scott South Pole base marked for about a month, which necessi the end of Admiral Tyree's three and tated drawing on power from the a half years' command in the Antarc diesel generators, and postponed the tic. Both Admirals read their re anticipated day when all power for spective orders, saluted the U.S. flag the camp would be generated by the and turned to walk back into the nuclear plant. South Pole Station. The week before the fire the U.S. Admiral Reedy will be based at Atomic Energy Commission had can McMurdo Base, while Admiral Tyree celled a contract for a portable nu will take up his new post, that of clear power plant at Byrd Station U.S. Antarctic projects officer, in because of cost increases, schedule Washington. slippage:; and dissatisfaction with POWER PLANT TROUBLES the design as developed. Fire caused minor damage to An tarctica's nuclear power plant at McMurdo on October 7. Nobody Fears proved unnecessary when a "'as hurt and no radiation was le three-man geological party working ased, but fuel reserves subsequent up the Shackleton Glacier failed to ly came to be considered critical and report to McMurdo for 11 days. An barrels of diesel fuel had to be aeroplane was flown out in search flown in by helicopter from a dis of the party and found them neither tant fuel cache and oil tanker to re lost nor in any sort of trouble bar lieve the situation. a faulty radio.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 1962-63 RESEARCH _ The U.S. National Science Founda lichen growth, birds and marine tion has announced research grants and contracts totalling four million biology. dollars-for the. 1962-63 Antarctic re GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH Geolouy, a major field of research search season. ' under USARP, will be further studied These giants have been made to by a number of parlies covering universities, research institutions many thousands of miles of the and government agencies for basic continent. research on the Antarctic continent, A U.S. Geological Survey team will nearby land and sea areas and for work on the Pensacola' Mountain associated work-in the United States range, by foot and motor toboggan, on materials and information gather while University teams will move ed previously. into the hitherto unexplored Herit Scientific disciplines granted age Range of the Ellsworth Mount awards include biology, geology, ains and the Mt. Weaver area of (he glaciology, mapping, meteorology, Queen Maud Mountains (seeking oceanography, upper atmosphere geological relationships between )hvsics and seismology. Scientists this area and others lying east and wiJI attempt to solve, among other far north-west), McMurdo Sound, prpblems. those relating to the the Dry Valleys of Victoria Land amount, increase or decrease of ice and the South Antilles Basin be in the continental ice-cap, to the tween Antarctica and southern possibility of there being a deep sub- America. ice trench from the Ross Ice Shell tn the Weddell Sea, and to I he Three main categories are project ed for the 1962-63 season: four major _hnity and warmth of ice-covered field expeditions; five special de lakes in. the dry valley system. tailed studies of various aspects of Biological research, centred in Mc the geologv of the continent; and six Murdo Sound, Hallet Siation and the intensive laboratory studies in the research ship "Eltanin", will include U.S. to back up Antarctic field re study of fresh-water lakes, soils, search. December, 1962 ANTARCTIC

TRAVERSES Trail. This new route will cover to tally unfamiliar, uncharted territory, Several ambitious over-snow tra at the edge of which it is hoped verses are planned for this summer. that contact will be made with a With 12,000 miles behind them al- shore party from the icebreaker I. scientists plan this sea "Glacier", which will have to pene trate Ihe heavy ice pack of the son to cover another 1550 miles by Amundsen Sea, a feat never pre over-snow traverse. viously achieved. Should the The University of Wisconsin is "Glacier" be unsuccessful in this, sending a team to make a 1200 mile the traverse party will have to re traverse. This will cover a roughly trace its tracks to Byrd Station, triangular area beginning at the thus bringing ils mileage to 1700 South Pole, extending northward miles instead of the 1300 otherwise along the 165th meridian West, turn planned. The 400 miles between ing eastward to skirt the south ex Byrd and the coast will provide the tension of the Queen Maud Moun team with crevasses to fill as well tains, and after a short northerly leg, as topographical and exploratory continuing east to a point at 60° W- information (altitude, snow condi 86° 30'S, to follow the 60th meridian tions, etc.) to obtain. back to the pole. A brief return to the Pole in late December for re TOPO EAST AND WEST fueling will break the traverse into two stages. The first stage wil cover Topographical engineers of the 650 miles and the second 620 miles. U.S. Geological Survey will fly by The seven-man parly, travelling >n helicopters among the Queen Maud three diesel powered Sno-cats will, incude two seismologists, two glaci- and Horlick Mountains south of the ologists, a gcomagnetician from the Ross Ice Shelf and in north Vic U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and toria Land in a two-part project de two traverse engineers. The two signed to provide map control for s'laciologisls arc from the Ohio State University Institute of Polar Studies. an area of about 100,000 square miles. The primary goal of the traverse is The work will provide the precise to describe the area visited where location and elevation of points from no observations have heretofore the ground needed (along with aerial been made. An additional goal of the traverse partv is the resolution photographs) to prepare accurate of conflicting U.S., British, and Rus topographical maps of the area. The sian reports of the rock surface ele engineers will obtain the critical vation beneath the ice in the area control necessary through the use cf the South Pole. of Electro-tape System, an elec tronic measuring device accurate to two inches in 20 miles. NAVY TEAM A seven man U S. Navy team E I G H T S S TAT I O N under the command of Major Wil The establishment during this bur E. Martin plans to cover more summer season of the Eights station than 1300 miles with three traverses. in Ellsworth Land, near the foot of Equipped with Trackmasters, the Antarctic Peninsula (Graham which exert only one pound of pres Land or Palmer Land) 1525 miles sure ner square fool of snow, two from McMurdo Sound is expected D-8 Caterpillar tractors, two four- to be a difficult job. Poor weather man Wanigans for sleeping and eat al the Sky-Hi temporary camp is ing and several sleds for haulage, the being repeated this year.. Snow ac party is scheduled first to rehabili cumulation is up to seven feet, and tate Little Rockford Weather this is exceptional when the normal Station, and then to establish a new accumulation in the Antarctic is overland route to Byrd Station half from a few inches to about two feet. the length of the present Army-Navy The Eights base is not expected December, 1962 to be ready as a permanent scientific station until the end of the summer FRENCH PLANS season. The Air Force will soon be gin making supply drops in the area. Fifteen persons, 14 Navy men, were at the location in mid-November and technicians will arrive in Hobart on they will retrieve the fuel dropped the Danish polar exploration ship bv the Globemasters and stack it. This job should last until about the "Magga Dan" at the end of Novem end of November. The prefabricated ber. housing units will be flown in by 'Magga Dan" will load supplies in Hercules aircraft. These units are Hobart before sailing for Antarctica. aboard the U.S.S. Arneb, which is due at McMurdo about mid-Decem She left France on October 12. ber. In December, Mr. K. N. Moul- Paul-Emile Victor will join the ton, of the National Science Founda ship in Hobart before she resumes tion, will arrive at Eights station to her voyage to Adelie Land. supervise ihe setting up of the scien tific equipment. The station will be Nineteen of the Frenchmen will manned year-round by five scientists remain there until December next and six Navy support personnel. year, when another exploration ship will call to return them and land NEW STATION? new staff. Afue-\ Eights station has been The party consists of cosmic ray established, the next important pro experts, marine biologists, meteor ject to be carried out, probably in ologists, geophysicists, geologists, the next operational season, will be glaciologists. the establishment of a permanent The remainder of the party are biological station on the Palmer construction workers, hydrographers Peninsula. In readiness for this a and cartographers who will return site-survey team will be operating this season from the "Edisto", off early next year after a "summer the Peninsula. The station will be campaign." only a small one, with perhaps 15 to The "Magga Dan" is expected to 40 persons working from it. leave Dumont d'Urville about the end of January. The winter party will probably WINTER FLIGHTS? number 19. Dumont d'Urville will be When Mr. Philip M. Smith, senior the only base occupied. Transport at the base consists of two Sno-cals, representative of the U.S. National three tractors and three weasels. Science Foundation at McMurdo The main building work will during the first part of the current be largely preparatory to more ex season, passed through Christchurch tensive re-building in the 1963-64 on his return to Washington on summer. A quay for unloading pur November 12, he told the press that poses and a garage will be built, a flying-fox installed, and the founda in his opinion no major advance in tions prepared for two laboratories Antarctic scientific research was and a balloon-inflation shelter. Some now possible unless winter flights of the existing buildings will be were made from New Zealand to the shifted or demolished to enable the Antarctic. necessary levelling to be done in This, he pointed out, would mean mer'spreparation big construction for the following programme. sum getting new equipment, bringing in The first French-woman to visit new navigational techniques and de the Antarctic will be a member of veloping new concepts of operating the skiway at McMurdo Sound. the summer party. She is Chris tiane Gillet, Chef du Bureau Technique of Whether such flights were feasible, Expeditions Polaires Francaises. he added, was not in his province, Mile. Gillet was in the Arctic in 1958, but was a matter for the Navy. 1959 and 1960. December, 1962 RUSSIANS PLAN TO WINTER AT FOUR STATIONS The leader of the eighth Soviet Antarctic Expedition, Dr M. M. Somov, speaking in Moscow on November 6, gave an outline of Soviet plans for the 1962-63 season in the Antarctic. During the past year Soviet re- coast carrying out meteorological search scientists have been working and hydrographical observations, at only two Antarctic stations, Mirny and will reopen the Molodezhnaya (66° 33'S. 93° Ol'E) and Novolazarev- Station, where the Leader for 1963 skaya (70° 46'S, 11° 49'E). The will be P. T. Morozov. eighth expedition, however, will be The fourth base Molodezhnaya, re-activating two other stations, Vos- ok and Molodezhnaya in prepara- in will Enderby be fully Land established where some on the of site the lion for IQSR. he International Dreliminary wurk was carr;ed out Year of the Quiet Sun. The two , { summyQV_ Thc co.0rdinates are stations will have to be prepared, • 6?o 50,-5 44o QTE Thj ■ •quipped and provided with all es- *evera, hundred miles from lb- *»*- sent.als within the short period of , u t u Mawson is a,. the Antaict.c summer: a difficult t , ha„,wav between Mirny ai task because the thickness of the Novolazarevskaya. off-shore ice and the meteorological conditions, for example, can not be A A group group of of geoogists geoogists supported supported by estimated in advance. single-enginedsingle-engined aircraft aircraft will will explore explore The-ri_ . two . vessels 1 ur\i Ob >> and 1 111- Es- lilt; f the Molodezhnaya. iiivjLiu mountain idiii region icuiuii This toiu group, the iuv_ south with .luuui tonia were expected to leave Russia SL ^.^ nnrlv «,, h*n«um a lew uays alter ur. aomov spoke.the construction fa f the'"0b" party, by will aeroplane be flown On their arrival at Mirny, a column and hel'copter, but the main sup- of cargo-laden tractors would set ,• ... ,' ,.' , , . , h__ s*l out for Vostok. One item of this P!ieiu™,1" il2SS*™\ui?*£ u wuuiu uea acomplete uuuipicic hut con- mui <_uu-conditions , nnn improve ropcfi so closer to structed of fire-proof materials. The JJLrtSr pp winter personnel would be air-lifted suulon- to Vostok. AUTUMN TREK Tractors, fuel, provisions and It was reported on September 29 scientific equipment will be off- that a Soviet team had trekked 125 loaded at Mirny in December. A miles in 10 days through heavy snow- considerable proportion of the cargo storms to setup an automatic radio landed here will be destined for the weather station on the ice cap. inland Vostok Station (78° 27'S, 106° Th . , , , ,-, ,, prawia 52'E), situated at the South Geomag- c™ aPSk beforf The site for BSSiS&rta 3^ CVorrld'S.2rLF! ^automatic s^fe Suthtf fhe ffi'Bff'ScUK The sTa'tlon is" MSmaffi***^*^ situated at an altitude of 11,500 feet. ^JS^S^S&^^^A At this height, said Dr. Somov, "the SL~22S nSttJ? «? ?L w.'nii> s^Sdrl^"00" fCd thdr &&J)SS^V^^ t t T S S h c S S S i S ! S ^ M w i l l b e w i n - " - J » g M * » ^ M W b y tcring at Vostok with the Russians JJJ??™? «?5 J SS S££% fh The Leader at Vostok for 1963 will «* ^ not at the time of th. be V. V. Sidorov. P011- 'eacned their goal. Thc members of the Seventh Ex- FIELD WORK pedition will leave on their return to Europe on the " Estonia," which After unloading at Mirny, "Ob" is described as a "passenger ship" will voyage round the Enderby Land about the end of January. December. 1962

AT SOVIET STATIONS become frozen into the glacier. Soon the ceilings will be unable to with stand the mass of accumulated snow. Dr. Somov thinks it may Im J Deputy practicable to dig the huts out "and Leader, 26 other scientists, 11 en to transfer them complete to new gineers, 9 radio specialists, 5 mech sites. anics, 4 pilots, 3 cooks, a storekeeper and a clerk. He claimed that in the seven years since the Soviet flag was first hoist For winter 1963 it is planned to ed, the Pravda Coast, where the have 20 scientists and 36 other men main Russian base, Mirny, is situ at the station. ated, has become "one of the most At Novolazarevskaya there were 21 homely spots on the ice continent." men the Scientific Leader A. G. Dralkm, the Station Commander U. M. Rogochev, 11 scientists, 4 en WILD LIFE PROTECTION gineers, 2 radio men and 2 cooks. 6 In accordane with the SCAR re scientists and 7 others will winter quest to all countries engaged in An over. tarctic exploration and research to At the re-activated Vostok Station conserve the wild life in their areas there will be 12 men. half of them of activity, a request reiterated in scientists, while at Molodezhynaya the Antarctic Treaty, regulations there will be 4 scientists and 2 drafted by the Soviet Committee for others. Antarctic Research have now The vehices at Mirny number 11, (August, 1962) come into force and 8 tractors and 3 GAZ-47 cross are binding on all Soviet citizens in the area covered by the Treaty. country vehicles. There are 5 air craft, an IL-2. an IL-14, an AN-6 and Bird nesting sites and seal colonies LI-2 and an MI-4 helicopter. near Soviet Antarctic stations have been declared protected zones. Only At Novolazarevskaya are an AN-2 in exceptional cases and for scien and an AN-6, and two GAZ-47's. tific purposes is the catching of birds Stores at Vostok( at present un and seals permitted. The use of manned) are 3 Kharkovchanka cross explosives and firearms, aircraft country vehicles and 5 truck-trac flights and the transit of vehicles, tors, while at Komsomalskava there and the disposal of oil products and are 2 truck-tractors and 2 Pengu'n other harmful waste, in any way cross-country vehicles. which might injure wild life in the area, are all forbidden. The responsibility for observing PROBLEMS the regulations lies with expedil;ori leaders and the captains of ships and Dr. Somov listed some of the prob aircraft. lems still awaiting solution. Are the glaciers diminishing or increasing in Soon after (heir arrival in the An tarctic the Soviet expedition de ?«i Js,tV*e temPerature rising or falling? What is the future of this clared Haswell Island, the home of polar continent, covered, many mil a large penguin colony near Mirny, lions of years ago, with green a reserve. forests? Of more practical import "Pravda" reported on November ance, he said, was the establishment 27 that the "Estonia" had sailed Of trans-continental air-line routes from Leningrad the previous dav and the study of the world weather with some 200 men of the Eighth pattern. Expedition on board, including a During the past seven years most team from the Polar Aviation of the buildings at Mirny have be Division headed by A. Marchenko, come entrenched in deep snow. The and the men who will winter over. snow layer extends about five feet The aviation detachment will fly men above the roofs of the buildings and to their posts, aid parties on field is continuing to rise. The founda journeys, do reconnaissance flights tions of the buildings have long since and carry out aeromagnetic surveys. December. 1962 TWO MAJOR JOURNEYS FROM AUSTRALIAN BASES Two long traverses are the focal points of the spring activities of the 1962 parties at the Australian Antarctic bases. From Wilkes Station a geophysical first streams were trickling down traverse party set out on September Gashwater Alley. 17 for the Russian Vostok station, Castle Berg, 100 feet high and a 900 miles to the south-west, which mile across and probably the most was reached on November 20. From familiar feature ol the seascape since Mawson a party of eight with heavy the station was started, split in two vehicles set out on October 16 for on 27th, one half being steeply tilted the Amery Ice Shelf 400 miles east and separated by a wide gap from ward, more than half-way towards the other half. Davis Station. Meanwhile during Two field journeys: Wigg, Wil August, the Stations emerged from liams, Watts, Filson and Nelson took the winter to meet a returning sun. a weasel and sno-trac west over the sea ice to Taylor Glacier where they re-counted penguins and about 4,000 LATE WINTER AT MAWSON new chicks. Then there was a one- During August although light was day, 100-mile return trip to Foldoya returning temperatures were lower than ever with a record minus 31.7° Emperor Rookery further west. I". Nevertheless two field journeys were launched during August. First DAVIS ly, four men had a very enjoyable four-day trip to the Ausier Rookery Like Mawson the year's lowest over sea ice. Driving the weasel and temperatures came to "Davis station sno-trae, they did glaciologv work, during August. and counted forty thousand Emperor In temperatures below minus 30° penguins at the rookery, which is F three men walked to the inland located amidst a maze of icebergs. lakes to obtain water samples; these They camped each night on islands lakes are below sea level and two and returned very fit and cheerful. have so far remained frozen even The second expedition left on though the water temperature is August 25: a party of three travelled around zero degrees, Centigrade. bv dog sledge over the plateau to At Davis, August produced almost Church Mountain, one hundred miles everything weatherwise except rain to the east, in an area as yet unex and "thunderstorms. The men experi plored except by air. The party enced the highest and the lowest struck a snap blizzard and laid up August temperatures on record, ice at the caravan at Fischer's Nunatak fogs with mock suns and the longest for two days. blow of the year. On the brighter At Base preparations for the major side has been the increasing sun spring trip to the Amery Ice Shelf light. occupied all spare time. WILKES IN SEPTEMBER Spring had now returned to An August weather proved to be the tarctica and with it the skuas and worst to date, with little sun and snow petrels on 8th and Adelie pen winds peaking to 128 m.p.h. August guins on 21st. There were also Wed- had the lowest station pressures on dell seals in large numbers, some record, the highest average wind and with pups and fifty-seven counted the greatest snowfall. These con from one spot beyond Rookery Is stant high winds caused heavy drift land. On warmer "days icicles hung ing snow and the main station build from rocks and buildings and the ings disappeared below the snow 1 C D e c e m b e r , 1 9 6 2

surface, leaving only a few heater and a trail of debris followed the exhaust stacks to mark their exist wind direction. ence. The bulk rubber fuel tank, con In a brief spell of calmer condi taining 2,000 gals, of fuel, was again tions, Fox set off to release a bal blown off its stand when the tie- loon, but discovered that the new down points were torn from the Met. Release Building had disap tank body. peared. A later investigation show Preparations for the inland tra ed the building completely broken- verse steadily proceeded and all up. Many sections had disappeared major work was competed. From Mawson to the Amery Shelf On October 16 a party of eight apron oi ice 1,000 feel thick and men Irom Mawson left on a field about 20,000 squar,- miles in area. excursion to investigate the Amery J he ice shell is led by a number of Ice Shelf. The men are expected to be in the Held for a period of two glaciers including the Lambert Glacier, one of the biggest in the months and to cover a distance of Antarctic. It is distinguished from about 800 miles. other ice shelves by the large-scale For transport the party are using melting taking place on the slopes dog teams and mechanical vehicles. surrounding ii. In summer there are The tractor train consists of two D-4 iive.s and lakes of melt water. tractors, a snowtrac, two living cara Another striking feature on the vans and five sledges. surface ol this shelf is a number of The excursion is led by Cars tens, large circular or oval depressions re surveyor, other members of the sembling meteor craters but believed party being Trost, electronic en to bj due to collapse of the ice. The gineer, Landon-Smith, glaciologist uncertain origin of these glacial fea Foley, weather observer, Harvey! tures is one of a number of prob radio operator, Single, diesel mech lems which the current expedition anic, Freeman, electrical fitter, and may be able to solve. Walker, cook. Further news of this party was The principal objectives of the released on November 19. For seven journey are to establish a heavy days a blizzard had raged around vehicle passage over the Antarctic the party of eight men heading for Plateau from Mawson to the Amery the Amery Ice Shelf. In the preced Ice Shelf, where glaciological studies ing two weeks, because of blizzard vvill be made while the party spends and the freezing temperalures which about three weeks in that vicinity. accompanied it, ihe men had con On the ice shelf the party will initi stantly lo seek shelter and could ate studies aimed at determining travel only nineteen miles towards the rate of flow of ice as it moves their goal. Temperatures fell as low slowly seawards and the rate of ac as 75 degrees lahrenheit below freez cumulation of snow on the surface. ing point and averaged 42 degrees During the journev the altitude of below freezing. the ice plateau will be frequently ,Tr ™£ai.'tv nacl cached an altitude measured and weather observations of 5,000 leet above sea level in a will be made at six-hourly intervals. very windy and dangerous part of Astrofixes of rock outcrops dis Antarctica. Crevasses were a major covered will be of value for mapping hazard. this area. The geology along the route will be studied and collections During an October field journev of lichens made. an Australian mechanic repaired an , The Amery Ice Shelf was first engine gear-wheel of a broken down sighted 33 years ago. Lying between weasel with silver paper off a meat- Mawson and Davis, it is a floating bar and old nails. December. 1962 Trek Across the Ice Cap from Wilkes to Vostok

A party of six, led by New Zealander Bob Thomson, left Wilkes Station on September 17 to travel 1800 miles across the Ice Cap. The traverse, which will go further south than any other Australian ex hicles.progress Strong of the winds party's had snow piled ve up pedition, will be one of the most im snow drifts reaching to the roof of portant ever undertaken from an their caravan. Australian station. By October 28 the party was 400 The seismic ice depth measure miles south of Wilkes. ment work will link up with that Greatly improved weather condi completed by the 1961 Australian tions during the past week had National Antarctic Research Expedi- favoured progress. In the wc1- ,K-" 1 with seismic traverses by had travelled 126 miles, coi~. : Russians from their Vostok with about 50 miles for each of the station. previous three weeks, when their The party comprises Robert Thom progress had been frequently held son, the New Zealand officer in up by blizzards. The considerable charge at Wilkes station and leader distance travelled was all the more of the party; Walker, geophysicist; creditable because the vehicles had Batlye, glaciologist; Foster, U.S. constantly to negotiate high sastrugi weather technician, of Ohio; Collins, preventing them from advancing at diesel mechanic, and Evans, mech more than two miles per hour. anic-driver. The party had measured ice depths After travelling a short distance by gravity observations every 5 east from Wilkes, the party headed miles from Wilkes up to 354 miles, due south, following the route tra the southern-most point reached by versed by two Australian parties in last year's group. Over the second 1960 and 1961. stage of the journey, seismic shots The furthest point previously were fired every 20 miles. reached was about 350 miles south By November 4 the party had of Wilkes. covered over 500 miles. During the week they travelled 105 miles and encountered temperatures as low as SLOW PROGRESS 114 degrees below freezing point. First reports of progress were re The main obstacles confrontin.g leased on October 15. Blizzard con them were high, jagged snow ridges ditions on the Antarctic Plateau on the southern side of wide ice south of Wilkes had retarded [pro valleys that crossed their path. gress. In the first week they travelled AMERICAN FIELD SUPPORT 120 miles but in the second, third and fourth weeks the distances From the outset it had been plan covered were only 51, 44 and 57 ned that after the party had travel miles respectively. Blizzard and led 600 miles the U.S. Naval Support other hostile weather conditions Force would assist by an airdrop of made it possible for them to travel drums of fuel. on only about 18 out of the first 28 Accordingly on Noveml days that they had been in the field. round flight of nearly 2,000 miles Large sastrugi, which are carved was made by a United States Globe- out on the hardened snow surface master aircraft to drop tractor fuel by wind, had also slowed up the to the Australian field party. December. 1962

This airdrop was carried out by two Bell 47-G-2 helicopters will oper the Ninth Troop Carrier Squadron of ate from the "Thala Dan." the United Slates Air Force by ar rangement with the Commander of the U.S. Naval Support Force in An SHIP MOVEMENTS tarctica, Rear Admiral D. M. Tyree. "Thala Dan" is scheduled to leave Although the small six-man party Melbourne on December 21, and to and its tractor train was only visible proceed via the French base Dumont from the air as a small spot on a d'Urville, Lewis Island and Chick Is vast ice plateau, the aircraft had no land to Wilkes Station. After a fort difficulty in locating it. The party night (January 14-29) at Wilkes, the was then 572 miles inland and sup ship proceeds via Chick Island, Al- plied the aircraft by radio with in bov Rock, Lewis Island and the formation on weather conditions and Oates Land coast to Macquarie Is an accurate determination of lati land, and is due back at Melbourne tude and longitude. on March 6, 1963. On Chick Island Arriving over-head at 9.30 p.m. the and Lewis Island there are fully aircraft dropped 36 drums of fuel automatic weather stations, visited in all (1,364 gallons) after making annually for maintenance and re three runs. On each run thc plane pair. released three canopy parachutes "Nella Dan" is to leave Melbourne each carrying four drums in a pal lor Heard Island on January 7 and let. One parachute failed to open then proceed to Mawson, where she and its load of four drums, bursfng is scheduled to remain from January on impact, plunged many feet into 20 till February 8. She then goes oh the snow. to Davis, the Russian base Mirnv, and Wilkes, then calling at Heard Island and the French base at Ker- VOSTOK WON guclen before reaching Hobart on On November 18 the traverse March 20. party reached Vostok. As the party approached their goal PERSONNEL the men were thrilled to see the The Officer in Charge at Davis in radio antennae of the Russian station protruding from the ice 12 1963 will be W. F. Young, and at miles away. The rest of the station Wilkes J. P. C. Curlewis. The total was. buried beneath the snow. Vos personnel at the Australian stations tok is manned during the summer on the Antarctic continent will be months only, and was unoccupied Mawson 26 when the Australians arrived. D a v i s 9 Bad weather, heavy snow, hard W i l k e s 2 4 Three of the Wilkes team will be wind-packed snow ridges and low temperatures had been success Americans. fully overcome. The plateau over During the coming summer it is which they travelled had reach proposed to continue the hydro- ed an altitude of 12,000 feet. At one graphic survey of the approaches to point the underlying rock lav three Wilkes, and a geodetic survey of the miles beneath the ice surface. area will be made. It is proposed The team had a few days' rest at to carry out further trimetrogon Vostok before commencing on No llights along the coast of Wilkes vember 25 the long haul back to Land, George V Land and Oates Land. Wilkes, where they are due by Thc Australians have two launches January 15. and three 14ft. powered dinghies for use in the Antarctic. Surface (land) SUMMER PLANS transport includes weasels, D-4 trac tors, field caravans and "Snowtracs", This summer the annual relief o! and lor 1963, in addition, a Skidoo the Australian bases will be carried motonsed toboggan (at Mawson). a out by two motor vessels under Nodwell tracked carrier and. lor charter from the J. Lauritzen Com camp use. a Bombardier snow trac pany ol Denmark. "Nella Dan" and tor (at Wilkes), and a motor-cycle Thala Dan." A Beaver aircraft and and side-car (at Davis). December. 1962

Sufficient extensions will be ordered THE SJLN.A.E. NEWS for 1963. There are still 4 exits Some idea of the weather condi which can be used." tions at the South African "S.A.N. On July 19 the base radioed: AE" station may be gained from this For the 13 southernmost South summary of the meteorological re Africans things are still not as rosy cords in June: as we could wish. Contrary to the Mean temperature—18.6° C; mean good weather of June, July started maximum —14.4° C; mean minimum with continuous winds of approxi —24.2° C; highest maximum —7.2° mately 40 miles per hour during C; lowest minimum —36.5° C. mean several consecutive days. pressure 997.7 mb; highest pressure 1022.4 mb; lowest pressure 967.5 mb. SANAE WEATHER Low level winds: average velocity Mean temperatures for both July 30 knots, highest gust 89 knots. Rela and August were —27.9° (—18.2° F). tive humidity average 72%. Num The lowest temperature recorded in ber of days with driving snow, high July was —47.1° C (—52.7° F) and in and low: 25. August —45.7° C (—50.2° F). This was regarded as "good On August 21 four men visited the weather" (see below). old Norway station to collect build Serious difficulties are still being ing material, paint, oscilloscope and experienced with the launching of tractor parts. The trip took about balloons, because room in the bal three hours each way (15 miles). loon-cabin is very restricted. As The men found that the snow is still soon as the sliding doors are pushed settling and sinking lower at the old up and there is a wind of more than Norwegian base, but all the corri 15 knots a crosswind is caused, so dors and entrances were still readily that the balloons are forced against usable. (Norway evacuated the the walls and burst in most in station in December, 1959). stances. This almost frustrates launching when there is a strong HUSKY TRAINING wind. Otherwise all instruments are working well and all launchings At the end of August the dogs could be recorded until the balloons were let out in pairs to run about burst. for exercise. Eight dogs were in- spanned for their first snort run of On July 3 du Preez reported: 4 km. "During the fortnight there were Amusement was caused after a only four days with reasonably good heavy snowfall when the young weather. Today, however, the wind huskies sank in the loose snow and gave us a chance to do some out were often left hanging as their door work. Two of the sledges short legs could not reach the firm which had been placed on a scaf surface underneath. Men sank in folding were blown down during the latest gales. Today they were re knee-deep. placed on a scaffolding together with The sun returned on July 26. the dog sledge. "A large cable drum was exca JOURNEY PLANNED vated again and rolled to the sur A major part of the remaining face. A large quantity of snow and time will be spent on short trips ice driven by the wind formed dur in various directions. The climax ing the gale at the western side of will be reached by the departure for the base up to a distance of 250 ft. the mountains approximately 90 The aerials nearest to the base are miles to the South of S.A.N.AiE. now 3 feet above the surface. They will be made longer soon. The emer gency exit between the lavatory and S.A.N.A.E. PLOTTED the accommodation building is at From the astronomical observa the same level as the surface of the tions it appears that the co-ordin snow. This exit will no longer be ates of the S.A.N.A.E. base are: 70° used until extensions are available. 18'32" S and 2° 21'30" W. December, 1962 EXTENSIVE FIELD WORK PLANNED BY BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY

Six United Kingdom main bases and one subsidiary base will be relieved this summer and manned throughout the 1963 winter by a total working party of 87. The Hope Bay base and the sub H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh on sidiary View Point hut at Duse Bay board "Britannia" (1956-57). will be kept open during the summer The "Shackleton" and "John Bis but then closed as work in the area coe" are now well on their way but has now been completed. Extra liv "Shackleton" unfortunately had to ing accommodation is to be built enter dry-dock in Montevideo for re on to the Adelaide Island base hut. pairs to her propeller which develop The relief is again being carried ed a fault a lew days out from out by three ships. R.R.S. "Shackle- Southampton. This delay will re ton" sailed from Southampton on duce the time avaiable for seismic October 9 with 12 men for the and magnetometer traverses as, of bases, and R.R.S. "John Biscoe" on course, priority must be given to re October 30 with 18 men. The lief activities. "Shackleton" also carried a 3-man SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME U.S.A.R.P. ornithological party des Some indication of the wide cover tined for Bird Island, South Georgia. age of scientific work at the British The "Kista Dan" has been chartered stations is given in this summary of for a fourth season and is due to programmes at the eleven stations. sail on December 6 with 19 men for STANLEY, FALKLAND ISLANDS the bases. Of the 49 men going south this year, no fewer than 14 are Synoptic meteorology (surface), ex-British Antarctic Survey men who Upper air observations (radio-sonde have been re-engaged. In the case of unit), Forecasting service, Climat ology, Radiation, Seismology. Aurora Ken Blaiklock it will be his ninth and airglow observations (visual). season south; he has already spent 8 winters in the Antarctic (2 of them SOUTH GEORGIA with the Trans-Antarctic Expedition Syn. met. (surface), Forecasting and 2 with the Belgians), out this (whaling season), Biology (Fur time is going south for the summer seals). only. DECEPTION ISLAND Syn. met. (surface), Sea ice observa tions, Aurora and airglow (visual), IN TRAINING Glaciology, Biological project survey. A three-day meeting for new re ARGENTINE ISLANDS cruits was held at Cambridge in Syn. met., Upper air obs. (radio mid-September and this included sonde: radar winds), Ozone, Geo lectures, discussions and film-shows magnetism, Ionospheric recording, on every aspect of the Survey's Solar radiation. Aurora and airglow activities. This year we were very obs. (visual and all-sky camera), Ice pleased to welcome Mr. P. G. Law sounding by radar techniques. Radio (A.N.A.R.E.) and Drs. W. J. L. Sladen echo, Glaciology, Biology, Human and G. Llano (U.S.A.R.P.) as guests. physiology. Survey and geology— We were also very pleased that Sir Tottan Mountains. Raymond Priestley was again able to SIGNY ISLAND be present and give a talk on his ex Syn. met. (surface), Sea ice obs., periences with the Shackleton (1907- Biology, Glaciology, Bird ringing, 09) and Scott (1910-13) expeditions Aurora and airglow obs. (visual). and, more recently, with the Ameri HOPE BAY cans (Deep Freeze IV) and with Magnetometer survey, Gravity sur- December. 1962

vey, Weather (autographic records the parts of north-east Trinity Penin only), Sea ice obs. sula and the James Ross Island ADELAIDE ISLAND group not already covered. Glaciology, Sea ice obs., Syn. met. Magnetometer and gravity surveys (surface), Air support for field work will also be undertaken from the at Fossil Bluff and on the East coast ships along the Scotia Arc, in the ol Graham Land. Branslield Strait and elsewhere. FOSSIL BLUFF AREA Work will continue on a telluro- Geology, Topographical survey, meter survey of George VI Sound. Weather log only, Aurora and air The base at Fossil Bluff in the glow obs. (visual). Sound will also be the starting point EAST COAST CENTRAL GRAHAM for work by geologists and surveyors LAND on Alexander Island to the west: Topographical survey, Geology, geological reconnaissance will be Field magnetic and grav.ty obs. continued south of latitude 71° S and topographical survey will be ex STONINGTON ISLAND tended soutnwards and westwards. Support for field work at Fossil Mapping will be on scales 1/200,000 BlufI and on East coast as neces- ana 1/100,000, but areas of special sarv-. interest will be mapped at l/z5,000. Scientific work will also be car Further north, the survey of Adel ried out on the four ships engaged aide Island will be extended to link in British Antarctic Survey activities. the survey of Marguerite Bay, George VI Sound and Alexander Is SURVEYS PLANNED land to the triangulation further north. If possible, air photography Field work by ground partes will ol Adelaide will be undertaken this be concentrated in three main areas year, as apart from one flight down —in the central part of the east the east coast the 1955-57 air survey coast of Graham Land, in George ol Graham Land extended only as VI Sound and Alexander Island far south as the north of the island. which lies to the west of it, and also in the Tottan Mountains about 300 miles inland from Halley Bay. IN THE FIELD Six surveyors, led by Blaiklock, From Halley Bay, field parties will spend the summer working en with dog-teams ana Eliason tobog the east coast of" Graham Land gans win start work on the Tottan at approximately 66°S, filling Mountains—geologists in the western i gaps in the existing surveys', part and surveyors in the south. / h i s p a r t y w i l l b e fl o w n i n these mountains were explored for from Adelaide Island and will be the first time last year. Stores will provided with a small pre-fabri- be moved into the area by Muskeg cated hut. For transport they will tractors immediately after the visa have two dog teams and an Eliason of the "Kista Dan" which is motor sledge. None of the men scheduled for the end of January. will winter there in 1963: 5 will In addition to the above projects winter at the Stonington Island base routine work will be carried out at and Ken Blaiklock will be returning all bases. Full geophysical pro home. grammes will be continued at Halley A party of Hope Bay geologist Bay and the Argentine Islands bases. will extend their mapping of the east Glaciological observations will be coast of Graham Land southwards carried out at five bases incuding into this area, their field-work be these two, and new radar equipment tween Hope Bay (63° 24'S) and Cape for ice-sounding will be tried out on Disappointment (65"33'S) having journeys from Halley Bay. (This been completed. The network of equipment wil be lowed by a Mus gravity stations from Hone Bay will keg tractor and will operate con also be extended into this area at tinuously). the same time. The detailed mi■»- Biological work, described in the net'c survey of Trinity Peninsula September issue of "Antarctic" will will be carried south to Cape Dis be continued al Signy Island, South appointment, if possible, and into Orkneys. Work from the ships will December, 1962 include, if possible, the link up by AFTER ALL THAT ! naval parties of several local sur veys in the South Shetlands and the During the 1961-62 summer, two charting of the south and south-west young Britons risked their lives trek coasts of Adelaide Island. king across 300 miles of Antarctic wastes from Halley Bay to the Tot NEWS FROM THE BASES tan Mountains to chip rock speci Surveyors from Hope Bay com mens from the icy peaks. pleted vvork on Joinville Island, and Then the "Kista Dan" bringing the attempts are also being made to team and their hard-won specimens complete the triangulation of northern Adelaide Island before the back to England was trapped by the tellurometers are flown south to Fos 25ft.-thick pack-ice. Only when the sil Bluff for use in George VI Sound. American icebreaker Glacier crunch The two "Otter" aircraft which ed its way to the rescue could the were again housed at Deception Is "Kista Dan" sail on to Southampton. land during the 1962 winter, return ed to Adelaide Island on September There, British Road Services took 19 in preparation for summer activi over the three brightly painted ties. Stores are to be flown south crates containing thc rock specimens from Adelaide to Fossil Bluff and which glaciologist Dennis Ardus, 24, also over to the east coast for the and 31-year-old radio operator Colin summer field parties. Johnson had risked so much lo gel. In preparation for work in the Tottan Mountains a depot has been On the 135-mile journey from laid 120 miles along the route from Southampton to Birmingham by Halley Bay. A second party from road, the rocks, carried safely for Halley Bay recently crossed the resi 9,000 miles, disappeared. due of the once-extensive Stancombc For six months the hunt for the Wills Promontory (ice shelf) which missing rocks has been going on in was observed bv Shackleton at 74° sidings, warehouses and railway 04'S, 22° 48'W, but has since broken stations up and down Britain with out success. A spokesman for British Road Ser SKIN-DIVERS vices said on October 9: "I'm afraid we have lost I hem." Two skin-divers, the first men to So that is that. explore Antarctic waters by means of aqua-lung suits, left Southampton on October 9 aboard the research SWISS EXPEDITION ship " Shackleton." They arrived aboard to find there had been a delivery hitch over their IN 1963-4? suits which will be sent by another ship in three weeks' time. The Geneva correspondent of thc Working from Signy Island in the London 'Times" reported on Octo South Orkneys, the divers will col ber 5 that the fust Swiss expedition lect specimens of animal and veget to the South Pole is being organised able life from the sea. They will go down as far as 60 feel to get speci by the Polar Exploration Society re mens previously obtainable only by cently founded at Lausanne. Fifteen dredging. They expect to be able scientists, doctors, and technicians to stay down only 20 minutes at a have so far been accepted lor the time "to start with." The "Shackleton" is making her party. They will spend a year in pre annual relief voyage to British bases, liminary training before sailing from where the scientists and technicians Marseilles for Adelie Land on Octo will spend up to two years. She is commanded by New Zealand-born ber 15, 1963. The expedition, equip Captain David Turnbull, who is mak ped with six tracked vehicles, hopes ing his fourth visit to the Antarctic. to cover about 2,400 miles. December, 1962

ARGENTINE PLANS GENERAL SAN MARTIN, opened March, 1951. 68° 08'S, 67° 08'W, on The programme of scientific re Barry Island in the Debcnham search planned for 1963 by Instituto group, Marguerite Bay. Destroyed Antartico Argent ino is essent'ally by fire in February, 1059. the same as in 1961 and 1962. The same ships are to be used: ALMIRANTE BROWN, opened April, 1951, 64° 53'S, 62° 53'W, on Para Icebreaker "General San Martin," dise Harbour on the west coast of Transport " Bahia Aguirre," the Palmer Peninsula. Survey-ship " Chiriguano," Tanker " Punta Medanos," TENIENTE CAMARA, opened April. Oceanographic ship " Capitan 1953, 62° 36'S, 59° 54'W, on Half Canepa," and as before there Moon Island on the east side of will probably be two DC-3 and one Livingston Island, South Shetland DC-4 Navy planes, five Beavers, and Islands. two Sikorsky 55 helicopters. In addition, about 40 temporary The General San Martin, Almir- stations, most of them merely emer ante Brown, Teniente Camara and gency shelters, have been erected, Melchior bases will again not be in and most of them are stocked with operation. food and fuel. Three (Captain Camp A programme of Antarctic re bell, Petrel and Jubany) were tem search is being planned in connec porarily occupied during the 1961-62 tion with the International Quiet summer, while one (Conscriplo Or Sun Year. tiz) was destroyed by an avalanche in that period. The Argentine bases regularly oc cupied in recent years are as fol lows: JAPANBSSK MAY ORCADAS, opened February, 1904, 60° 45'S, 44° 43'W, on Laurie Is RETURN land, South Orkney group. 13 men. It was reported from Tokyo on DECEPTION, opened January, 1948, 62° 59'S, 60° 43'W, on Primero de November 13 that three Japanese Mayo Bay, Deception Island. 15 would leave on November 14 for men. Christchurch to inspect Antarctic ESPERANZA, opened March, 1954, bases with the co-operation of the 63° 24'S, 56° 59'W, on Hope Bay. United States. 21 men. The Ministry said the three Japan GENERAL BELGRANO, opened ese would be Mr. Masami Rayama, January. 1955, 77° 58'S, 38° 48'W, chief of the third and fifth Japanese on the Filchner Ice Shelf. 13 men. wintering team on the Japanese An ELLSWORTH, opened as a United tarctic base of Ongul Island, Mr. States base April, 1957, on the Yasuhiro Nakasone, former director Filchner Ice Shelf, 77° 39'S, 41° 02'W. Administered by Argentina of the Science and Technology since 1959. 32 men. Board, and Mr. Shun Hasegawa. former Parliamentary Vice-Minister TENIENTE MATIENZO, opened of Education. March, 1961, 64° 58'S, 60° 03'W, on Larsen, one of the Seal Nunataks They were expected to visit United protruding above the Larsen Ice States and Soviet bases in the An Shelf, to the west of Robertson tarctic as well as the Japanese base- Island. 24 men. now closed, before returning lo Other stations not at present oc Japan on December 6. cupied are: Whether Japan will re-open the MELCHIOR. opened March, 1947, 64° Showa base may largely depend 20'S, 62° 59'W, on Observatory Is upon the report brought back by land in the Melchior Archipelago. these investigators. December, 1962 Summer Programmes Planned for Chilean Bases Chilean Antarctic activities for the 1962-1963 season will be in the hands of technical and scientific personnel of the Armed Forces and the University of Chile. Thc Antarctic Task Force (Navy) ARTURO PRAT BASE, 62° 29'S, 59° will comprise the transport "Piloto 38'W, Chile Bay, Greenwich Island (opened February, 1947). Pardo", the occanographic vessel men under Capt. Corbeta Sr. uas- "Yelcho", and an ocean-going tug of ton G. Gallegos will winter here. the "Lientur" class, with two Beli It is a Navy base. 47J heicopters on the "Piloto Pardo." PEDRO AGUIRRE CERDA BASE, The total complement of the three 62° 56'S, 60° 36'W, Pendulum Cove, vessels is 34 officers and 290 men. Deception Island (opened Febru The task-force, under the com ary, 1955), an Air Force base. Seven men under Capt. Band (A) mand of Cap. Nov. Sr. Victor W. Sr. Mario L. Tobar will comprise Amenabar, is due to leave Valpar the 1963 team. aiso on December 1 and to arrive in Antarctic waters on December 20. Attached to this base arc three The fleet is scheduled lo leave for emergency shelters: at the base it Chile on March 1, 1963. The route self, at Telephone Bay and at Buen in the Antarctic will be Drake Sea, Bransfield Strait, Gerlache Strait, Tiempo Cove. Considerable addi Grandidier Channel, Bellingshausen tions are envisaged for 1963, and a Sea. programme of volcanonological ob The Chiean bases to be occupied servations will be carried out in con throughout the coming year are: junction with the Instituto de Geo- BERNADO O'HIGGINS BASE, 63° I'isica v Sismologia of the University 19'S. 57° 54'W, on Cavadonga Bay, of Chile. O'Higgins Peninsula (opened Febru ary, 1948). The team for 1963 will GABRIEL GONZALEZ VIDELA comprise eight men under the leader BASE, 65° 49'S, 62° 51'W, on Para ship of Capl. Sr. Ivan D. Urquleta. dise Harbour, O'Higgins Peninsula An Armv base. (opened May. 1951"). Staffed by nine men. The Leader for 1963 Construction and maintenance will be Sr. Alejandro A. Bobadilla. work will be carried out to provide Since 1961 this station has been more comfort for the wintering run by the Instituto de Geofisica parties. There will also be extension and maintenance work on the out y S"smologia. A marine biological buildings and shelters. The tele laboratory is to be built. An ex communication aerials will be over tensive programme is planned in hauled and new aerials erected. The Meteorology, Seismology, Marine lighting system will be overhauled. Biology and Glaciology. The scientific programme com In addition there is a sub-base, Yelcho, 64° 52'S, 63° 35'W. It is a prises seismology, meteorology, bi Navy station, occupied in summer ology and tide studies. only, by five men. The sub-base is The programme of work for 1963 to be completed this summer. also includes the following: Over The scientific programme at the hauling and installation of new tele Videla base includes Meteorology, communication aerials. Repairs to Seismology, Marine Biology, Physi auxiliary shelters. Overhauling of ology and' Psychology. Geomagnetic the lighting installation and repairs studies will possiby be transferred lo the generators. to other bases. Dtco'voef I S"t.2 A N T A P C T

Aii attempt will be made to finish I he programme ol glaciology, which ANTARCTIC WHALERS is being carried out at this Base, During the past three seasons, three new Russian factory ships cluing the two months of Summer. For this purpose three Mining En have been put into service in the gineering students have been chosen Antarctic, "Sovietskaya Ukraina" in who will receive topographical train 1959, "Juri Dulgorukij" in 1960 and ing and basic theoretical prepara "Sovietskaya Rossia" in 1961. The tion. It will, however, be necessary Norwegian factory ship '"Kosmos to obtain the help of a foreign III" was sold to Japan in 1961 and specialist to direct the topographical operated as "Nisshin Maru no. 3", work as there is no research centre but the "Kinjyo Maru" was with handling this subject in Chile. The drawn, so that the Japanese again inclusion of this programme will be used seven ships. The other whaling confirmed later. The difficulties of nations had the following factory topographical work in the Winter do ships; with the number of chasers not justify keeping up this pro in brackets: gramme all through the year as was N o r w a y 7 ( 7 1 ) done experimentally in 1962. United Kingdom 2 (22) N e t h e r l a n d s 1 ( 1 5 ) SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH U.S.S.R. 4 (67) MISSION The total of 21 factor}' ships and During the second phase of the re 261 chasers is the same as in the lief, the meteorologist and ex-com 1960-61 season with the exception mander of G.G.V. Base, Dr. Manual that nine more chasers were operat Puigcerver, will visit the four ing. Chilean Antarctic Bases together In the area south of 50°S the catch with a senior member of the Uni of blue whales in 1961-62 was ap versity. The prime object of this proximately 750, as compared with visit will be to study the meteoro 1,000 in 1959-60 and 600 in 1960-61. logical and local conditions at each The overall figure for pelagic base in order to fix the future posi whaling in the Antarctic during the tion of the radio location station, same period is as follows: which is at the moment working at 1959-66 36,559; 1960-61 38,972; G.G.V. Base, in an area more repre 1961-62 37,361. sentative of the Antarctic climate, There has been a steadv decline and also to obtain a better inter in the catch of humpbacks (1338, national geographic distribution of 718, 309). but a rise in that of sei upper air observations. At the same whales (3234.4310.4709). time the Antarctic scientific pro The ability of the whales to re grammes will be controlled, especial cover from over-catching is illus ly I hose at G.G.V. Base. It is also trated in the figures from area 1, proposed to visit the British base which was for some years a "closed" at the Argentine Islands at the ex area. Here the seasonal catches in press invitation of Sir Vivian Fuchs, blue-whale units have been: Director of the British Antarctic Sur 1959-60 322 vey. For this visit, a special trip lo 1960-61 241 this base will be requested by a ship 1961-62 1809 of the Antarctic Fotilla for about one Apart from the seasons 1955-56 week. and 1956-57, this was the largest EMERGENCY HELP catch ever taken in the area. By The means for providing assist contrast, in area V (covering most ance at the bases are limited: of the Ross Sea region) the blue sledges drawn by dogs, first aid kits whale units captured fell from 2,222 and radio sets of limited range. in 1960-61 to 718 in 1961-62. With the exception of the 'O'Higgins Base and possibly the Gabriel Gon- alez Videla Base, the bases have no W H A L I N G TA L K S doctor. During the Summer, while A meeting of the Scientific Com thc Antarctic Flotilla remains in the mittee of the International Whaling area, these means of assistance are Commission will be held at Seattle, adequate for any emergencies which U.S.A., from December 6 to Decem are likely to arise. ber 19. December, 1962 NEWS FROM THE SUB-ANTARCTIC Attack On Big Ben

HEARD ISLAND 2. The first ascent of the 9000 foot active volcano "Big Ben" which (Australia) dominates the Island. "Nella Dan" will land the party on Heard Island, 2,500 miles south Heard Island before going on lo re west of Fremanllc, is in the news lieve the Australian stations at Maw again. The island was occupied son and Davis. The ship will return b y A u s t r a l i a n e x p e d i t i o n s f o r six weeks later to pick up the party seven years, from December, 1947, and carry them back to Hobart till the close of 1954. about March 20, 1963. It is situated at 53° 01'S and 73° The geologist will concentrate on 23'E. During its occupation, succes a geological survey of the interior sive parties of Australian scientists of the island, which has never been gradually developed the Heard Is reached before, and on a study of land station to a high degree of the volcanic activity. efficiency. Their continuous meteoro logical, geomagnetic and seismic re Glaciological interest wiil be cords provided valuable information directed towards an attempt to de about a featureless region of wind termine whether the snow and ice cover of the island is increasing or swept ocean. decreasing and to observing the This summer another Australian effects of lire and ice on rock near team is to occupy the lonely, wind the summit. swept island. Early next year a six- man scientific party will carry out The physiologists will extend to an extensive scientific programme. this region their current Antarctic studies concerning man's ability to acclimatise himself to different OLD HANDS types of cold conditions—a matter The expedition, led bv Dr. G. M. which has bv no means been settled Budd. of the School of Public Health yet. and Tropical Medicine, Sydney, will Biologists will study developments leave on the A.N.A.R.E. ship, "Nella in the colonies of giant petrels, Dan" on January 8. Dr. Budd will be prions, skuas, albatrosses, penguins, making his third trip to the Antarc etc., following the seven vear occu tic, having served previously at pation of the island which was ter Heard Island (1954-55) and at Maw minated in 1955. son (i 959-60). Among the other members will be BIG BEN Dr. Jon Stephenson, senior lecturer in geologv at Townsvillc University As part of the geological survey College. Stephenson was one of the the party hopes lo get to the higher geologists who accompanied Dr. parts of the island—including the (now Sir Vivian) Fuchs on the Com summit of the unconquered Big Ben. monwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedi Big Ben, an ice-covered volcanic tion of 1957-58. cone rising to 9000 feet, forms the main bulk of the island, which is 28 miles long by 13 broad. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME In 1947 an amphibious 'plane of The expedition will have two main the Royal Australian Air Force flew objectives— over the island and reported smoke I. Scientific investigations in the rising out of the ice-clad peak of fields of geology, glaciology, the volcano. It was last known lo physiology, biology and meteor be active in 1929, when a British ship ology. sailing in the vicinity saw flames December, 1962

leaping into the air from the moun AUCKLAND ISLANDS tain cone. One of the members of the 1947 (New Zealand) expedition to Heard Island, Dr. A. R. Gilchrist, will return lo the island with the 1963 expedition. Dr. Gil DOMINION MUSEUM-D.S.I.R. christ surveyed the first stages of EXPEDITION, 1962-63 the route to the lop of Big Ben Peak, but neither he nor his colleagues Fourteen members of the party was equipped for the difficult are expected to embark on H.M. ascent. N.Z.S. "Endeavour" at Lytlellon on Thc route to the lop of the vol 21 December and it is likely that cano will be over glaciers and in the at least one other will accompany lace of threatened avalanches. The Mr. John Graham who, with the fish climbers will have 20 hours of day ing launch "Orion" of Oaniaru, is ex light each day while they make their pected to join the expedition at the attempt. Auckland Islands. With the use of this vessel, it is hoped to carry out an extensive off-shore programme WORLDS WORST WEATHER? of dredging, trawling and marine One thing they can be sure of biological work generally. With other during their period on Heard Island marine biologists examining as much is bad weather. So frequenlly is the of the tidal zone and shore line as island obscured by cloud that the possible, this part of the programme first view of it from an approaching is expected to prove very fruitful. ship is of forbidding glac er cliffs or The other auxiliary craft of the ex abrupt headlands looming out of the pedition is a 16' open boat with in mist. board motor which will be used On occasions, however, the icy within the confines of Pori Ross summit of the island is visible, ris for similar work and for the trans ing above low cloud, from immense portation of parlies over the short distances. distances to the northern fringe of Big Ben's dome seems Ihen lo islands. Both botanists and zoolo float in the sky above the horizoned gists expect to make overland murk, making one of the most journeys from the north to the south dramatic sights of the stormy South end of the main island and it is ern Ocean. hoped to establish a camp on Adams Formidable ice-cliffs and but Island so that as many members of tresses soar 5000 or 6000 feet above the party as possible can spend up the pressure ice of the glaciers. to a week or more in an investiga Attempts to climb Big Ben were tion of an island which is the one defeated in 1948. 1949, 1951. and 1953 in the group least modified by intro by blizzards and poor visibility. In duced animals and pasl human 1953, at a height of more than 5G00 activity. feci, Bechervaise. Shaw, and Elliott The period of December-January were buried for five days in a small is the peak of the breeding season lent. of the Southern sea-lion and it is proposed lo make extensive ob servations and population counts, ILES CROZET work in which several of the mem (France) bers will be able to assist. •i Thirteen men \yi\\ live on the As nothing is known of the pre Crozet Islands throughout the sum sent condition of the several build mer. The main task will be the set ings erected in 1941 and known lo be ting up of an automatic meteoro- still standing in 1954, the Dominion ogical station and the construction Museum is providing some repair of a cable railway which will facili material and timber in order thai tate the transfer of .material next existing buildings may be strength year from the landing place at la ened and left this time in a useful Clique du Marin to the plateau condition for subsequent parties. It selected as the site of .the permanent may be possible to maintain the station. '>" Port Ross establishment as a base December, 1962 for future field work, the control CAMPBELL ISLAND being vested in the Museum by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, In- (New Zealand) vercargill. The annual servicing ship "Holm- MARION ISLAND burn" left Wellington October 29 and after a moderate passage arrived at (South Africa) Campbell Island mid-afternoon No vember 1. A racy correspondent on Marion Island reported to the Weather The ingoing team consisted of Bureau Newsletter: John Hall, Cook; Case Roobeck, "Marion is altering its shipbuild Mechanic-Handyman; Allan Dodds, ing dock. The big question is will Ionosphere Observer; John Squibb, it float? Mathematically it should Senior Met Observer. be able to carry 500 lb., but if Marion keeps silent for a long time The unloading of stores com it will prove that this was wrong. menced soon after arrival in perfect "July was a pleasant month on weather. The ship left for New Zea Marion, which means that it was land on November 2 and arrived cold enough, bul there was a rea back in Wellington on November 5. sonable low level wind so that the The outgoing personnel were^L.P. upper air programme could be car ried out satisfactorily. So long as the balloons can be launched every Gof...., ,..-, ■ body is happy. Smith, Cook. "The few pleasant days we have had were used for a cat hunt. Cats Ian Fisher also came off Campbell are gradually but steadily occupying with the outgoing party, and after the island and cause great losses to having a short holiday in New Zea birdlife on Marion. On one day and land returned to Campbell Island on at a distance of less than a mile we H.M.N.Z.S. "Rotoiti" for another 12 discovered fifteen half-eaten pen months' sojourn. guins and other birds. Up to date The new party has started its five cats have been killed. study of Wild Life. A Sooty Alba "Marion remains true to its statis tross was sighted which was banded tics, and the mean temperature for by Sorensen on November 22, 1942. the month was 3.5° C. The mean A Cape Pigeon was also sighted pre sea temperature was 4.4° C. The viously banded by the Tory Channel maximum temperature was 9.3° and Whaling Station in July, 1958: Band No. 41115. The lirset White Heron the minimum 5.0°. The humidity was sighted at Tucker Cove on Nov percentage was 6% lower than dur ember 14. ing last month, viz., 86 but there were 12 inches of rain against only The sea elephants have completed 6 in June. At the same time it was mating and 34 pups have been more than the average for July. The branded so far this year. total of hours of sunshine was 69.5. Visiting officers on the servicing "Our local ship has not yet been ship included Mr. A. MacDonald, launched because the men think Civil Aviation Administration. Stores that it is a little bit too cold for a branch, Flying Officer J. Murray, swim. In the meantime a bottle of Medical staff, Air Department and dry wine is kept cool in order to Mr. J. Suttee, Radio Technician break it against the bow. division. These officers carried out "During the night of July 16 strong inspections in their own particular wind and a snow storm broke the fields. anchor wire which held in position The following information was two legs of the rhombic aerial so passed by the Officer in Charge. "The that the wireless station was out of party is in excellent health and the order for five hours. Several water- average weight is 13J stone. The pipes were also frozen." average age is 33 years." December, 1962

ILES KERGUELEN cal survey of glaciers and of its work on ice accumulation and ablation. (France) An endeavour to link up the archi pelago with the world gravimetrical The relief ship "Gallieni" will leave network. Reunion on its first voyage of the Geological prospecting with season on December 10." After call special attention to thermal activity ing at the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen and the quaternary glaciation Marine and Nouvelle Amsterdam, the ship biological research. will return to Reunion on January 13, Routine work will be carried out 1963, leaving again on its second voy in the fields of meteorology, iono age on January 15. The summer sphere, magnetism, aurora, cosmic commission will extend over about rays, atmospheric optics and radio 30 days. activity. The seismological station at Mol- loy, which is at too great a distance A slip has been constructed at Ker from the main base, will be dis- guelen to facilitate the dry docking manted and re-erected at Port-aux of the three barges (two of 30 tons Francais. The upper atmosphere and one of 20) and the launch. The station will be out of action as no slip was opened on November 13. A suitable applicant is available. building to house the teletype re Terre Australes et Antarctiques ceivers is in course of construction. Francaises have issued three new The principal investigations this postage stamps: 8 francs C.F.A. "Sea summer will be: A continuation by Prof. Bauer's "AdelieElephant penguins" Battle," 50 and francs 50 francs C.F.A. team of its electrical and gravimetri- C.F.A. "Telstar."

Hazardous Rescue on Windswept Macquarie Island A biologist of the Australian party was directed to head for Hobart and on Macquarie Island, Wim Vestjens, prepare for the mercy mission. left the base in September to spend However, a message received later six months at Bauer Bay, sfoc mi es from the island said the illness was away across a high plateau, in order not as serious as was earlier feared to study the Royal penguins and and it was not necessary to evacuate especially the factors which control him urgently. their breeding. More than 7,000 birds have been banded in the past TOUGH JOURNEY few years, and Vestjens wanted to The stretcher-party of eight men be on the spot when the banded travelled six miles across the island birds returned to the rookery. over a high plateau and reached Bauer Bay in one hour and forty minutes. DISTRESS CALL After a very short rest, the bearers set out with Vestjens strapped in Early in November, following a his sleeping bag on to a stretcher distress signal from the isolated nut, harnessed to the shoulders of four Pedersen, the Station leader, and Dr. men. As the patient is well over Nespor went to Vestjen's aid, and sent out a call for further assistance six feet tall the stretcher bearers and a stretcher party. had a heavy load. From 4 o'clock in the afternoon The destroyer, H.M A.S. Vampire, until 8 o'clock that night the party was returning to Melbourne from followed a tortuous course under exercises in New Zealand when it bleak skies and in cutting winds. December, 1962

After stumbling through seal wal TV DRAMA lows and boggy fens, they began the steep and rugged climb upwards to Osmar White, an Australian the plateau. Frequent replacements journalist who has spent sevei were made as bearer after bearer months in the Antarctic has written became exhausted. a TV play "Manhaul" with an Aus Across the plateau the men raced tralian Antarctic station as its set- to beat the failing light and fought against the cold to the eastern edge. Here they began an extremely steep of their descent to the coast again. This last stretch of half a mile dropped 900 feet, along a very narrow track with a slope of one in three which re This tense drama was shown on quired great care to secure a loot ing and permitted only two men at Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide a time to handle the stretcher. stations in September. On reaching sea level the ex hausted rescuers were met by a TV REALITY tractor to aid them in the last mile to the station's hospital. An Australian television learn A report on November 7 stated went south on "Glacier" in the that Vestjens' condition was satis eariiest-ever penetration of the pack factory and improving. His illness to make a documentary film for In was diagnosed as extreme physical tend, says the Australian "TV and nervous exhaustion resulting Times." The working title for the from his arduous efforts in the field. film is" Twelve Flags Fly South." A November report said that Vest jens was "up and about." FOR PHILATELISTS Two regular magazines cater for ISLAND NEWS the needs of specialists in Polar The fence defending the meteoro stamps and covers. logical instruments from marauding "POLAR POST" is the journal of seals was once again flattened be the Polar Postal History Society of fore the onslaught of bull seals in Great Britain. their exodus from the high living "ICE CAP NEWS" is published six harems on the beaches to the re times a year by the American cuperation centres amongst the tus Society of Polar Philatelists. sock grass. The last part of October saw two parties leave the station and both DOCTOR WANTED remained out for seven days. The The departure of the relief party first party painted the interior of for Macquarie Island may have to the Green Gorge Hut and later paint be delayed unless it can secure the ed the outside of the huts at Hurd services of a doctor to accompany Point on the southern tip of the the party, which is scheduled to island. leave Melbourne on November 29, by The second party, searching both the MV. "Thala Dan." east and west coast lines, counted Normally doctors attached to An seals and checked for brands. In tarctic Stations remain there for all, they counted over seven thou about one year. Because of the re sand pups and cows. cruiting difficulty, however, the De Two sea scouts and two Queen's partment is prepared to accept an scouts will also be with the summer applicant for the period up to March, relief party, and several scientists will make special observations dur As we go to press it is announced ing the time the ship is at the island. that Dr. David Cooke has offered An Army groun will man three em- to serve for three months, so the re phibious "DUKWs" to land stores lief will proceed as arranged. and equipment. Two school cadets will again ac Thc Officer in Charge for 1963 will company the relief expedition to the be C. B. Ellwood (35). island late in November. December, 1962 THE READER WRITES Sidelights of Antarctic Research Letters of approximately 500-600 words are invited from readers who have observed some little known facet of Antarctic life or who have reached conclusions on some Antarctic problem. —Ed. A VETERAN RECALLS Sir, The visit in February this year by Messrs. Hanley and Burrows of D.S. I.R. to my old magnetic observatory of Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay, as described in your June issue, is of much interest and awakens many memories. The discussion in my Report on Terrestrial Magnetism (Vol. I of Series B of the Scientific Reports of the Australian Antarctic Expedi tion 1911-14) shows that the South Magnetic Polar Area was, in 1912, about 350 miles from Cape Denison. These and subsequent data were considered by the late Dr. C. C. Fair, D.Sc, F.R.S., who discussed location of the South Magnetic Pole in Vol. IV of the Scientific Reports of B.A.N.Z. Antarctic Research Expedi tion 1929-30. Farr showed thai the Pole had moved some 105 miles to the NW by 1939, while later observa tions by the French in Adelie La$d (1950-52) defined the Pole within ;80 miles of Commonwealth Bay. De tails of the present "fix" by Hanley and Burrows will be of exceptional . Dir M WCR!1 interest to specialists in terrestrial M , , ,bKIU N' ...fcBB . .. mipnotism New Zealand magnetician of Mawson s There is room (and occasion) here '"'"'f. •»*•*«••«. a_s an offlc/r !n the for some up-to-date inquiry into the Australian Imperial _ Force a few years movement of the S.M.P. since 1912 atr lv]r v" Farr's analysis gives 105 miles in 27 years, equivalent to 3.9 miles per . , , , , . "vear, while the Hanley-Burrows (and man.ymany Y«»*woad years abroad as as a a hydro-elecfrlc hydro-electric French) location means 355 miles in ™9"""»-engineer. His His home home is isin in Cornwall. Cornwall, Eng- Eng 5 0 y e a r s ( 7 . 1 m i l e s p e r v e a r ) . o r 2 5 0 l a nland. d - miles in 23 years (10.9 miles per year). of Cape Denison,of Cape Denison, is a is a notable notable Perhaps the most interesting itemrecord. record. In In fact fact the the "magneto- "magneto- for me personally is the statement graphgraph house" house" (described (described briefly briefly and that, "they found the old magneto- illustrated illustrated in in "The "The Home Home of of the graph hut in good condition and ice- Blizzard," Blizzard," but but with with more more detail detail in free". This, after 50 years sub- Vol.Vol. 1 1 series series B B of of A.A.E. A.A.E. Scientific Scientific ject lo the violent vicissitudes Reports)Reports) was was rather rather an an after-thought after-thought December, 1962 in the Expedition's equipment. I re member well that, when Dr. Mawson VETERAN'S had persuaded me to undertake the observatory, as well as the field ASHES magnetic work, I had, not only to set up and familiarise myself with SCATTERED the Eschenhagen instruments, but also to design and obtain the The dying wish of Antarctic materials for a hut to house them— veteran Alfred Herbert Lark man has all in a little over a month. Thus, been fulfilled. His ashes lie scat- it became a timber frame with T & G boards :'."' outside and I" inside, each having tarred paper lining from the South Pole. which was fixed with battens, Only about two weeks before his death last July, "Bert" Larkman especially along thc joints, in order to render it tight as" possible. The learned that his name had been prime objective was the most given, on the suggestion of a New equable temperature attainable, to Zealand field party, to one of the which end the double compartment Aurora Nunataks. These are a entrance and the many tons of stone group of five mountain summits built round the walls made substan piercing the ice cap far to the south tial contribution. That the hut was of the great glaciers like the Beard- built completely at site from bundles more which feed the Ross Ice Shelf. of timber which had no easy passage Mr. Larkman expressed the wish on the S.Y. "Aurora" is further tri that his ashes might be scattered on bute to the builders and is in con the nunatak named after him. trast to the present day of "pre fabs." WISH FULFILLED I do not recall any difficulty with This was clone in the early morn falling ice during my running of the ing of November 16. A United States Navy Hercules aircraft piloted by observatory to February, 1913, Cdr. W. H. Everett, Commanding Of though some unexplained shifts of ficer of the U.S. VX6 Squadron, left base-line on the magnetograms did Williams Field, McMurdo Sound, on occur. These were the more discon the evening of the 15th bound for the certing for the months of Bage's South Pole. Leaving the Pole at 11.45 p.m. on the return flight to Mc operation, because there was then Murdo, the Hercules was diverted no dip circle (which had been to pass over the Aurora Nunataks, cached in the vicinity of 67 mile the position of which had been care depot to lighten load for our des fully plotted from aerial photographs and maps on the outward flight. perate dash to the coast) and thus Also on board thc plane was the no "absolute" check on "V" (vertical Scott Base leader, Lt.-Col. R. A. force). Tinker, and Graham Billing, N.Z. P.R.O. at Scott Base. It is rewarding indeed to learn As the plane approached the area, that our efforts to compete with the persistent heavy cloud cover those fierce elements of wind and thinned to leave only mist swirling temperature have been so much more successful than we dared to among the peaks. This sudden clear ing allowed the Hercules to descend hope, in that the old hut still pro from 24,000 to 10,000 feet only a few vides effective shelter today. hundred feet above the peak. The aircraft was de-pressurised, the E. N. WEBB, Larkman nunatak unmistakably identified and Colonel Tinker knelt Chief Magnetician. A.A.E. beside the rear paratroop door on I he port side. At a signal from the Helford Passage, pilot he scattered the ashes in their opened container over the peak. As Cornwall, England. the aircraft was banked for the drop September. 1962. the Larkman Nunatak could be December, 1962 clearly seen. Colonel Tinker knelt for a few moments beside the open nOOK&HELF door which was then closed and the Hercules climbed to cruising alti HIGH LATITUDE—J. K. Davis, Mel tude once more. bourne University Press. 292 pp. Colonel Tinker later expressed the illustrations and maps. Aust. price 45/-. VX-6appreciation help in ofthus New paying Zealand tribute for to one who played his part well in An John King Davis is an honoured tarctic exploration in the heroic age. name in the annals of Antarctic ex ploration. As Chief Officer of "Nim- rod" 1907-09, Master of "Aurora" and second in command of Mawson's ex- edition 1911-14, Commander of the HARRY WEXLER Koss Sea Relief Expedition 1916-17, We regret to announce the death and Master of "Discovery" 1929-30, he has had a long and distinguished in Boston on August 11, at the age career as a navigator in Antarctic of 51, of Dr. Harry Wexler, Director waters. His skill as a writer was of Research of the United States apparent in his "With the Aurora Weather Bureau and one of in the Antarctic 1911-14," published in 1919. America's most distinguished scien tists. Harry Wexler was well known Now, a lively and vigorous 78, Captain Davis has published the to a great many New Zealanders story of the most eventful years of as Chief Scientist for the U.S. I.G.Y. his life. 'High Latitude" is a first-rate Antarctic Program, and during his book. The consciously literary style visits lo this country and to Mc of some sections may be due to the collaborator whose assistance Cap Murdo Sound his cheerfulness and tain Davis warmly acknowledges, warm friendliness won the deep per but the reminiscences themselves, sonal affection of many who already the salty humour and the generous admired him for his ability and tributes to associates both famous and little-known reflect the stalwart leadership in the field of meteor character of "J.K." himself. ology and many related sciences. As the story begins with his first introduction to the sailor's life in A SHACKLETON GESTURE 1900 and ends with his rescue of the Ross Sea Party in 1917, and in 80 per A speaker at a First World Wlr cent of its pages the Antarctic is reunion in Palmerston North recent never far away, Antarctic enthusi ly recalled that while he was a asts here get very good value for their money. Captain Davis aptly patient in an English hospital "Oat- summarises his aim as "to condense lands Park" in 1917, the badly wounded men were visited by as much as possible of what is al Shackleton soon after his return ready well known and describe more fully only those personal memories from his "Endurance" expedition, and impressions that have remained and were deeply moved by "the with me after the lapse of nearly modesty, sincerity and self-efface ment of the great sailor who found half a century." time amid his multitudinous com This aim has been admirably car mitments to address himself to our ried out, with the result that we group." have not only an excellent outline of the Shackleton and Mawson expedi He believes that it was Shackle- tions but a gripping first hand ac ton's first public recital of the story count of many incidents about which and that Shackleton made it clear up till now little or nothing has that he visited the hospital because been made known. The England- of the kindness shown to his ship's Shackleton "fracas", the rescue of company by the New Zealand David's Magnetic Pole team, the de people. cision to rescue Wild's party and to December, 1962 leave Mawson at Commonwealth THE ROSS SEA PARTY 1914-17. R. Bay for another winter, the condi W. Richards. Scott Polar Research tion of the Ross Sea Party after two Institute Special Publication Num years marooned at Cape Evans: of these and other dramatic incidents ber 2: 44 pages, two ill., map. we now have a responsible eye-wit Here is the story of one of the ness account which is authentic, most tragic, and least known, epi \ivid, and told with a sympathy and sodes in Antarctic history, told understanding which are wholly ad mirable. straightforwardly and well by one of the four men living today who Captain Davis's story is all the more impressive and moving be played a part in it. When in 1917 cause he is quick to make fun of the "Aurora" brought back to New his own occasional inexperience, as Zealand the seven survivors of thc when, sent the 16 miles from Cape Ross Sea component of Shackleton's Royds to Hut Point in January, 1909, Trans-Antarctic expedition, the to leave despatches for the still- missing southern parly, he writes, world had been locked in strife for "Seldom were three explorers more over two years, and paid little at grateful to reach their furthest tention to this grim tale of misad south." venture, heroic determination, pri Captain Davis is an extremely vation and, for three men, death, in vigorous survivor of what he dc- the Ross Sea sector of thc Antarctic. precatingly calls "the Stone Age of polar travel", and his book must Shackleton outlined the tragic se rank with the best of the first hand quence of events in his "South", but accounts of what the rest of us pre only as an addendum to the "En fer to call the Heroic Age of Antarc durance" story. Joyce told the tale tic exploration. rather more fully, but, it must be —L.B.Q. confessed, not very well, in his "The South Polar Trail". And that was all. But now at long last Richards, PUBLISHED IN NEW ZEALAND the sole survivor of the great south Thc Fauna of the Ross Sea Part 2. ern sledge journey to lay the depots, Scleractinian Corals: Donald F. right to the Beardmore Glacier, Squires. N.Z.D S.I.R. Bulletin 147, which were never to be used, has 1962. 28 pp. ill. maps and charts. himself told the story. He has told Price 3/6. it, as one would expect from him, simply, modestly and movingly. It GEOLOGY OF VICTORIA LAND is the story of how ten men, sudden BETWEEN THE MAWSON AND ly, utterly "without warning, were left MULOCK GLACIERS, ANTARC to fend for themselves over two An TICA. B. M. Gunn and G. Warren, tarctic winters without fresh stores, N.Z. Dept. of Scientific and In- with no change of clothing and with dustial Research. Wellington (N.Z. no fuel. Yet they had been charged Gcol. Sur. Bull 71) 157 pp.. maps with the duty of laying the depots and illustrations. 30/- Quarter which could alone give a chance of bound 35/-. success—and survival—lo the party This comprehensive bulletin based led by Shackleton himself which, on the field work carried out by thc they presumed, would be crossing authors as members of the Trans- the contincnl from the WeddcII Sea Antarctic Expedition is to be repub to the Ross Sea, as Fuchs was to lished subsequently as Scientific Re do 40 years later. And they did it, port no. 11 of the Trans-Antarctic at the cost of three lives. Expedition, but has been published Mr. Richards was thc strong man as a bulletin of thc N.Z. Geological of the final group of six which laid Survey with the generous consent of the depot at Mt. Hope. The story Sir Vivian Fuchs, because of New is therefore told at first hand, with Zealand's special interest and con a candour and sincerity which car tinuing regional geological Work in ries conviction and with enough of the area. personal experience and remember- December, 1962 ed emotion to convey much of the ONE FOOT AT THE POLE. Jim Hen tragedy and triumph of this great derson. Whitcombe and Tombs. exploit, the last chapter in the great 170 pp. Illustrations by David saga of the "Heroic Age" of Antarc tic exploration. Kennedy. Price 17/6. Worthily produced, as the second If you want to go on a conducted Special Publication of the Scott tour of New Zealand's Ross Depend Polar Research Institute, it is a little ency, here is Jim Henderson, writer volume which everybody interested in thc Antarctic and its story should and broadcaster, al your service. read without fail. And if you accept him as tour- master, you can be assured there 10/6 plus 1/- postage from Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, will be never a dull moment from England, or from Whitcombe and the time when you gingerly follow Tombs. him up the aisle of thc Constella tion—very much aware of the anti- B.A.N.Z.A.R.E. exposure suits and life-jackets and not at all re-assured by the loud "The Winning of Australian An speaker's "ditching drill", till the tarctica" is thc title of an important book by Dr. A. Grenfell Price just thrilling moment when you reach thc South Pole and go "round the published for the Mawson Institute for Antarctic Research by Angus and world in eighty seconds. Robertson. This is thc first full ac count of the British, Australian and It is all very light-hearted and New Zealand Antarctic Research quite disarmingly modest. This is Expedition, 1929-31, based on Maw- no "intrepid Antarctic explorer" talk son's own journals and logs, most ing: we are "just tourists". But il competently introduced and anno tated by a distinguished Australian we absorb much of our information necessarily from the Public Rela historian. tions Officers who guide our unwary We hope to review this volume in footsteps, we do see a great many our next issue. The Australian price very interesting things, from pin-ups is 50/-. in a McMurdo but and a meal in the McMurdo mess with the "jar of toothpicks, a metal container hold "LA ANTARTIDA DE HOY" ing paper napkins: and an alu minium dish for cigarette ends", to The New Zealand Antarctic the seals near Scott Base which "re Society's successful publication "The mind you of old colonels with re Antarctic Today" has appeared in a pentant eyes" and the penguins at new guise. By arrangement with Cape Royds, "these little jokers the Society, the Argentine publishers, about a couple of feel high, silvery Editorial Kapelusz of Buenos Aires, have published a Spanish edition of breasts, black backs . . . gamely slicking to that ••••>—:■•• —'•■"• '• the Society's 1952 publication, com brownish pathetic plete with illustrations, excellently they've got their little dark webbed reproduced, and the map, to which feet around!" some not unexpected alterations have been made. So if you want to know just what Thc Argentine translation is a it's like to spend a few days in thc handsome volume of 352 pages and Antarctic with your eyes open ab represents faithfully the original sorbing all the information you can New Zealand production, including from anybody who is wiling to talk the foreword by Dr. FaIJa, and the to you, well, here is Jim Henderson editor's preface. The only addition willing lo take you along with him. is a short introduction by Professor and you will assuredy enjoy every Alfredo C. Ram pa, who directed the minute of il, and learn a great deal Spanish edition, and one or two about the Antarctic today into the short notes. bargain. December, 1962

T H E S TO RY O F T H E A D M I R A L ' S P L E A T H E H U T S "The whole of Antarctica should now be recognised by all countries Publication is expected early in as a natural reserve, and even pre i IN datory species should receive pro THE ANTARCTIC" by L. B. Quarter- tection so as not to disturb thc main. natural biological equilibrium of the This 85-page booklet, with many region. . . . Without this the world illustrations and maps, is being at at large may soon be deploring the tractively produced by the Govern loss of a beautiful and irreplaceable ment Printer, and will be on sale at heritage." the Government Bookshop, 20 Moles- —RUDOLFO N. PANZARINI worth St., Wellington, and other in Unesco "Courier". bookshops. Price 7/6. A review by J. H. (Bob) Miller will THAT MAN AGAIN! appear in our next issue. Bird lovers and many others will hear with mixed feelings that a cer N E W N A M E S tain Mr. Marks, Director of thc Port land Zoo, Oregon, is on his way The New Zealand Geographic south again. Board expects to publish before the Marks during the 1957 and 1958 end of the year the second supple summers captured and carried olf to ment to the Provisional Gazetteer America no fewer than 138 penguins. of the Ross Dependency. The Every single one sent to other zoos and naif of those retained at Port original Gazetteer, containing nearly land died of aspergillosis, a lung 1,000 names, was published in 1958. fungus which has killed every at The first supplement, published in tempt to transplant penguins from I960, contained 200 additional names. the Antarctic. Most of the several hundred place It is claimed that the disease has names in the forthcoming supple now been conquered by the use ol ment were suggested by the two amphotericin B. administered by a fogging machine, and the zoo is field parlies which operated north anxious to establish a breeding west and south-east of the Beard- colony. One wonders, however, why more Glacier during the 1961-62 sea it is necessary to transport from their son. native habitat the 20 Adelies and 20 Emperors which Marks hopes to This supplement, like the Gazetteer capture and take back to America and the fust supplement, has been this summer. compiled by Mr. A. S. Helm. Incidentally, these penguins are New Zealand citizens, residents ol CINERAMA Cape Royds and Cape Crozier respec tively, both in the Ross Dependency. When the American film and tele vision producer Mr. Lowell Thomas T H I S I S B E T T E R arrived in Auckland on his way to Another resident of Portland, Ore Antarctica he said that while in An- gon, is Mrs. Ann Starr. Her hus larctica he would investigate the band steelworker First Class James possibilities of a Cinerama produc R. Starr, wintered over at McMurdo. tion about work on the ice-bound During his year in the south he re continent. He said he would like ceived" 602 letters from his wife, 328 to film all thc expeditionary work of them in one special mailbag on being conducted at the moment thc first aircraft to reach McMurdo from all bases on the Continent. at the end of September. December, 1962 AN I ARCIIC THE TRANSPARENT shell and strong wind howled in the rigging of the radio masts. STORM "What had happened? Why with such strong wind had I here been no Writing in the Information Bulle blizzard? tin of the Soviet Antarctic Expedi "Thc explanation was very simple. tions, Yu. A. Kruchinin says: "We The surface of the snow cover dur were compelled to work at Lazarev ing the preceding days had been in very difficult meteorological con covered by a crust of sleet. This ditions. It is sufficient to say that line crust (2 to 3 millimetres) was during the first six months of the sullicieniy solid to withstand the de winter stage (from 10 March to 10 structive effect of the wind. Snow September, 1959) 93 days of storms during this time did not fall and in were recorded including 40 days of the space of a few hours whilst the hurricane, hurricane wind speeds sleet crust remained partially intact, gusting up to 70 metres a second. thc blizzard could not commence. "Cyclonic periods usually lasted When, on the following morning, the from 3 to 4 days. It was very diffi polar explorers appeared out of the cult to carry out meteorological and exit hatch, they saw that the 'trans glaciologicai observations in strong parent' storm had finished and been winds but worst of all perhaps was replaced by the usual conditions: the drifting snow. It occurs at a through Ihc driving snow nothing wind speed of 6 to 8 metres per was visible beyond two paces." second; at a wind speed of 12 to 15 metres per second, it is followed by " INCREDIBLE CITY " a low blizzard and with a further iri- increase in wind speeds by a total An Australian journalist recently blizzard. During total blizzards visi flown from McMurdo to Byrd bility frequently fell to zero and Station describes the under-snow sometimes it was even difficult lo station. see one's outstretched hand, the fly "All I saw of the city from the air ing snow clinging to the lace form was a flag-marked air-strip, four ing a mask of ice. towers for scientific equipment and "All this made it very difficult to iwo tunnel mouths. The rest was a carry out observations. Naturally frozen waste. before leaving the hut the polar ex "This incredible city has a garage, plorer would look at the indicator needle of the distance hurricano- workshop, fire station, post office, radio station and canteen. Scientists meter and very embittered he would work in lal set out for the observation platform live in comioriaoie, iwo-io-a-room knowing what he was faced with. accommodation. "Once, on July 3, atmospheric "Everything is linked by a net pressure began to fall and the wind work oi' tunnels more than a mile speed increased. Judging by all the and a half long, hacked out of the portents the usual cyclone was upon us. By night the wind speed had ice-cap in 224 days." reached 20 metres per second and, in gusts, 25 and even 30 metres per "ANTARCTIC ISSUES" second. At that time it was neces Further evidence of re-mounting sary to adjust some defects in thc interest in Antarctic exploration and equipment outside. The explorers research is provided by the appear donned their storm suits and pre ance of special Antarctic issues of pared for the blizzard. How sur the SCIENTIFC AMERICAN and I Ik- prised they were when having UNESCO COURIER. mounted the ladder and opened the The Antarctic issue of the N.Z. exit hatch they discovered thai there JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY AND GEO was neither a blizzard nor even a PHYSICS (see last issue p. 98) has sign of drifting snow. The sky was just been published. The Antarctic spangled with stars. In the light of Bibliography will appear with other the moon each sastrugus stood out articles of Antarctic interest in distinctly on the surface of the ice another issue early next year. December, 1962

Walker (G.. St. Albans) said in Par THE TOURISTS ARE liament. He was speaking during discussions on thc estimates of the COMING Tourist and Publicity Department. Mr. Walker said Antarctica was Two recent newspaper com men Is the highest, coldest and windiest indicate the extent to which tourism continent in the world with 95 per is approaching the great white soli cent, of the world's ice—but also tudes of the Antarctic. most of its sunshine. Thc first is from the Melbourne ".Sun", under the two-column head HUSKY TRANSPORT ing "Antarctica may draw tourists." Mr. Law. director of the Antarctic The hotel could be set up near Division of the External Affairs De Scott Base, he said. Huskies could partment, was speaking at Mel provide a means of transportation bourne University in a series of pub over short distances. lic lectures organised by the Pro There could also be helicopter fessional Officers' Association. trips to a number of points of in He said that the two most likely terest, from thc penguin rookeries areas for tourist trade were the Ross to the mighty Beardmore Glacier, .Sea area and Graham Land. which was 120 miles long by 40 The Ross Sea would be of histori miles wide. cal interest lo many people, and "It might seem that such a project several large Argentine tourist would be a mighty long shot," Mr. parties would soon see the beauty Walker said, "but "one day a nation of Graham Land. will open up a tourist hotel on the Both these regions had attractive Antarctic Continent. New Zealand summer climates but neither was in could do worse than be the first in Australian territory. the field." Mr. Law said that Amundsen Bay was thc most attractive spot in Aus tralian territory, but it was inacces VIP'S sible. Thc Antarctic tourist season is in full swing. When a United Slates PREREQUISITES Navy Super Constellation left A country interested in promoting Christchurch on November 19 for tourism in the Antarctic would first McMurdo Sound it carried the have to: highest-ranking American group ever Establish an air route lo overcome to visit the Antarctic. the rough passage by ship across Among the passengers were the the Southern Ocean. Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Luther H. Hodges. Mr. V. Gilmore. director Build a comfortable hotel close, of the United States Travel Service, by either helicopter or snocat, to the Lieutenant-General J. H. Doolittle. interesting places. U.S.A.F.. Retired, five congressmen Mr. Law said the biggest drawback lo the venture would be to find cap:- and Mr. Lowell Thomas. the lal to provide amenities. famous author and broadcaster. There would be no great difficul ties in finding patrons at $10,000 "AND A PIANO" each for a three-week stay. Twenty-five British scientists—and a piano—left Southampton on De TOURIST HOTEL cember 7 for the United Kingdom The second "pointer" is a "Do base at Hallev Bav. minion" report of a speech in thc New Zealand Parliament. lev Bav sent his mother a list <>l The Government should give con things he would like. Among I hem sideration to establishing a tourist was a piano. So Mrs. Winterton is hotel in the Ross Dependency, with sending him a 50 year-old piano suitable transport to enable tourists once used bv a I anions concert lo visit the Antarctic continent, Mr. pianist. The New Zealand Antarctic Society is a group of New Zealanders, some of whom have seen Antarctica for themselves, but all vitally interested in some phase of Antarctic exploration, development or research. You are invited to become a member. BRANCH SECRETARIES Wellington : W. J. P. Macdonald, Box 2110, Wellington. Canterbury: J. H. M. Williams, 85 Waimea Terrace, Ch'ch. Dunedin: J. H. McGhie, Box 34, Dunedin.

"THE ANTARCTIC TODAY" This volume is out of print, but a limited number of the follow ing separate sections is available, the stapling slightly rusted: Ionosphere Research (J. W. Beagley). Meteorology (A. R. Martin). Marine Biology (R. K. Dell). Aurora Australis (I. L. Thomsen). The Nations in the Antarctic (recent Australian. South African, French, etc., exploration by leading experts in the countries concerned). These separates are available at a cost of four shillings each from the Secretary, N.Z. Antarctic Society.

"ANTARCTIC" Published Quarterly • Annual Subscription 15 - Copies of previous issues of "ANTARCTIC" with the exception of Vol. 1, No. 1, Vol. 2, No. 2, and Vol. 2, No. 4, MAY BE PURCHASED FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington, at a cost of 4 - per copy. Ol our predecessor, the "ANTARCTIC NEWS BULLETIN", only the following numbers are available: 5-6, 8-10, 12-20. Price: 4 - per issue.

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