Last week went to Wilkins runway some 70km from Casey Station from Monday till Thursday night to prepare buildings for the big winter sleep after the final departure flight of the Airbus.
This included disconnection of electrical reticulation, decommissioning of plumbing, relocation of existing camp buildings to a elevated position, transport of plant and some buildings back to Casey.
We where blessed with the weather until Thursday in which we nearly completed the task in blizzard conditions.
With the plumbing all water and waste tanks had to be drained with lines and pumps cleared of liquid via compressed air to prevent the ice forming which would expand causing damage.
A view of the camp from the hill with the apron of the runway in the foreground just above the roof tops.
The runway had already started to disappear under the cover of snow.
A D7 dozzer getting ready for action in the foreground are the new buildings constructed this year nearing completion for a more structured operation next season. They include a workshop, a two storey control tower , a kitchen with mess adjacent and toilet facilities with recreational room on a upper level.
Clearing snow so the buildings can be moved.
One of the smaller accommodation buildings on the move.
Up on the hill unloading from the case tractor more accommodation for there winter sleep. On the top right hand corner in the distance is the camp site. If the structures where left down on the flat they would be engulfed with snow and ice and eventually be buried and become inhabitable.
The Cat challenger with dual trailer picking up rubbish and other items to be returned back to Casey station.
Running out of time with the weather the only planed building that required to be moved we could not due to the firm grip of the ice buildup. With Case tractor pulling and the dozzer pushing did not make any impression. The plan was decided to come back later with balloon jacks to break the grip.
Thursday morning sunrise looked like it was going to be a nice day but that soon changed.
The case tractor and low loader trailer with dozzer, and ute ready to head back. These tractors tow a 90 ton proof roller up and down the runway during the season testing the runway for it's strength.
Driving in a convoy in the middle of no where relying totalling on the navigation skills via a GPS. At times the visibility was barely 20 metres with wind gusting 65knots.
Arriving just short of Casey Station unloading some of the sleds as the snow and ice build up is not enough yet on Station to accommodate. The trip took 5hours to travel 70km due to the weather it was a amazing experience.
