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The summer months
were a busy time in Antarctica with days of permanent sunlight and
glorious weather, interspersed however with the inevitable bad!
The summer months were the only time the surveyors and geologists
could work away from base and they would be in the field with their
dog teams for months at a time. |
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A team of nine dogs could pull a sledge with a 1000lbs load up to 30 miles a day. The two men accompanying each sledge would walk or ski alongside, only rarely jumping on for a ride in easy running conditions.The driver controlled the dogs with verbal commands for start, stop, left or right. He had no other control except for a foot controlled brake for use on downhill sections. In really icy conditions a thick rope was suspended under the sledge runners to provide extra friction.  |
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Each sledge was completely self-supporting for its two men and the dog team, carrying tent, sleeping bags, camping equipment, radio and special sledging rations. The radios were an old army style which rarely provided good voice contact with base and regular radio communications were frequently in morse code. |
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The weather would frequently deteriorate for days on end and long hours were spent in the tent being unable to venture outside. But in time the sun always returned and with dogs, companions and incredible surroundings - what more could you ever ask for! |
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 Surveying |
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 Supplies delivered to the door! |
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The summer arrival of small ski-equipped aircraft allowed extended trips for the field parties with air support flying in food and necessities for both men and dogs. |
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| Some of the most spectacular scenery in the world as seen from the air en route to the summer sledging base at Fossil Bluff, hundreds of miles to the south. |
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Accidents
do happen - a Muskeg tractor, used for hauling heavy loads and for
depot laying of supplies, finds a crevasse. Vehicles lack the incredible
second sense of a dog team in such conditions!! This aircraft returned
to base in a "whiteout" where the pilot was unable to distinguish
any features on the ground to help indicate his height. The landing
was rather heavy! |
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 All photographs are scans from personally owned slides
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