South Pole Traverse project Photo Gallery by Suze at pbase.com

South Pole Traverse project

Project that completed (Dec 2005) a route to the South Pole so that fuel and cargo can go overland to resupply the station rather than by aircraft. I was involved, as GPR (ground penetrating radar) reader and first aid back-up, for 5 weeks Dec-Jan '04-'05. The GPR was used to identify hidden crevasses (under snow bridges) along the route so we could avoid them where possible. The crew totaled 7-8 people driving 5 "tractors" and two of us in the Pisten Bully out front. It took the team 3 summers to complete the route, partly due to challenges with crevasses and soft in certain areas. Members of my dept switched out throughout the season supporting this project.

Pisten Bully with boom for grnd penetrating radarJPG	S w/ ground penetrating radar in Pisten Bully.JPG	S signing "monument" (marker) along South Pole Traverse.JPG	Grnd penetrating radar and boom on Pisten Bully.JPG
Grnd penetrating radar unit in Pisten BullyJPG	Crystal from crevasse.JPG	Hot water drill set-up.JPG	Hot water drilling to ground-truth our gpr findings.JPG
Inside the living module Judy in kitchen Jim leaving a bedroom.JPG	John showing Judy a crevasse on the grnd penetrating radar.JPG	Two types of crevasses on grnd penetrating radar.JPG	Judy getting ready to refuel vehicles at days end.JPG
Mechanic Jon servicing the Pisten Bully.JPG	Most of the fleet.JPG	S and Transantarctic Mountain Range.JPG	Section of our route on the board in the living module.JPG
The living module sleeps 8 kitchen tiny office.JPG	The skis supporting such massive weights.JPG	The two generators that powered the living module and bathroom.JPG	Transantarctic Mtns from Ross Ice Shelf.JPG
S learning to skate ski on Ross Ice Shelf Transantarctics behind.JPG	Transantarctic Mtns from Ross Ice Shelf.JPG	Camp from the air courtesy Jons model plane.JPG	Crew watching Jons plane living module and bathroom-generator shack behind.jpg
John discussing search pattern through heavily crevassed area.JPG	Jon flying his model plane with camera attached.JPG	Route to South Pole across The Great White Expanse taken from air other tracks camp related.JPG	The fleet heading up the Leverett Glacier thru the Transantaric Mtn to the Plateau.JPG
camp with labels.JPG

comment |

Suze		08-Mar-2006 02:20
Hi Pablo, No there weren't any crevasses on the Plateau heading to Pole. They did, however, have difficulties with very soft snow in places. Improvements in sled design they made after the snow swamp of 2 seasons ago made a significant difference, yet they did have to shuttle some of the loads, which led to little mileage on some days. In other places they also had to deal with heinous sastrugi (wind carved snow, in this case very large and hard shapes), which beat them up a great deal in their vehicles. I am not aware of those crevasse fatalities being related to global warming, but there is plenty evidence of climate change on the Peninsula as well as in the Dry Valleys. And thanks for the comment about posting more. I do have another folder for SPT to post, but now I'm trying to catch up with the Dry Valleys. Takes time on my dial-up! Thanks for tuning in. Warmly, Suze

Pablo Y��ez		02-Mar-2006 22:05
Was this a tough year with crevasses near the pole? I heard of at least two deadly accidents on the peninsula this year. I figure with global warming this might be a trend all over :-( Nice shots - you should post some more - dummies like me post tons of photos that have been taken and retaken of the same places on earth. You on the other hand are somewhere were very few people will ever get a chance to go.

Dave Beedon		02-Mar-2006 07:39
Fascinating adventure: surveyors of the snow. Thanks.

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