August 4: Attempted hike to Davis Point

Andrea (our Ranger in Charge) and I planned a trip to Davis Point Hut on the west coast, to collect marine debris and celebrate Andrea's birthday. Faced with an island blanketed in heavy snow from yesterdays blizzard we set out. We punched up the Doctors Track in hip and sometimes waist deep heavy snow. We took turns breaking track swapping every few minutes. The snow was densely packed and heavy like half set cement. When we made it to the top the drifts over the track were so deep we realised that without snowshoes we just were not going to get through... we enjoyed the view, and the much faster trip down, and headed back to VJM, a little defeated, but still pretty chuffed that we even made it to the top of Doctors.

View of station and north head. Photo: Jacque Comery

Snow drifts over the track. Photo: Jacque Comery

View to northwest, the plateau looks like a big melting ice cream. Photo: Jacque Comery

The view past the Razorback towards the Isthmus. Photo: Jacque Comery

The circular track in the foreground is the IPS installation which is no longer there. We lost the mast in the 85 knot wind storm last week.

 

Andrea pushing up through thigh deep snow. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Me blending in with the track markers. Photo: Andrea Turbett

Jacque and Andrea. We made it to the top at least! Photo: Andrea Turbett.

August 3: Blizzard

The snow began to fall last night, and did not abate at all throughout the day. We have not had such a sustained fall since we arrived. A pretty white dusting soon turned into a blanket, and by evening, snow drifts almost a metre high had accumulated around the mess.


Me waking across market square from the mess to Cumpstons in the mid afternoon. Photo: Andrea Turbett

 

Working from the office on a snow day. Photo: Andrea Turbett

August 2: Kelp Gulls

With big swells whipping up the seas over the previous days, these kelp gulls were hanging about making the most of the fishing close to the shore.


Kelp gulls. Photo: Jacque Comery

Kelp Gulls. Photo: Jacque Comery

Juvenile gull stretching its wings. Photo: Jacque Comery

August 1: Fishing Antarctic Terns

Watching these skilful little fishers, dart fleetingly between the breaking swells is a joy.



Darting before the breaking waves. Photo: Jacque Comery



Juvenile Tern. Photo: Jacque Comery

Looking for fish. Photo: Jacque Comery



In flight: Photo: Jacque Comery

July 31: Winds

This is what 85 knots (157 km/h) winds look like in Garden Cove... The record for  wind speed though was set in 1979 at 178 km/hr.

85 knots (157km/h) in Garden Cove. Photo: Jacque Comery

Wind gust blowing the water flat. Photo: Jacque Comery

July 30: The eye

I have no idea what this is or was used for. The steel eye is drilled into rock located to the south of the Isthmus on the eastern shore near landing beach. It may have been related to resupply activities or boating. If I find out more I will provide an update.  It makes for an interesting picture though.



Steel eye. Photo: Jacque Comery

July 29: Rock stack landing pad

Kelp gulls showing off their aviator skills landing on  a rock stack in big seas and gale force winds.



Landing just in time. Photo: Jacque Comery



Precision landing. Photo: Jacque Comery

Taking a break before take off. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Resting between waves. Photo: Jacque Comery