Looking Back

YE Diaries - Joe Jones (4-11 May 2009)

For this part of the expedition we headed towards the east of the island. The environment is much harsher and colder as it does not benefit from the warmth of the Gulf Stream. Despite this it is still much warmer compared to the start of the expedition, when we were dealing with -25º c and below as compared to a more comfortable -15º to -10º c. This has allowed for easier socialising which in turn has opened up the possibility for poker and many other fun activities such as survival bagging down snow slopes.

As for the actual expedition itself we did lots of ski touring, exploring the local area around Vendomdalen (Martin Conway’s ‘turn around valley’ on his exploratory journey to find the east coast), as well as mountaineering. The highlight of the trip was climbing Trehøgdene and walking along the ridge, which at its highest point was 682m.

Polarrev on Trehøgdene 7.5.09 Photo J. Jones

View of Vendomdalen from Trehøgdene 7.5.09 Photo J. Jones

Beluga's

Isbjørn come down to meet up with Helen and one at the igloo that Isbjørn adventure built, at the head of Wimandalen. Polarrev continue working on the Blackbreen survey and slush pits. Rype are awoken by beluga feeding in their bay and spend from 0230 to0400 watching and photographing them. What a fantastic couple of hours in the low sunlight with hardly a breeze, a shame the Fires aren’t in but hopefully the belugas will return in their circuit when more people are in Base Camp.


Beluga just off Base Camp 3 0308hrs 31/5/09. Photo - Rype

The top of the snow hardened over night and the wind changes to an easterly blowing sea ice back into the bay. The Wimanelva (stream) today flows as a full stream, as far back as the Gronstein col, for the first time. Rype prepare for an extended reconnaissance of the route to Hiorthhamn, as conditions this year are rather different. Some thin cloud, easterly breeze, +3ºc.

Onwards to Wimanfjellet

Isbjørn move from the Blackbreen to the head of the Wimanbreen with a view to climbing Wimanfjellet when the weather improves, possibly overnight. Polarrev recommence the Blackbreen survey and dig one 3m deep snowpit, going higher up the glacier than they have been before. Rype collect the kit and rubbish from the snowline and sort it all out. Clearing, light westerly breeze, +1ºc.

Fire Change

Fire Change! Click on The Team to see the new fires.

Isbjørn get up early and move down from the Blackbreen to Tobredalen for 1000hrs for a Fire change. Polarrev resurvey the slush pits and prepare for a handover of the project and a Fire change. The new Isbjørn leave science camp after the 2000hrs radio schedule to move back up to the top of the Blackbreen. Ash and Emily do their 2 minute presentations about themselves, we learn how much Ash likes cheese and Emily’s breakfast routine. Rype hold a leaders’ meeting then ski back to Base Camp with a large pulk of kit and rubbish, they cross the col for their ninth time and leave the pulk at the snow line which has moved yet again further back up the Wimandalen. The sea starts to refreeze off Base Camp 3. Clear, light westerly breeze, +1ºc.

Isbjørn arrive at glacier science camp. The YEs will stay and become Polarrev, Richard and Lucy D will move out with the other YEs who will become Isbjørn – confusing eh? Photo Rype

Summer??

At last a beautiful day with clear blue skies, and the fjell tops out of the clouds. This is the science handover day with the YEs changing from Adventure/biology to glacier science and vi-servers a. but with the long awaited break in the weather both groups make the most of it and Isbjørn don’t come down to science camp this evening. Isbjørn climb Knorringfjellet then come down and bivouac at the head of the Blackbreen. By coincidence, Polarrev climb Knorringfjellet from the other side then come down to meet Rype who have brought back the repaired HF radio for functional checks and who stay the night. Becoming cloudy, light westerly breeze, +3ºc.

Whiteout

Isbjørn have a very frustrating day working in a whiteout, with strong wind and spindrift to find their food cache, this takes them five hours. Most of Polarrev have an admin day in camp whilst Christian and Pippa ski down Tobredalen on a waste and rubbish run; they also bring a broken HF radio. Rype meet up with Christian and Pippa, take the waste to the sea at Elveneset then come back over the col to Base Camp. Thinning cloud, westerly breeze, light snow. 0ºc.

RTK GPS in use again

Isbjørn (adventure) come and collect their biologists from the improvised camp then return to their previous location. Polarrev re-survey the Tobredalen snow pits and carry out an RTK GPS survey of the Blackbreen lateral moraines. Overcast, strong westerly breeze, -4ºc.

Message From Mark

Mark would like to wish his sister a very happy birthday - Best wishes Becky.

Stubborn Tents

Isbjørn (adventure) move from Knorringbreen to the head of Wimanbreen, then descend to pick up Isbjørn (biology). Polarrev continue the RTK GPS survey and continue to monitor the slush/surge pits. Isbjørn (biology) take much longer than expected to pack up and set off two hours late. The tents had melted into the snow and then the recent drop in temperatures have frozen them in, 1 tent took the group 45 minutes to chisel out of the ice. This is the first time they have had to fit their kit in their rucksacks and working out where and how to pack everything is a challenge. For some in the group it doesn’t all go in and bits and pieces are strapped on the outside hiding the rucksacks.