When last you heard from us, we were looking forward to our big camp move from Sessrumir Valley to the Olympus Range. The following morning (Dec. 15th) we got up, ate breakfast, and began to break down our camp and move all of our gear down to the helipad. Unfortunately, while we labored away, the ominous clouds on the horizon caught up with us bringing low visibility and snowfall with them. As a result, our helicopter was delayed until the conditions improved - though a snow storm wouldn’t stop Bostonians from going to work it poses quite a serious threat for helicopter transport. As the hours ticked by the clouds only thickened and our move was postponed until the next day. After the official cancellation, we re-erected our tents, unpacked our stove, and waited to try it all a second time in the morning. Luckily we had left our large cook tent up.
On the 16th we awoke to clearer skies and began the process of packing up yet again. Weary of the previous day’s helicopter cancellations, we left our large cook tent standing until the very last minute (we were stuffing it in its bag just as the helicopter landed behind a large wall of rotor-blown snow). Just a brief flight across Wright Valley, one sling load, and a few hours later, we had completed setting up our new camp in the Olympus Range between the peaks Electra, Circe, and Rude Spur. We even had time for a hike in order to explore our new stomping grounds.
This morning started off with three visitors from the USAP environmental protection group. They flew in on a little A-Star helicopter to check on the eco-friendliness of our campsite (I think we passed), to interview Robert about what we were up to out here, and to film us digging a pit in an environmentally conscious way. They were a friendly bunch - they brought us a loaf of bread from McMurdo, took our mail back to town, and promised to ask the BFC to send replacement mittens when they saw the shredded state of my original pair (apparently Velcro, hammer handles and cheap wool mitts don’t mix well).
We spent the rest of our day in the usual manner (collecting rocks, taking GPS measurements, and eating). If all goes well tomorrow, we should be headed down Wright Valley for a day trip in what Robert refers to as “The Banana Belt.” Wish us luck!
Allen’s Note on the Olympus Range:
When we were in Sessrumir Valley, Robert mentioned the names of some of the peaks across Wright Valley in the Olympus Range. They have the same lithology as the Asgard Range (light colored sandstone and dark dolorites) creating sheer faces and high mesa and butte-type peaks. Now that we’re here, I’ve taken an interest in all the naming – down the range are Orestes and Cerberus which we haven’t really seen. Moving west, Jason and Hercules come next, small peaks reflecting their low status in the Pantheon. And then there are (conveniently alphabetical east to west) Aeolus, Boreas, Circe, Dido, and Electra; while we were looking at them before, we are now camped below them and hiking on their flanks (see photos). Not a bad place to be, hiking at the foot of the palaces of deities.
From Sessrumir Valley (left to right): Electra (with the long, flat top), Dido, Circe, and Boreas.
From our Olympus Range campsite (left to right): Circe, Boreas (low/far away), Dido, and Electra.
We don’t have many photos of Robert, so here he is in front of Circe.
Looking east from our new campsite, down Balham Valley.
Allen posing in front of Circe – I told him to look “adventurous.”
We’re movie stars now! (Dido and Electra in the background)
If you look closely, the small speck on the left side of the ridge is Allen… for scale.
1 comment:
Fantastic -- this sounds like a fascinating region -- I'm incredibly envious!
Is there really a Balham Valley in the Dry Valleys? I'm posting from London SW12...
Cheers and Happy Christmas to everyone down there.
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