I usually try for one blog post a month with around twelve photos. Although I have managed this so far I can feel the photos building up and theres nothing worse than just hiding them away on a harddrive. I also realised that I had not yet posted anything about Rothera where I am ultimately based for a year and half. As a field assistant Rothera is the home we return to from the field complete with amazing food, internet access, phones, a bar etc etc. It is also where all the equipment gets shipped into the field from but for most field assistants the R is really for Recreation. While there is a decent area for people to ski and snowboard in (within a flagged area) all the staff at Rothera need a field assistant with them if they want to go outside this area. Though this does mean that there is a slight tinge of work to your days off it does also mean you get to all the best places. Included in this post is a few photos from the last four months when I have been briefly back at Rothera.Icebergs against the shore at the point. This was taken on one of my first evenings on base in October.
Cross at sunset at the Southern end of Base. Mat Etheridge and Al Docherty trying not to shiver in the wind.
New Bransfield House (looking Northish) New Bransfield holds the Dining room, Library, Bar, TV rooms and computer room.
Admirals building at the start of season. My window is the second along
Standard en suite room in Admirals.
Rothera from the North. The big building on the left is New Bransfield, the Yellow tower is the Comms tower and the building to the right is Admirals.
Twin Otter being loaded with a skidoo (its a tight fit!) Rothera has the furthest south hard runway of any of the Antarctic bases so is also a busy airport.
Malcy leading the top pitch of “Blue Sky White Berg” (HVS) with the edge of the runway just visible at the bottom of the photo. There are over 100 rock, ice and mixed routes within a quick skidoo of base.
Me leading the top pitch of “Final Countdown” (E1)
The edge of Stork Bowl. There is two ski slopes within the base flag line and then numerous other skiing oppurtunities on the surrounding peaks. Stork Bowl is as much of a powder trap as there seems to be nearby.
First line in Stork Bowl.
Thought I better include a picture of someone snowboarding (Tom Griffin)
Fran cruising.
Sam getting low on his telemark turns
More climbing. Al Docherty pulling through the steep section of “Release the Bats”(VS (though potentially a bit of a sandbag))
In the show crevasse. The show crevasse is used for training and recreation. A quick lower or abseil into a crazy world of ice chandeliers. Usually as a mountaineer you avoid going anywhere near crevasses but I have to admit it is pretty amazing to wander around the bottom of one for a while.
The climb back out of the show crevasse.
Rothera also has plenty of wildlife. Elephant on the beach at Mackay point to the North of Rothera. During the summer these are everywhere at Rothera burping and farting constantly and trying to sleep on the runway.
Sleepy Adelie. Seeing as there have been complaints that I havent put any penguin pictures up yet I thought I better get one in. Being in the Field all summer means that I have missed most of the penguins being around but I’m sure this wont be the last penguin you see on the blog!
We very occasionally get tourist ships visit. Today we had the “Fram” and they were kind enough to let us use their hottub!
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