We finally made it to WAIS Divide to start the field season. The first task was to set up the hot-water drill we use to produce shot holes for our seismic experiment. I "designed" and built the drill some years ago and, while it is hardly a technological wonder, it does the job. We can drill to 20 meters in about 20 minutes.
The down side is that the drill was shipped to McMurdo a year ago in anticipation of last field season then left for a year in the cargo yard. Not good for any equipment.
We have had a litany of BD* items and it has taken two-13 hour days to get it running. Somehow, after dinner last night everything fell into place and we were in drill mode. Today is Sunday so we started the day late; 8AM instead of 8AM. Wait, what? Should be a short day; finish at 9 or 10 tonight. Nice day off, eh.
Sometime after lunch I thought of the add Shackleton placed in the paper; loosely paraphrased "Men wanted for Antarctic venture; long hours, low pay, chances of success slight." He had a line down the street the next morning.
*BD; Bravo Delta, not working, broken. Slightly better than TU.
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