d work, and times when it was just enjoyable, and surprisingly enough times when it was both! When the flying resumed it brought about a significant increase in the workload. Hourly met observations ate the day up, not to mention the hike around the glacial melt water lake to get to the ski-way. But it was fun work. Rewarding, and you were away from the regulations and rigidity of base life, which was a nice change.
out going into radio wave properties and layered atmospheric physics, basically means it can be heard, under the right conditions, anywhere around the world… people wait up all night to get a snippet of BAS speak! So, as a result, I have now learnt to speak ‘radio’, of which the biggest shock was that the expression ‘Over and Out’ does not exist! What! That’s like hearing that Captain Pugwash’s shipmates’ names were simply Chinese whispered folk law! But either way, I will go to my grave muttering in my sleep the immortal lines of “Rothera, Rothera… this is Fossil Bluff on the 5’s. How copy? Over.”
The Antarctic plays a crucial role in understanding global change, as locked up in its 4km thick ice are trapped air pockets dating back well over half million years. These trapped bubbles can then be analyzed and the scientific evidence captured for determining the precise chemical composition of the atmosphere at the date the ice froze. Results can then be deduced to calculate trends in the atmospheric change. I LOVE supporting this research, work that can actually save the planet – providing the politicians and mass public actually listen to our (and other Antarctic research organizations ) discoveries and predictions! But if the ‘Ozone Hole’ is anything to go by, then at least the mass public listened, which then forced the politicians hand. Nicely done humans, good work. Keep it up.
But to finish my Bluff stuff. The most enjoyable times were done exploring Alexander Island. The trail behind the hut looked seriously steep and pretty uninviting, so with my FIDS inner strength upwards and, well upwards! The climb on loose scree was the most physically challenging endeavor I have every made...
...but Hang on ‘ole chap… we are British don’t you know! Always time for a quick brew and an English classic, even on a 45° moving slope.
But from over 2,000ft up the scale of the Sound becomes apparent, as this 25km wide white highway passes gracefully between the Antarctic mainland and Alexander Island.
Once again Antarctica provides a scene which is simply breathtaking, and I would challenge even the Poet Laureate to deliver the words to do justice to the sight.
Reaching the top was pure bliss, involving the prerequisite hunt for the BAS cairn for my rock addition. It took four hours to place that rock on that pile! Worth every second.
However an even greater feat was achieved in my last few days down Bluffville. Although there is debate currently on-going as to the legitimacy of this fact, well I am actually being told it is NOT the case, but I am having none of it. I do hereby claim to be the world’s most southern rower! Now hear me out. The fact that I am in a Fisher Price look-alike green toy rowing boat, which is not exactly in Antarctic icebreaker design, is neither here nor there. I am at 72° south, I am in open water and I am rowing! I state my claim Mr. McWhirter. My points being there cannot be a great deal of open water any further south than this, it is just too cold, and even if there was, why on earth would you have brought along a rowing boat! Why I ask you, why would you do that! (We have one to cross the melt lake water… Ah Ha!) Until proven otherwise, with photographic evidence, the claim is mine.
If you have to ever spend Christmas and New years day away from family and loved ones, I totally recommend The Bluff… a unique and wonderful experience. And on that note…
‘Rothera Rothera… this is Fossil Bluff, going clear’
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