Field training at Robbo's
Field Training is mandatory down here. We have to go "out bush" and learn how to survive in the most unhospitable place on earth, should the worst happen.Things can get pretty ugly here; the weather can change from absolutely fabulous to an 80knot blizzard in 15 minutes. You have to know how to “go to ground” and ride it out if you have to. We have two FTO’s (Field Training Officers) on station for our summer. It is their job to teach us the skills we need for a year of life in Antarctica.
So on Friday morning off we went. Survival packs on our backs we set off with compasses, maps, GPS out to the outer limits of Casey Station. We learnt map reading, orientation, the difference between absolute and magnetic North and the fact that Casey is -99 degrees West of True North. We trekked for about 4 hours, stopped for a bite of lunch perched high above O’Brien Bay and looked out over the Mitchell peninsular. This is a beautiful spot and I am keep to explore it over the next year. It has some amazing places to visit and some beautiful things to see. When the weather turns more Antarctic and we get enough snow I will call this my playground and will be out here on Skies to explore and have adventures. For now, though, we walk it only. There is little snow and lots of ice. No good at all for skiing.
After lunch we head back to Casey jump in the Hagglund and turn West for Robinson Peninsular and our destination for the evening - Robbo’s hut.
The melt is on in full force and we have to deviate a few times to get though the melt streams, the slush and the broken terrain.
I am excited to be venturing out. I have not been overland to date and the scenery is amazing. The snow stretches forever, the sea is clear, the skies are blue and it is a magnificent day. We pass a massive crevaced area as we head into Robbo’s and the melt causes us a little grief trying to navigate through the slush. But we make it through and Robbo’s hut awaits us.
Inside the hut we arc up the heater, turn on the stove and cook up some dinner. Then we sit around and receive more instruction on survival skills and Marty – out FTO – imparts his knowledge to us.
The hut is cosy. It has 4 bunks and is very comfortable. But it isn’t where we will sleep tonight. We head outside, pack in hand and set up a Bivvie. Everyone chooses to be near the hut. I wander further. There is an amazing crop of rocks a little way off and I head for this. I find a nice flat piece of ground, out of the wind, and settle in for the night. But I am excited and fully awake and it is broad daylight at 10pm. So I leave my bivvie and head further into the rocks and sit to look at this amazing scene. Sparkes Bay is spread before me, Odberd Island is in front of me and I have just come across two penguins dozing in the rocks. We look at each other for a little while. I say hello. They are happy for me to be in their presence and they soon settle down and have a snooze. I sit for a little while longer taking in the scenery and thinking I am one of the luckiest people in the world to be here experiencing this. After a while I wander back to my bivvie and settle in for the night. Tomorrow will see us explore some more, learn some more skills then pack up and had back to Casey. It has been a fabulous two days.
So on Friday morning off we went. Survival packs on our backs we set off with compasses, maps, GPS out to the outer limits of Casey Station. We learnt map reading, orientation, the difference between absolute and magnetic North and the fact that Casey is -99 degrees West of True North. We trekked for about 4 hours, stopped for a bite of lunch perched high above O’Brien Bay and looked out over the Mitchell peninsular. This is a beautiful spot and I am keep to explore it over the next year. It has some amazing places to visit and some beautiful things to see. When the weather turns more Antarctic and we get enough snow I will call this my playground and will be out here on Skies to explore and have adventures. For now, though, we walk it only. There is little snow and lots of ice. No good at all for skiing.
After lunch we head back to Casey jump in the Hagglund and turn West for Robinson Peninsular and our destination for the evening - Robbo’s hut.
The melt is on in full force and we have to deviate a few times to get though the melt streams, the slush and the broken terrain.
I am excited to be venturing out. I have not been overland to date and the scenery is amazing. The snow stretches forever, the sea is clear, the skies are blue and it is a magnificent day. We pass a massive crevaced area as we head into Robbo’s and the melt causes us a little grief trying to navigate through the slush. But we make it through and Robbo’s hut awaits us.
Inside the hut we arc up the heater, turn on the stove and cook up some dinner. Then we sit around and receive more instruction on survival skills and Marty – out FTO – imparts his knowledge to us.
The hut is cosy. It has 4 bunks and is very comfortable. But it isn’t where we will sleep tonight. We head outside, pack in hand and set up a Bivvie. Everyone chooses to be near the hut. I wander further. There is an amazing crop of rocks a little way off and I head for this. I find a nice flat piece of ground, out of the wind, and settle in for the night. But I am excited and fully awake and it is broad daylight at 10pm. So I leave my bivvie and head further into the rocks and sit to look at this amazing scene. Sparkes Bay is spread before me, Odberd Island is in front of me and I have just come across two penguins dozing in the rocks. We look at each other for a little while. I say hello. They are happy for me to be in their presence and they soon settle down and have a snooze. I sit for a little while longer taking in the scenery and thinking I am one of the luckiest people in the world to be here experiencing this. After a while I wander back to my bivvie and settle in for the night. Tomorrow will see us explore some more, learn some more skills then pack up and had back to Casey. It has been a fabulous two days.
posted by Tracey in Casey - Antarctica at 7:06 am
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