Everything is starting to come to an end around here. The sampling is almost complete and all we really have to do is take some core samples of clean ice. My helo (helicopter) flight back to McMurdo is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday, but between now and then there is a lot of work to be done. The first thing that needs to be done, is we need to send Amanda and Shawn back to McMurdo with all of their ice. They are going to begin their microbiology experiments in the lab back at McMurdo and the sooner they get started, the sooner that they can go home.
Amanda is carrying a freeze safe box out of the tunnel and down the ice stairs. We use the insulated boxes to store and ship our ice samples.
The hardest part about packing the ice is carrying it out of the tunnel, down the stairs, and up the hill on the other side. We packed the ice in backpacks to make it easier on ourselves.
We have been storing all of the ice samples inside of the tunnel to keep them at a constant temperature. In order to get them back to McMurdo, we need to carry them out of the tunnel, package them in freezer boxes, sling the boxes together in a helicopter sling, and then have the helicopter come and pick them up. Amanda and Shawn have about 150kg or about 330lbs of ice, so trudging them out of the glacier, down the glacier apron, and up the hill was interesting. I am going to be so in shape after this trip.
Tim is filling the freeze safes with Amanda and Shawn's ice to go back to McMurdo.
We need to make sure that the lids are tied down and the freeze safes are strapped together before they can be flown out.
It takes a group effort to get the freeze safes situated inside the sling that will be carried out by a helicopter.
After we had everything packed up, it was sad to see Amanda and Shawn go. Now it is just the five of us left in camp. It seems a lot different eating meals at the table with only five people instead of seven. We will be very busy over the next couple of days, so we won't miss them too much. We still have to finish sampling, break down camp, and send a lot more ice samples and gear back McMurdo.